Hungry Lion dragged to court for food poisoning
By Esther Chisola
A LUSAKA woman has sued Hungry Lion Limited in the Lusaka High Court seeking over K4,000 for allegedly subjecting her and her two daughters to eating food that was unsafe for consumption.
Theresa Nyambe, who is seeking damages for negligence.
Nyambe wants the High Court to Order special damages, costs, and any other reliefs it may deem fit.
According to a statement of claim filed in the High Court, Nyambe submitted that on February 12, 2024, around 19 hours, she along with her two daughters, bought food at the Hungry Lion outlet in Chilenje and that around 01:00 hours hours, she developed stomach pains and started vomiting before she was rushed to the hospital, where she was admitted and treated for food poisoning.
She stated in her petition that the following day, her two daughters experienced a similar situation and were later treated for food poisoning too.
“The plaintiff bought food from the defendant’s outlet in Chilenje, Lusaka, on the 12th of February, 2024, at 19:34 hours in the following description: 3 portions of Big Bite 2 Chicken and 1 portion of regular Chips. The plaintiff avers that upon consuming the food described, she developed a stomach ache and started feeling nauseous around 01:00 hours,” she said.
Nyambe submitted that at around 03:00 hours, she started vomiting profusely until she was rushed to CFB Hospital around 05:00 hours, where she was admitted and treated for food poisoning.
She said a similar situation was also experienced by two of her daughters, who also ate the food and were both treated for food poisoning at a different health facility.
“The plaintiff avers that she incurred medical expenses for her treatment and that of her two daughters. Medical bills for the plaintiff K1,854.00, medical bills for the plaintiff’s daughters K1,040.00 and fuel to and from the hospitals K1,500.00, total K4,394.00. The plaintiff avers that the said sickness was caused by the negligence of the defendant,” said Nyambe.
“The defendant owed a duty of care to the plaintiff to ensure that the food it sold to the plaintiff was safe for consumption. The Defendant breached the said duty of care by failing to ensure that the food it sold to the plaintiff was safe for consumption. By reason of the said breach of the duty of care owed to the plaintiff by the defendant, the plaintiff suffered damage by falling ill and being treated thereafter,” she said.
