Swanson’s Chicken Broth Botulism Case - Nevada
Marler Clark represents a husband and wife who became ill with botulism poisoning after consuming Swanson’s Seasoned Chicken Broth purchased from an Albertson’s store in Nevada in December of 2006.
The couple used the broth to make mashed potatoes, and were the only two members of their family who consumed the contaminated broth. Within hours of eating the mashed potatoes, the man began experiencing symptoms of botulism poisoning, including sore throat, nausea, and vomiting. The following day, he began having difficulty swallowing, shortness of breath, and difficulty walking. His wife ate some of the leftover potatoes that day, and she, too, became ill with symptoms of botulism poisoning. Within two days of consuming the contaminated broth, both husband and wife were hospitalized at a Utah hospital with botulism.
After the couple was hospitalized, the Washoe, Nevada District Health Department (WDHD), State of Nevada, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Food and Drug Administration (FDA) jointly investigated their illnesses. WDHD officials retrieved numerous food items from their home, and a can of Swanson’s broth containing broth residue tested positive for Clostridium botulinum (C. botulinum), the bacterium that causes botulism poisoning. In addition, left-over mashed potatoes prepared with the broth, and a container holding combined mashed potatoes and turkey meat tested positive for C. botulinum.
After an extensive investigation, the WDHD concluded:
Epidemiological and intensive environmental investigations found that a boiled mashed potato dish consumed by the couple, but not by the two children, was the most likely source of the disease. C. botulinum Type A toxin was detected from the mashed potato dish and the leftover turkey that was stored on top of the potato dish. In addition, the residual chicken broth (~1ml) caused typical signs of botulism in mice, but did not cause mortality.
Both the husband and wife suffered debilitating cases of botulism, and were hospitalized for months. While the administration of botulism antitoxin from the CDC likely saved their lives, both suffered significant complications of their botulism poisoning, including pneumonia. The husband suffered permanent brain damage.
Marler Clark filed a lawsuit against Campbell’s Soup Company and Albertson’s on behalf of the botulism victims. Litigation is ongoing.