519 672 2121
519 672 2121
Toggle mobile menu
Book a Consultation
Close mobile menu

Siskinds LLP and Siskinds, Desmeules s.e.n.c.r.l. seek to recover compensation for Canadians in relation to injuries arising from a large outbreak of Salmonella infections caused by contaminated onions from Thomson International, Inc. and a series of recalls associated with the outbreak.

The action was certified as a national class action by the Court of Queen's Bench of Alberta on April 30, 2021.

The national class action seeks to recover damages on behalf of Canadians who consumed the recalled onion products and suffered illness or death, as well as Canadian individuals and corporations who disposed of recalled onion products or “unidentifiable” onion products (products for which it was not possible to tell if they were recalled) as a result of receiving notice of any alert issued in 2020 by a government department or agency in Canada or the United States of America regarding the recall of onions, or products containing onions, due to possible Salmonella contamination.

If you or someone you know has consumed or purchased recalled onion products, or disposed of “unidentifiable” onion products as a result of learning about the recalls

Email us today

Onion Recall Lawsuits - Class Action Background Information 

Salmonella is a bacterium that, when ingested, can cause severe gastroenteritis called salmonellosis (aka Salmonella infection). Symptoms of salmonellosis include:

  • nausea;

  • vomiting;

  • diarrhea;

  • abdominal pain;

  • headaches;

  • dizziness;

  • myalgia; and

  • and low-grade fever.

Symptoms of salmonellosis usually last for several days. However, severe cases of salmonellosis can last much longer than several days, and related complications may become serious and life threatening. Long-term complications can include:

  • reactive arthritis;

  • inflammatory bowel disease; and

  • and immunological deficiencies.

Our lawyers are here to help

If you or someone you know has consumed or purchased recalled onion products in 2020, or disposed of “unidentifiable” onion products as a result of learning about the recalls, Siskinds may be able to help.

Join the action today

Contact us for more information or to receive a free consultation by filling out the form below.

You can view the list of recalled products by visiting the Canadian Government website.

Need more information

Contact Siskinds LLP to determine if you are part of one of our class actions. Please email [email protected] or call us toll-free at  1.800.461.6166.

Developments

The action was certified as a national class action by the Court of Queen's Bench of Alberta on April 30, 2021.

To view the short form notification click here.

To view the long form notice of certification which contains important information, including time limits to opt-out of the action, click here.

On August 27, 2020, a similar class action was commenced in Quebec by Siskinds, Desmueles on behalf of Quebec residents exclusively. You can view a copy of the application for authorization to institute a class action (French only) by clicking here. The Quebec proceedings were stayed on August 29, 2021, pending the outcome of the national class action. You can view a copy of the Order to stay by clicking here.

FAQs

What is a Class Action?

A class action is a lawsuit that is brought by one or more persons on behalf of a larger group of people whose claims share common legal and/or factual issues. Class actions provide a cost-effective way for groups of people with common interests to pursue a legal claim.

What does “certification” mean?

Certification is the motion where the court determines whether the action can properly be pursued as a class action. The court will consider factors such as whether the claims of the class members raise common legal and/or factual issues and whether a class action is the preferable method of pursuing the claims (as opposed to other methods, such as individual actions).

Do I have to pay anything to participate in the class action?

Class action lawyers are usually paid on a contingency basis. This means that class counsel are only paid if successful. Class counsel are paid a percentage of any settlement or court award. Class counsel fees are subject to court approval.

Who is affected by the contaminated onions class action?

You are affected by the class action and are a “member” of the class if you are you are a person in Canada who

  1. consumed Recalled Onions or Onion Products and suffered a physical illness or injury or died;
  2. purchased Recalled Onions or Onion Products and suffered an economic loss; or
  3. purchased unidentifiable onions or onion products on or after May 1, 2020 and disposed of such products, as a result of receiving notice of or communications regarding an alert issued by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, the Public Health Agency of Canada, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration or the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention regarding the recall of onions or onion products due to possible Salmonella contamination and suffered an economic loss

Can I join the class action?

There are no steps required to “join” the class action. Assuming you fall within the scope of the class definition, you are automatically included in the class action unless you “opt-out” (exclude yourself from the class action).

Can I opt-out of the class action?

Yes. Once the class action has been authorized, you will have the opportunity to opt-out of the class action within a period of time to be determined by the Court. If you exclude yourself, you will not be entitled to any compensation awarded under a settlement agreement or court order. You may however pursue your own action on an individual basis.

