1.800.THE FIRM | 1.800.843.3476
The Cochran Firm Legal Blog
With Office Locations Nationwide
Friday, April 24, 2009
Tainted Water Bottles Sicken Kids at California Middle School
Twelve middle school aged children have been hospitalized after drinking water from bottles they got from a vending machine in Santa Clarita, California. Fire officials received reports that people were becoming ill at the school on Thursday afternoon. The children who became sick complained of cramps and headaches, and all were transported to nearby medical clinics. Along with local authorities, the FBI is investigating.
Though it isn't clear what was in the water to make those who drank it sick, it was cloudy and had a strange smell and could have been related to bleach, according to a county fire inspector. How it got in there is anyone's guess. The bottles do not appear to be tampered with, which indicates there could be a problem at the bottling plant.
However, the Pepsi Bottling Group, which owns Aquafina and the bottling plant, released a statement claiming there is no evidence that anything in their manufacturing process caused the illnesses. They examined and tasted other bottles that were produced at the same time, and conducted their own tests. The corporation believes this is an "isolated incident."
Until more tests are completed, there is no way of knowing what may have been in the bottles. One doctor has said this could possibly be a psychosomatic reaction of one child drinking water and becoming sick, and others who drank the water imagined they had the same symptoms. All children may imagine things, and some may overreact, but it is in the best interest of all to get to the bottom of this. If it turns out the water had some kind of toxin in it, the fact only 12 children were sickened may be a blessing.
If you or a loved one has become sick after ingesting something from a restaurant or vending machine, please contact the experienced product liability attorneys at the Cochran Firm. We serve clients nationwide.
Though it isn't clear what was in the water to make those who drank it sick, it was cloudy and had a strange smell and could have been related to bleach, according to a county fire inspector. How it got in there is anyone's guess. The bottles do not appear to be tampered with, which indicates there could be a problem at the bottling plant.
However, the Pepsi Bottling Group, which owns Aquafina and the bottling plant, released a statement claiming there is no evidence that anything in their manufacturing process caused the illnesses. They examined and tasted other bottles that were produced at the same time, and conducted their own tests. The corporation believes this is an "isolated incident."
Until more tests are completed, there is no way of knowing what may have been in the bottles. One doctor has said this could possibly be a psychosomatic reaction of one child drinking water and becoming sick, and others who drank the water imagined they had the same symptoms. All children may imagine things, and some may overreact, but it is in the best interest of all to get to the bottom of this. If it turns out the water had some kind of toxin in it, the fact only 12 children were sickened may be a blessing.
If you or a loved one has become sick after ingesting something from a restaurant or vending machine, please contact the experienced product liability attorneys at the Cochran Firm. We serve clients nationwide.
Labels: Los Angeles, Sacramento, San Francisco, San Jose
posted by Benjamin A. Irwin at 8:34 AM
<< Home