Tainted Food Nearly Costs Woman Her Life

CINCINNATI -- A 25-year-old woman nearly lost her life because of something she ate, and she’s joining lawmakers in calling for more consumer protection.

“The pain got worse and worse, and so I went to the hospital,” said Celeste Thomas, who ate some tainted macaroni salad in May. “I literally passed out in the waiting room because it was hurting so bad.”

Thomas was put on a respirator and diagnosed with an infected pancreas, and she spent a month in a coma.

“I had to learn walking again everything,” she said. “I couldn't talk, (and) all because of something I ate.”

A special tracking system at Kroger, where the salad was purchased, helped identify the problem as an E. coli contamination.

“They scan their card, (and) the receipt tape will now list (that) you may have purchased this item,” said Kroger spokeswoman Meghan Glynn.

Sen. Sherrod Brown is pushing for a law that would establish a national food tracking system so consumers can learn of possible food contamination right away, and Thomas and her family have lent their support.

“It could be anyone's relative, (and) we need a traceable system in this country,” said Cecil Thomas, Celeste’s father and a Cincinnati city councilman. “It’s a matter of life or death.”

Celeste Thomas said she’s feeling better, but her lungs remain weak and she easily becomes short of breath.

“I'm upset,” Thomas said. “I almost lost my life, and I have a permanent hole in my neck now.”