Eating romaine lettuce leads to hospitalization, Bethel Park man claims
A lawsuit filed in federal court identifies an Allegheny County man as among those who suffered severe symptoms after eating contaminated romaine lettuce.
Gary Shields of Bethel Park filed suit Tuesday in federal court, Pittsburgh, against Freshway Foods Inc. of Sidney, Ohio.
He was served romaine in a salad March 19 at a Peters Township restaurant, which was not named as a defendant in the lawsuit.
“Defendant Freshway Foods Inc. had distributed the romaine lettuce used in this salad,” which came from Yuma, Ariz., according to the suit.
The romaine lettuce was contaminated by a particular strain of E. coli bacteria, Shields alleges, and was not fit for human consumption.
He began feeling ill several days after eating the salad, experiencing fevers, chills, “agonizing abdominal cramps” and bloody diarrhea.
He went to St. Clair Hospital on March 29, remaining there until April 2. During his hospitalization, he tested positive for E. coli 0157:H7, according to the suit, and he continues to recover.
Shields is seeking more than $75,000 in damages. Representing Shields are three attorneys from the Robert Peirce and Associates firm in Pittsburgh, and Marler Clark of Seattle, Wash., whose website says it specializes in food poisoning cases. According to the Centers for Disease Control’s website, 20 people in Pennsylvania have been sickened as of May 1, part of a total of 121 in 25 states. One death was reported from California.
Illness started March 13 and ran through April 20. Of the 46 people hospitalized, 10 developed hemolytic uremic syndrome, a type of kidney failure that is potentially life-threatening.
“Most people reported eating a salad at a restaurant, and romaine lettuce was the only common ingredient identified among the salads eaten,” according to the suit.
Responding to a request for comment, Sara Matheu, spokeswoman for Freshway Foods, emailed this response:
“We cannot comment on pending litigation. But what I do want to stress is that food safety is our top priority and, as with any food safety concern, we are committed to providing the CDC and Food and Drug Administration with any information they feel would be helpful to their investigation.”