Woman Infected With E. Coli Sues Panera Bread In Raritan

RARITAN, NJ — A Flemington woman is suing Panera Bread after she says she was hospitalized for eating a salad contaminated with E. coli at the Raritan location.

Louise Fraser, who is being represented by William D. Marler, filed the lawsuit on Monday following a report by the CDC on Friday, that 35 people have become ill due to the nationwide E. coli outbreak that has spread into 11 states, with seven cases reported in four New Jersey counties. (See Related: Source Of NJ E.Coli Outbreak ID'd As Cases Reported In 4 Counties)

Chopped romaine lettuce grown in the Yuma, Arizona region has been identified as the likely source of the nationwide E. coli outbreak, according to the CDC. It was distributed at certain Panera Bread restaurant locations in the northeastern part of the United States, according to the lawsuit.

Fraser went to the Panera Bread location at 300 Route 202 in Raritan, just off the Somerville Circle on or about March 20.

Fraser said she ate a salad at the location which had romaine lettuce from the Yuma, Arizona that was contaminated by E. coli O157:H7 bacteria, according to her lawsuit.

Fraser began to experience symptoms of diarrhea, abdominal cramps, and a general feeling of illness about three or four days later.

Her symptoms worsened dramatically over the next 24 hours, and her diarrhea became bloody. She was then taken to the emergency department at Hunterdon Medical Center in Flemington around March 25 and remained hospitalized until April 9, according to her lawsuit.

Fraser was diagnosed with hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) and as a result she required multiple blood transfusions and underwent paracentesis, among other invasive and painful medical treatments.

She is currently at home recovering but is at risk for the development of kidney and cardiovascular
complications from her injuries and may require additional medical treatment.

As a result, Fraser is seeking compensation for her damages as a result and any additional relief, including interest, costs, and attorney fees.

The E. Coli O157:H7 outbreak was first reported by Patch on April 4. Cases have since been reported by New Jersey residents in four counties, including Hunterdon, Somerset, Monmouth and Sussex. (See Related: E. Coli Cases May Be Associated With Food Chain In NJ: State)

The NJ Department of Health initially began the investigation looking at four counties including Somerset, Middlesex, Warren and Hunterdon. The Department of Health says it's still investigating whether the Middlesex and Warren cases are part of the same strain.

The investigation then expanded to a multistate issue with the CDC, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service taking over. (See Related: NJ E. Coli Cases Part Of Nationwide Outbreak, CDC Says)

In a news release issued Friday, the state DOH said there were four cases in Hunterdon County and one each in Monmouth, Sussex, and Somerset counties.

Other states now reporting cases include Connecticut, Idaho, Missouri, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Illinois, Michigan, Virginia, Washington, and New York. Pennsylvania has the highest, reporting nine cases, followed by Idaho with eight cases and New Jersey with seven, according to the CDC.

(Image via Google Maps)

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