Blue Apron Marketed Salmonella-Contaminated Meals as ‘Quality,’ Refused Refunds, Suit States

New to ClassAction.org? Read our Newswire Disclaimer

Meal kit provider Blue Apron, LLC is facing a proposed class action lawsuit in California following reports of a possible salmonella contamination of its food products.

According to the case, Blue Apron claims its pre-prepared meals are made with “responsibly sourced, quality ingredients.” The complaint stresses that these representations are false and misleading, however, since the defendant failed to take proper steps to safeguard its food products from salmonella.

The lead plaintiff in the case claims she purchased from the defendant in November 2018 a “Dukkah-Spiced Beef and Couscous” meal, which she served to her family and consumed herself. The plaintiff says she received an email from Blue Apron later that month in which the company warned that “one of our suppliers is conducting a voluntary recall of its sesame tahini product due to the potential presence of Salmonella bacteria.” The plaintiff claims the meal she purchased was one of the contaminated products.

Despite acknowledging the contamination, the defendant, the case contends, failed to take proper steps to rectify the problem. According to the complaint, Blue Apron not only neglected to warn customers of the danger of salmonella-contaminated food, but also failed to offer any refund to those who had purchased the allegedly tainted meals.

Blue Apron’s representations that its food products were of good quality and safe for consumption were misleading to customers, the case states, and violated the Consumer Legal Remedies Act. Additionally, the case contends the defendant’s actions constitute a breach of warranty and unfair business practices.

Although originally filed in Los Angeles County Superior Court, the lawsuit has been removed to the Central District of California. The suit seeks to represent a class comprised of “all persons or entities who purchased Defendant’s Salmonella contaminated food in California.”