Image source, Getty Images
- Author, Lora Jones
- Role, Business Reporter, BBC News
Lawyers representing two people who fell ill during the E. coli outbreak have launched legal action against two leading supermarkets.
Legal firm Fieldfisher said on Friday it had brought claims alleging breaches of the Consumer Protection Act over own-brand sandwiches bought from Tesco and Asda.
The compensation claims relate to a man from the South East and an 11-year-old girl from the North West.
One person in England has died as a result of the ongoing E. coli outbreak, Britain’s Health Security Agency said Thursday, although they had underlying health conditions.
The E. coli outbreak is believed to have been caused by some supermarket sandwiches containing lettuce leaves.
The vast majority of cases reported so far developed symptoms before June 4 and the number of reported cases is now falling, offering hope that the outbreak may have ended.
The Food Standards Agency said based on tests lettuce is the likely source.
Fieldfisher said the claim against Asda related to a young girl who contracted E. coli after eating a supermarket own-brand chicken salad sandwich.
“The girl, aged 11, developed the serious condition haemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), which affects the kidneys, and has been on dialysis for three weeks,” the report said.
“She was discharged home two days ago but may be at risk of permanent kidney damage. Her mother purchased three of the sandwiches as part of an online delivery.”
An Asda spokesperson said it had not yet received a letter from Fieldfisher regarding these claims, but added: “Once we do, we will review the details of the claim as a matter of urgency.”
Harvinder Kaur, director at Fieldfisher, told PA News earlier on Friday that she had sent a separate letter to Tesco on behalf of a man from the south-east of the country.
He was also hospitalized with E. coli symptoms after eating Tesco-brand salad sandwiches, the law firm alleges.
“Fortunately, this client did not develop HUS and is now home, but he was seriously ill for a time,” she said.
‘By law, companies that produce food must ensure that it is safe to eat.
“If it causes illness it is a breach of their duty and the injured are eligible for compensation, not least to fund possible ongoing medical care.”
She added that the man was a ‘regular customer’ at Tesco and that he bought his lunch there almost every day as it was very close to his work.
The BBC has learned that Tesco has yet to receive Fieldfisher’s letter.
How do you treat E. coli and what are the symptoms?
E. coli is a group of bacteria that naturally live in the intestines of humans and animals.
Some species are harmless, but others can make people seriously ill.
Tests have shown that the type in this outbreak is called E.coli STEC O145.
It produces a Shiga toxin, which can damage the intestinal wall.
Symptoms may include diarrhea that may be bloody, stomach cramps, fever and vomiting.
It usually takes a few days before the first symptoms become visible.
Most people recover well, but some, such as young children or people with underlying health conditions, may become very ill.
There is no specific treatment for E. coli infections. People who are infected can usually be cared for at home and most will get better without medical treatment.
It is important to drink enough, because diarrhea can lead to dehydration.
A small number can develop serious complications, including HUS.
People should seek medical help if they have any concerns – and there are things people can do to reduce the risk of infection.
This means washing your hands regularly with warm water and soap (alcohol gel does not kill all bacteria that cause diarrhea) and washing fruit and vegetables.
It is also recommended to cook food according to the temperatures stated on each package.