Salmonella Victim Sues Unilever

A 15-year-old Israeli who was hospitalized for three days with a salmonella infection has filed a claim for 76 million shekels ($20 million) in damages against Unilever, where contaminated cornflakes were found recently, Arutz Sheva reported on Wednesday.

In recorded conversations the boy’s father asked Unilever to take responsibility for his son’s illness, but was met with denials by company representatives, who insisted that no contaminated cornflakes had ever left the production facility in Arad.

The company subsequently admitted that hundreds of contaminated boxes of cereal under the brand name Telma had in fact reached retail outlets aound the country. Unilever warned consumers not to consume cornflakes whose production date could not be verified, suggesting they be disposed of.

This is the first lawsuit to emerge from the scandal, which has severely damaged the company’s sales and reputation, and led to similar revelations at other food companies, such as Miki Salads.