TORONTO: Couple sue over tainted carrot juice

15.feb.08
National Post
Barry Hertz

Barfblog

Susanna Chen and her common-law husband, Andy Valy of Toronto who nearly died from botulism after drinking tainted carrot juice are launching a lawsuit against the California company that manufactures the beverage
Mr. Valy and Ms. Chen both fell into comas. The couple believes that Ms. Chen's condition was more dire because she drank more of the tainted juice. Doctors have told the family that they believe Ms. Chen's case of botulism is one of the most severe cases of poisoning seen worldwide.
It was weeks before Toronto Public Health realized the couple had been poisoned with botulism and issued a recall. Bolthouse Farm maintains that the tainted juice had not been properly refrigerated. 
Michael Shannon, a lawyer representing the couple, was quoted as saying, "They refrigerated the product, they just drank a toxic cocktail that they weren't aware of." Mr. Shannon refused to disclose the amount the couple is suing for, except to say they will be launching a suit in the United States for pain and suffering. Ms. Chen was released from the critical care unit of the Humber Valley Hospital this past January. 
Now at Lyndhurst Centre, a rehabilitation hospital, she remains in a wheelchair, sleeping with the aid of an oxygen mask. Mr. Valy spent six months in hospital and two months in a rehabilitation centre. 
Since his release he has fractured his face after losing his balance. Both have impaired vision, mouth dryness, poor muscle control and chronic pain. Ms. Chen, who owns five women's clothing stores, said she met Mr. Valy while ballroom dancing in Mississauga. The pair went on to become Ontario senior's champions but are no longer able to dance. 
The story says that Bolthouse Farms did not immediately return calls from Global News. The juice was ordered off North American store shelves toward the end of September, 2006, after four cases of botulism in the United States were linked to toxic carrot juice.
A Florida woman was hospitalized and unresponsive beginning in mid-September. Another three people in Georgia suffered respiratory failure and were placed on ventilators after consuming the carrot beverage. The following month, in October, a Quebec resident was also stricken with botulism after drinking carrot juice.