Family sues restaurant, grower of tainted Alfalfa Sprouts

The family of a 16-year-old girl who ate at Jimmy John’s Gourmet Sandwiches restaurant is suing the company and the farm for distributing contaminated Alfalfa Sprouts.

This represents the first known lawsuit against Jimmy John’s and Tiny Greens Organic Farm, of Illinois, for their part in a nationwide outbreak of Salmonella poisoning linked to contaminated Sprouts.

Jimmy John’s restaurants have recently pulled Tiny Greens’ Alfalfa Sprouts from their menus after nearly 100 people have fallen ill after eating that specific produce. Sixteen states have reported illnesses linked to contaminated sprouts.

The lawsuit accuses Jimmy John’s and Tiny Greens with negligence, product liability and three other counts, according to a Chicago-area news Web site.

The Food and Drug Administration issued a public warning late last year, advising consumers to avoid eating Alfalfa Sprouts distributed by Tiny Greens.