Legal Action Against Tesco and Asda Over E. coli Outbreak-Linked Sandwiches

Legal action has been initiated against leading supermarkets Tesco and Asda following an E. coli outbreak linked to their own-brand sandwiches. Lawyers from Fieldfisher have filed claims for breaches of the Consumer Protection Act on behalf of individuals affected by the outbreak.

The legal claims pertain to a man from the South East and an 11-year-old girl in the North West who fell ill after consuming sandwiches containing salad leaves. The UK Health Security Agency has indicated that the E. coli outbreak has resulted in multiple hospitalizations and one confirmed fatality.

A spokesperson from Asda stated that they are yet to receive the legal letter from Fieldfisher, while Tesco has not been formally notified of the claim.

Fieldfisher detailed the case of the young girl who suffered from E. coli after consuming an Asda chicken salad sandwich. The girl developed a severe condition known as haemolytic uraemic syndrome (HUS) and had to undergo dialysis for three weeks. Similarly, the male client in the South East was hospitalized due to E. coli symptoms after consuming Tesco-branded sandwiches.

E. coli, a diverse bacteria group, is typically harmless but certain strains like Stc can cause severe illness. The outbreak has prompted several food manufacturers to recall products containing lettuce, identified as the likely source of contamination based on tests by the Food Standards Agency.