USERS of a meal delivery service could be eligible for huge a payout from a multi-million dollar settlement after accusations of food poisoning.

Customers of Daily Harvest must take action in a matter of days if they have purchased, received or consumed one of the service’s popular meals.

GettyCustomers of the healthy food delivery service Daily Harvest could be eligible for a payout (stock)[/caption]

GettyEligible claimants have just days left to make sure they get their money (stock)[/caption]

A class-action lawsuit has alleged that the Daily Harvest French Lentil and Leek Crumbles caused food poisoning in 2022.

According to the lawsuit, the company recalled the meal due to contamination concerns with a gluten-free flour made from the seeds of tara trees that carry a risk of salmonella poisoning.

It is claimed that Daily Harvest failed to adequately test the tara flour for such contamination before using it in the French Lentil and Leek Crumbles.

The plaintiffs therefore alleged that the company exposed customers to salmonella bacteria and caused serious injury.

Salmonella usually infects people after the bacteria is swallowed and is the leading cause of foodborne illness, hospitalizations, and deaths in the US and worldwide, according to the CDC.

Symptoms include stomach cramps, watery diarrhea that may be bloody or mucousy, vomiting, nausea, and fever.

More severe complications can occur when the Salmonella infection spreads to other parts of the body.

Daily Harvest has since agreed to pay a settlement of $7.67 million but admits no wrongdoing.

The multi-million dollar payout comes after Daily Harvest agreed to a $22.99 million settlement last year to bring an end to similar claims.

Customers who either bought, received, or consumed the French Lentil and Leek Crumbles in 2022 and who suffered personal injuries or monetary damages as a result can benefit from the latest payout.

PAYMENT CATEGORIES

Class members fall into different categories which will impact how much money they receive.

Category 1A:

This group is made up of class members who did not suffer personal injuries but lost money due to another person’s injuries and they can expect a payment of up to $665.

Category 1B:

This applies to claimants who personally suffered injuries after consuming the crumbles but did not receive medical treatment.

They can expect a payment of up to $1,335.

Category 2:

Customers who directly suffered injuries from the crumbles and got medical treatment but were not hospitalized can get up to $20,000.

Category 3:

Claimants who personally suffered received medical treatment and ended up in hospital are part of this group and can get up to $40,000 in this settlement.

Category 4:

This is for the most severe consequences of consuming the crumbles.

Class members in this category must have undergone a cholecystectomy (the removal of the gallbladder) as a result of their consumption of the crumbles.

They can get up to $173,330 as part of the settlement.

The full amount of each category will be decided once all claims have been filed.

TICK TOCK

When making claims, class members will have to provide evidence of personal injury or the monetary damages they suffered as a result.

This could be in the form of receipts, medical records, or bills.

But, eligible members only have until January 21 to file a claim which can be done here.

The deadline for exclusion from the settlement passed on December 11.

Those who did not exclude themselves must file a claim if they wish to receive any money from the payout.

A final approval hearing is scheduled for March 3.

Meanwhile, a number of drivers are eligible for a chunk of a $1.2 billion payout.

https://www.the-sun.com/money/13252109/healthy-eaters-daily-harvest-food-poisoning-settlement/