Generally, class members will wish to exclude themselves from a class action if they intend to bring their own individual action. In the majority of cases, it will be more economical to participate in the class action because the legal costs will be shared among a very large number of people.

What should I do to protect my rights?

To protect your rights, you should:

  1. Keep records of any purchases of red onions or products that could have been in contact with and/or contain red onions produced by the defendant since May 1, 2020;
  2. Keep records of all medical treatments or expenses incurred as a result of Salmonella contamination from the consumption of recalled red onions or products containing recalled red onions;
  3. Register to receive updates about the class action by clicking the ‘Join’ button above and completing the form.

All personal information provided will remain private and confidential.

I still have a question. Who should I contact?

If you have any other questions, please complete the contact form below.

You may also contact our Quebec firm, Siskinds, Desmeules, by phone at 418.694.2009 or at the toll free number 1.877.735.3842 or by email at [email protected].

Documents

The action was certified as a national class action by the Court of Queen's Bench of Alberta on April 30, 2021.

To view the short form notification click here.

To view the long form notice of certification which contains important information, including time limits to opt-out of the action, click here.

On August 27, 2020, a similar class action was commenced in Quebec by Siskinds, Desmueles on behalf of Quebec residents exclusively. You can view a copy of the application for authorization to institute a class action (French only) by clicking here. The Quebec proceedings were stayed on August 29, 2021, pending the outcome of the national class action. You can view a copy of the Order to stay by clicking here.

What is a Class Action?

A class action is a lawsuit that is brought by one or more persons on behalf of a larger group of people whose claims share common legal and/or factual issues. Class actions provide a cost-effective way for groups of people with common interests to pursue a legal claim.

What does “certification” mean?

Certification is the motion where the court determines whether the action can properly be pursued as a class action. The court will consider factors such as whether the claims of the class members raise common legal and/or factual issues and whether a class action is the preferable method of pursuing the claims (as opposed to other methods, such as individual actions).

Do I have to pay anything to participate in the class action?

Class action lawyers are usually paid on a contingency basis. This means that class counsel are only paid if successful. Class counsel are paid a percentage of any settlement or court award. Class counsel fees are subject to court approval.

Who is affected by the contaminated onions class action?

You are affected by the class action and are a “member” of the class if you are you are a person in Canada who

  1. consumed Recalled Onions or Onion Products and suffered a physical illness or injury or died;
  2. purchased Recalled Onions or Onion Products and suffered an economic loss; or
  3. purchased unidentifiable onions or onion products on or after May 1, 2020 and disposed of such products, as a result of receiving notice of or communications regarding an alert issued by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, the Public Health Agency of Canada, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration or the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention regarding the recall of onions or onion products due to possible Salmonella contamination and suffered an economic loss

Can I join the class action?

There are no steps required to “join” the class action. Assuming you fall within the scope of the class definition, you are automatically included in the class action unless you “opt-out” (exclude yourself from the class action).

Can I opt-out of the class action?

Yes. Once the class action has been authorized, you will have the opportunity to opt-out of the class action within a period of time to be determined by the Court. If you exclude yourself, you will not be entitled to any compensation awarded under a settlement agreement or court order. You may however pursue your own action on an individual basis.

Generally, class members will wish to exclude themselves from a class action if they intend to bring their own individual action. In the majority of cases, it will be more economical to participate in the class action because the legal costs will be shared among a very large number of people.

What should I do to protect my rights?

To protect your rights, you should:

  1. Keep records of any purchases of red onions or products that could have been in contact with and/or contain red onions produced by the defendant since May 1, 2020;
  2. Keep records of all medical treatments or expenses incurred as a result of Salmonella contamination from the consumption of recalled red onions or products containing recalled red onions;
  3. Register to receive updates about the class action by clicking the ‘Join’ button above and completing the form.

All personal information provided will remain private and confidential.

I still have a question. Who should I contact?

If you have any other questions, please complete the contact form below.

You may also contact our Quebec firm, Siskinds, Desmeules, by phone at 418.694.2009 or at the toll free number 1.877.735.3842 or by email at [email protected].

Contact Us

Join to stay informed about the progress of this class action.

Your information will be maintained and used in accordance with our privacy notice. Completing this form does not create a lawyer-client relationship with Siskinds LLP or Siskinds Desmeules s.e.n.c.r.l. or any of their personnel, nor does it impose any obligations related to the class action or otherwise.

There Was An Error