New Salmonella Lawsuit Brought Against Cargill

Cargill Meat Solutions Corp. is facing yet another lawsuit stemming from an outbreak of antibiotic-resistant Salmonella Heidelberg traced to the company’s ground turkey products earlier this summer. The lawsuit was brought by Seattle-based law firm Marler Clark on behalf of Missouri residents Susanne and Jerry Byerly. The lawsuit was filed Thursday in U.S. District Court in Missouri.

According to the complaint, Susanne Byerly is one of 111 people in 31 states who became ill with Salmonella Heidelberg infections after consuming Cargill ground turkey between February 20 and August 2, 2011. “We are asking the Court to award punitive damages in this case because we believe Cargill failed to act on the knowledge that its products were contaminated,” saidByerly's attorney, Bill Marler. According to a recent Wall Street Journal report, Salmonella Heidelberg was found in Cargill ground turkey products in 2010.

The complaint lists 10 foodborne illness outbreaks that were traced to Cargill meat products.  “It’s time FSIS declared Salmonella an adulterant in ground meat products and made companies issue recalls of product that tests positive for this contaminant," Marler said.