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A lawsuit has been launched on behalf of a Canadian citizen living in the U.S. after she got sick from salmonella tainted onions from the California company Thomson International. The salmonella laced onions have caused an outbreak of illness in the United States and Canada, resulting in hundreds of people getting sick.
The salmonella onions lawsuit claims plaintiff Kendra Cooper became sick with Salmonella Newport after eating a burger containing red onions from Thomson from a Carl’s Jr. located in Edmonton, Alberta.
Kendra became sick around July 6, 2020, with symptoms consistent with salmonella poisoning. Her symptoms became so severe that she called emergency services and was transported to the hospital. She was given a potassium infusion for dehydration, and tests were administered, ultimately showing that she was positive for salmonella poisoning, according to the salmonella onions lawsuit. Kendra was put on medication and has continued to recover after being seen by her doctor. It has been confirmed that she was infected by the U.S. and Canada based salmonella outbreak.
The salmonella onions lawsuit states that the defendant was negligent and breached a duty of care by selling onions that were not fit to be eaten. Thomson international was expected to sell onions that were safe and free of bacteria, therefore the salmonella onions lawsuit is seeking damages for the injury that Kendra suffered.
The salmonella onions lawsuit seeks damages “in an amount that is fair and reasonable, for her costs incurred, and for any other relief to which she may be entitled…[and] for such other and further relief as this Court may deem proper.”
There have been about 120 confirmed cases of salmonella poisoning during the outbreak, according to Canadian health authorities. The salmonella outbreak has spanned across the country, affecting people in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec, and Prince Edward Island. There have been 17 salmonella related hospitalizations, but no deaths have been announced. The people infected by the salmonella contaminated onions were between the ages of three and 100, with most of the cases affecting females.
This is not the only salmonella onions lawsuit filed. Another lawsuit against the salmonella contaminated onions by Thomson was filed by Keith Robert Willis of San Diego, California. Keith says he began to feel sick July 1, experiencing symptoms of a salmonella infection.
The salmonella outbreak in Canada has been proven to be related to the outbreak in the United States. Using whole genome sequencing analysis, the salmonella infections have shown to be genetically related to the salmonella spread in the United States.
As of the end of July, the CDC and FDA of the United States have confirmed 640 people have been sickened by the salmonella tainted onions. 85 people have been hospitalized. 
By Aug. 1, 2020, Thomson International voluntarily recalled all onions including red, yellow, white, and sweet yellow due to potential salmonella contamination. All recalled onions from Thomson should be thrown away and not eaten or served in restaurants, nor purchased in stores. After the recall, the Candian Food Inspection Agency took action as well, recalling many different brands of onions from the U.S., due to possible salmonella contamination. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency urged the public to not consume raw onions and to throw out any questionable onions if they were not labeled.
California-based onions have been recalled in Ontario, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, British Columbia, The Northwest Territories, and Yukon.
The people who became ill with salmonella infections were shown to be part of illness clusters. An illness cluster is labeled as at least two people who do not share a home becoming ill, due to visiting the same restaurant or shopping at the same grocery store.
There reportedly have been 22 known illness clusters spanning across seven U.S. states. All of the salmonella illness clusters are related to red onions. When traced back, the same strain of salmonella likely from Thomson International in California seems to be the culprit. More tests to see if other onions are involved are likely.
Have you been affected by the salmonella contaminated onions? If so, do you plan to pursue legal action? Tell us your story in the comment section below!
The plaintiff is represented by Craig M. Murphy of Murphy & Murphy Law Offices.
The Salmonella Onions Lawsuit is Kendra M. Cooper v. Thomson International Incorporated, Case No.1:20-at-00558, in The United States District Court For The Eastern District of California.
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2 thoughts onSalmonella Onions Lawsuit Filed After Hundreds Get Sick in Outbreak
I live in Ontario Toronto, I’ve gotten sick about three times from eating California purple and yellow onions I purchased the purple ones at food basics downtown location and I also should have known better but I also had two subs from subway and that was two different days in the same week I was very ill ? all three times I mentioned it to my dr he just recommended pepto and forbid ne to eat onions I don’t eat them at all anymore.
Add me please became very sick can’t eat onions any more contaminated onion damage my system.