(Vancouver) A third class action lawsuit has been filed over salmonella-infected melons that have sickened people across Canada.
Law firm Slater Vecchio said it has filed a lawsuit in British Columbia against the Mexican company Malichita, which grows the melons, and two American companies.
The law firm filed a similar lawsuit in Quebec last month on behalf of a Montrealer who was hospitalized with a salmonella infection. Lawyers argue that the latest class action lawsuit is on behalf of all people outside this province affected by the salmonella outbreak.
Ontario law firm Siskinds also proposed a class action lawsuit in Manitoba, alleging a Sarnia, Ont., woman became ill after eating cantaloupe that she said was contaminated with salmonella.
The claims have not yet been decided in court and the proposed class actions must be certified by the courts to move forward.
The Public Health Agency of Canada said in its latest update last month that seven people had died from melon-related salmonella and that there were 164 lab-confirmed cases in eight provinces, including 111 in Quebec. The organization said the majority of people sickened are five years old or younger and 65 years old and older.
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency first issued recall warnings on the 1stum November, which later expanded to include Malichita and Rudy brand melons, as well as various types of pre-cut melons and fruit peels sold in stores.
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