Our public health team helped nine individuals claim against Mr Porky's products after their pork scratchings caused salmonella poisoning. The group received a collective settlement of over £300,000 and will have access to specialist medical treatment.
What happened to the group?
In 2021, Tayto Group Ltd, which produces Mr Porky products, recalled batches of their pork scratchings after hundreds fell ill. 179 people who had Mr Porky products reported symptoms of diarrhoea, vomiting, and fever after eating them.
What were the impacts on our clients’ lives?
Some of our clients were hospitalised following, due to the severity of their symptoms, with two clients collapsing and suffering head injuries.
One client was forced to leave their employment due to the continuing impact of the ongoing symptoms and was subsequently awarded £100,000.
Another client’s business struggled due to their illness.
How did Irwin Mitchell help?
Nine individuals, who were separately impacted by products made by Mr Porky, approached our public health team. Given the similarities of each case, we decided it was best to take a group claim to Tayto Group Ltd.
Nadhia Akthar led the group claim. She started by getting the public health reports and medical records identifying the bacterial pathogen isolated following consumption of the pork scratchings.
It was also decided that we should get the opinions of independent experts. Nadhia instructed experts in gastroenterology, psychiatry, cardiology, and microbiology.
We took the claim to Tayto Group Ltd, who denied liability. Nadhia started legal proceedings against the company. Nadhia also examined the documents provided by the Defendant, detailing their health and hygiene processes as well as internal investigations, in order to understand how the salmonella outbreak was caused, and if anything more could’ve been done to prevent it.
With a trial date set, we were able to settle the claim out of court. Our nine clients will get a share of the six-figure settlement. The compensation will help them access the support they need and make up for their pain and suffering.
Bolton Council are currently in the process of making criminal charges against the company, with a criminal trial set to take place.
Expert opinion
Speaking about the group's claim against Tayto Group Ltd, Nadhia said: “Not only is salmonella a serious bacterial infection, but it can also often lead to ongoing and long-lasting health problems, and even death.
“No amount of money can make up for what each of our clients has been through, but it’ll help with the process of moving past this illness.”
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