Court Orders KFC to Payout $8m to 7-year Old Girl Paralyzed From Salmonella Tainted Chicken

Sanders remains the official face of Kentucky Fried Chicken, and appears on its logo (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

In 2005, Monika Samaan, a 7-year old girl who dined at a Sydney, Australia Kentucky Fried Chicken was rendered paralyzed with severe brain damage from eating a salmonella tainted chicken Twister wrap.

The New South Wales Supreme Court ruled in the family's favour a week ago and on Friday ordered KFC to pay the girl $8 million in damages plus legal costs.

According to an AFP report, several other family members also fell ill and they claimed Samaan's injuries, which include severe cognitive, motor and speech impairment and spastic quadriplegia, was caused by the chicken Twister wrap from a Sydney KFC outlet.

The family's lawyer George Vlahakis said they were relieved the battle was over. "Monika's severe brain damage and severe disability has already exhausted the very limited resources of the family," he said.

"Monika is now a big girl and they are finding it increasingly difficult to lift her and to look after her basic needs as well as look after Monika's younger siblings. The compensation ordered is very much needed. KFC have to date been determined that Monika does not receive a cent."

KFC indicated it will appeal the decision.

 During the trial, Justice Stephen Rothman said the chicken became contaminated "because of the failure of one or more employees of KFC" to follow proper preparation rules, which he described as "negligent".

In 2009, 22 year-old Stephanie Smith, a dance instructor, was left paralyzed from the waist down after eating E. coli contaminated beef. The E. coli was traced to the hamburger that her mother had grilled for their Sunday dinner.

Also in 2009, a 7-year-old Cleveland girl died from E. Coli linked to a cluster of E. coli infections traced to Valley Meats LLC of Coal Valley, Illinois, where the USDA recalled approximately 95,898 pounds of contaminated ground beef.

The fact is, our nation's food supply is at grave risk, and food-safety has been reduced to a game of chance. Whether dining out, or eating store bought food from home, eating factory farm raised meat has become a cruel game of Russian Roulette.