Hardee’s, the chain best known for its thickburgers and smiling star mascot, is in big trouble. According to a class action lawsuit filed against the chain, customers are claiming that the fast food giant may have exposed thousands of customers to hepatitis.
Kitchenette reports that the lawsuit comes on the heels of an announcement by the Department of Health and Environmental Control that two Hardee’s in South Carolina served food made by employees who had been infected by the illness:
..the primary plaintiff alleges that two employees infected with Hepatitis A prepared food and served potentially thousands of customers at the Lyman, SC location between August 31 and September 15 and the Duncan, SC location between September 1 and September 13.
It’s possible, Kitchenette points out, that the employees who showed up to work while infected thought they just had the flu (as the symptoms are similar), but because they didn’t call out (probably not something they could do), they exposed potentially thousands of burger-loving folks to a liver disease (including their own employees).
The good news is that no one’s actually been diagnosed with the illness since the news first broke, and the Department of Health doesn’t think it’s a huge concern.
“As of (Wednesday), customers and staff who ate at the restaurants between Aug. 31 and Sept. 8 are not likely to benefit from post-exposure treatment. Anyone who ate at these Hardee’s restaurants between these dates should watch for symptoms of infection, such as nausea, vomiting, and jaundice, which is yellowing of the eyes and skin. Seek medical care if symptoms develop,” according to a DHEC statement.
The lawsuit is seeking unspecified damages at the moment, but expect the dollar signs to grow as more and more people who chowed down on jalapeno poppers realize that their delicious meal may have come at a much higher price than advertised.
(Via Kitchenette, Fox Carolina)
