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Girl Diagnosed with Salmonella after Eating Homemade Ice Cream at a Relay for Life Event

By Pritzker | Ruohonen

A 13-year-old girl became seriously ill after eating homemade ice cream at a Relay for Life event at Roughrider Stadium in Center, Texas. The ice cream was reportedly made by a Center church. 

The girl was diagnosed with Salmonella. According to a report on KTRE, an East Texas news station:

Courtney Johnson, the child's mother said Ashlyn's kidney's were failing so she was lifeflighted to a Shreveport hospital Tuesday night. She came home Friday, exactly one week after eating one scoop of some homemade ice cream that was sold at the event.  Her mother said her daughter ate only the homemade ice cream that was made and served by a Center church.

Liability in food poisoning cases can be complex. Both epidemiological and microbiological evidence is used to determine the source of the illness. That evidence is used to determine the liability of a number of parties, from a specific farm to the party that ultimately provided the contaminated food.

We are lawyers who represent Salmonella victims throughout the United States. As such, we are concerned about food safety. Given that the sickened girl only ate the homemade ice cream, it is likely that eggs used to make the ice cream were contaminated with Salmonella. To prevent Salmonella poisoning associated with eggs and products containing eggs, pasteurized eggs should be used. Given the history of Salmonella outbreaks associated with eggs, states should require pasteurized eggs to be used by restaurants, church groups, event organizers and any party that plans on providing food to the public.

To contact one of our lawyers with Salmonella litigation experience, please call 1-888-377-8900 (toll-free), e-mail our lawyers, or submit our free case consultation form.

Full post as published by Food Poisoning Law Blog on May 11, 2008 (boomark / email).