Although it was once revolutionary, fast food has become controversial in the last several years. What used to be a cheap and quick alternative to mealtime has become something most people prefer to avoid. As such, many restaurants like Wendy’s have advertised they use fresh and high-quality ingredients. Regardless, foodborne illnesses can still be prominent, as one family from Michigan found out in 2022. Their daughter was fighting for her life, and as a result, the family sued the company.
Wendy’s Made Diners Ill
An 11-year-old named Aspen Lamfers ate with her family at Wendy’s in Jenison, Michigan on August 1, 2022. She had been at a team softball practice and her family stopped at Wendy’s on the way home. Famished from her hard work on the field, Aspen ate a full meal with a burger, chicken nuggets, and fries.
While everything seemed normal, 3 days later, young Aspen began to face life-threatening symptoms. What started as nausea, diarrhea, and a fever soon worsened. The girl was taken to the pediatric intensive care unit at Corewell Health’s Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital on August 7, 2022. There, she was diagnosed with hemolytic uremic syndrome, a fatal condition associated with E. coli.
Life-Threatening Condition Results from Bacteria
Additionally, she suffered from brain, kidney, and pancreas damage, resulting in seizures and paralysis on the left side of her body. She spent more than a month in the hospital and underwent treatments, including dialysis for her stage 3 kidney failure. As well as an insulin drip after an infection in her pancreas. Sadly, she also suffered from vision loss and hallucinations. As young Aspen was fighting for her life, her parents turned to Wendy’s to take responsibility.
Seeking Relief
Finally allowed to go home on September 9th, Aspen had undergone treatment in the hospital, then again at a rehabilitation hospital. There, she had a series of therapies: physical, speech, occupational, and language.
The family, unable to face the emotional struggles of nearly losing their daughter and the financial weight of hospital bills, took Wendy’s to court in hopes of “recouping” some medical expenses. “As a result of her STEC infection, Aspen has sustained permanent injuries and life-changing medical conditions,” the lawsuit states. As such, experts estimate that she will accrue more than $5 million throughout the rest of her life.
The lawsuit was filed against Meritage Hospitality Group, which owns the Wendy’s franchise. The family sought $20 million in damages. The lawsuit has yet to be settled, but according to Mlive, that particular Wendy’s location had recently been written up for several health code violations. Some examples of the worst violations include using ineffective sanitizing solutions and improper hygiene methods. As well as serving spoiled food products in an unkempt environment, “at an excessive end of the spectrum.”
According to the family’s lawyer, medical professionals have declared her life a “miracle”. “She was that close to dying. Her parents try to balance being thankful that Aspen is doing as well as she is now, with all of the challenges she still faces.” He explained, regarding the family’s decision to request such a hefty sum.
Other Wendy’s Locations were Culprits Too
Sadly, the Jenison Wendy’s restaurant location wasn’t the only one at the time forced to address an E. coli outbreak, with many diners facing symptoms similar to those of young Aspen. According to a CNN report, there was a total of 97 people infected with the bacteria. The outbreak spanned across six states, with 81% of cases admitting to eating at Wendy’s within the week leading up to their health issues. While no deaths were reported, 43 were hospitalized. Of those, nine others were diagnosed with the same condition, hemolytic uremic syndrome as Aspen Lamfers.
A spokesperson for Wendy’s released a statement, refusing to take any interviews regarding the matter. Instead, they stated: “We take the health and safety of our customers very seriously. We deny any wrongdoing or failure of our food safety practices in these cases. We cannot provide further comment in light of the open litigation.”
Understanding a Rare Condition
Hemolytic uremic syndrome is a rare condition that happens when the small blood vessels become inflamed and damaged. This can lead to blood clots that impact vital organs. Anyone can get the condition. However, medical experts note that it’s far more common in children than adults, and most commonly associated with the E. coli bacteria. In contrast, Doctors also note that other infections or pregnancy can, in rare cases, cause HUS. Experts warn that the bacteria can be picked up from places like fresh produce and public swimming pools.
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Sources
- “Hemolytic uremic syndrome.” Mayo Clinic
- “Michigan family sues for $20M after girl sickened at ‘excessively’ dirty Wendy’s.” MLive. Justin Hicks. April 16, 2024.
- “An E. coli outbreak associated with Wendy’s restaurants has now sickened 97 people in 6 states.” CNN. Rebekah Riess. September 3, 2022.
- “Family sues Wendy’s for $20million after their daughter, 11, was left fighting for her life with severe E.coli infection following meal of hamburger, nuggets and fries at ‘filthy’ fast food restaurant.” Daily Mail. Kamal Sultan. April 16, 2024.