image source, Getty Images
- Author, Lora Jones
- Role, Business reporter, BBC News
Lawyers acting on behalf of two people who fell ill in the E. coli outbreak have launched legal action against two leading supermarkets.
Law firm Fieldfisher said on Friday it had filed claims for breach of consumer protection law over own-brand sandwiches bought from Tesco and Asda.
Claims for compensation relate to a man in the south-east and an 11-year-old girl in the north-west.
One person in England has died in connection with an ongoing E. coli outbreak, the UK Health Safety Agency said on Thursday, despite having an underlying medical condition.
Some supermarket sandwiches containing lettuce are believed to have caused the E. coli outbreak.
The vast majority of cases reported so far had symptoms before June 4, and the number of reported cases is now declining, offering hope that the outbreak may have ended.
Based on tests, the Food Standards Agency said lettuce was the likely source.
Fieldfisher said the claim against Asda related to a young girl who contracted E. coli after eating an own-brand chicken salad sandwich from the supermarket.
“The 11-year-old girl developed a serious condition called hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), which attacks the kidneys, and was on dialysis for three weeks,” it said.
“She was discharged two days ago but may be at risk of permanent kidney damage. Her mother bought three sandwiches as part of an online delivery.”
A spokesman for Asda said it had not yet received any letter from Fieldfisher regarding the claims, but added: “Once we do, we will urgently review the details of the claim.”
Harvinder Kaur, director of Fieldfisher, told PA News on Friday that she had sent a separate letter to Tesco on behalf of a man from the South East.
He was also hospitalized with E. coli symptoms after eating Tesco sandwiches containing lettuce, the law firm claims.
“Fortunately, this client did not go on to develop HUS and is now at home, but he was seriously ill for some time,” she said.
“Food companies are required by law to ensure that they are safe to eat.
“If they cause illness, this is a breach of their duty and the harmed are entitled to compensation, not least to fund any ongoing medical care.”
She added that the man was a “regular shopper” at Tesco, buying his lunch there most weekdays as it was very close to his work.
The BBC understands that Tesco has not yet received the letter from Fieldfisher.
How do you treat E. coli and what are the symptoms?
E. coli are a diverse group of bacteria that commonly live in the intestines of humans and animals.
Some types 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 Shiga toxin – which can attack the lining of the intestine.
Symptoms may include diarrhea that may be bloody, stomach cramps, fever and vomiting.
It usually takes a few days after infection for symptoms to appear.
Most people recover well, but some – such as young children or people with underlying medical conditions – can become very ill.
There is no specific treatment for E. coli infections. People who are infected can usually be treated at home and most recover without medical treatment.
It is important to drink plenty of fluids as diarrhea can lead to dehydration.
A small number may develop serious complications including HUS.
People should seek medical help if they are concerned – and there are things people can do to reduce the risk of infection.
These include regular hand washing with warm water and soap – alcohol gels do not kill all the bugs that cause diarrheal diseases – and washing fruit and vegetables.
It is also recommended to cook food at the temperatures indicated on any packaging.