Customer sues McDonald’s operator for exposing customers to hepatitis A

A McDonald’s franchise in the Finger Lakes is facing a lawsuit after customers were exposed to hepatitis A.

A diner named Christopher Welch filed the lawsuit in NY state court in Seneca County seeking class-action status for potentially affected customers. Last Friday, the Seneca County Health Department confirmed a worker with hepatitis A prepared food and drinks at the Waterloo restaurant during the first week of the month. The agency stressed there is a low risk of contracting the disease which can cause contagious liver infections.

The lawsuit was filed against Jascor, Inc., an operator of a McDonald’s, and not the restaurant chain itself. Most McDonald’s restaurants are operated by franchisees rather than McDonald’s Corp. In the suit, Welch said that he ate at the Waterloo restaurant on a daily basis and at times when the infected worker was on. However, the department urged individuals who were not previously vaccinated for hepatitis A and who consumed food or drink from the Waterloo McDonald’s location to seek treatment. A makeshift clinic was organized at the Mynderse Academy Gymnasium at Troy Street in Seneca County and those who might get exposed to the virus were provided with the hepatitis A vaccines.

A food worker with hepatitis A can contaminate food, drinks, utensils and dishes by failing to wash his or her hands after going to the bathroom. The virus attacks the liver and can result in symptoms such as fever, loss of appetite, vomiting and abdominal pain.

The site also adds the vaccine against the illness is effective and safe.