Class-action lawsuit launched against XL Foods
An Edmonton man who became ill after eating a steak contaminated with E. coli has launched a class-action lawsuit against XL Foods, the company at the centre of a massive national meat recall.
The statement of claim was filed in Edmonton Court of Queen's Bench by Matthew Harrison, who ate the meat at a friend's home in Edmonton on Sept. 5. The steak was purchased at an Edmonton Costco store and came from the XL Foods meat processing plant in Brooks, Alta.
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency has so far recalled more than 1,500 products processed at the plant due to possible E. coli contamination.
"It's our feeling right now that a lot of Albertans have suffered and have been injured by the tainted meat," said Harrison's lawyer Trent Brown.
"So we thought on behalf of all Albertans that we wanted to bring a class-action lawsuit and that's what we've done."
Harrison was in and out of hospital three times and still feels the effects of his illness.
"I am still weak. I didn't eat for four days and I eat usually every two hours," he said. "My body is still trying to catch up. I think that's why I still get dizzy."
On Tuesday, Alberta health officials linked a fifth E. coli case to the XL Foods plant.
Pat Lees, from Grand Prairie, became ill after eating a steak at her daughter's home in Edmonton, the same dinner attended by Harrison.
"I had some diarrhea issues and Tuesday and Wednesday, I was really sick," said Lees, 62. She didn't get tested for E. coli until Sept. 19, after her five-year-old grandson Elijah became ill.
While Lees still has lingering effects from her illness, she's doing better.
"I'm feeling generally OK," she said. "I will say that the stomach area is still tender. I'm eating more of a bland diet."
In addition to the Grande Prairie case, Alberta Health Services announced a second new case in Edmonton on Tuesday.
The cause of the Edmonton case is still under investigation. Alberta Health Services is investigating a total of 10 E. coli cases.
