Health Law

Cargill Admits Liability in E. coli Case

By Dan Flynn and Suzanna Schreck

According to KARE 11 News in Minneapolis, MN, the Minnesota company accused of producing contaminated meat that left a former dance instructor paralyzed has admitted fault in the case.

In documents filed earlier this month in a federal lawsuit, Cargill says it manufactured and sold a product that contained E. coli. The company told the court that it does not contest strict liability in the case, admitting that its meat did cause Stephanie Smith's illness.

In 2007, 22-year-old Smith of Cold Spring, MN developed extremely serious complications from E. coli after eating a hamburger produced by Cargill Meat Solutions.

She suffered kidney failure, seizures and was in a medically-induced coma for three months. Smith remains in a wheelchair.

Cargill has paid for some of Smith's medical bills, which could eventually climb into the tens of millions of dollars.

Smith is suing Cargill for $100 million.

Full post as published by Food Safety News on February 19, 2010 (boomark / email).