Men sue grocery store over ham found in chowder

(RNS) Two disgruntled diners have a beef with the New Seasons grocery chain. The two men claim they were assured by a cashier that there was no pork in the chowder they bought at a soup-and-salad bar at the company’s store in Lake Oswego, Ore., last October. After Yonas Fikre and Nuradin Kariye tasted the […]

(RNS) Two disgruntled diners have a beef with the New Seasons grocery chain.

The two men claim they were assured by a cashier that there was no pork in the chowder they bought at a soup-and-salad bar at the company’s store in Lake Oswego, Ore., last October.

After Yonas Fikre and Nuradin Kariye tasted the chowder, they discovered chunks of ham. Their religious practice prohibits them from eating pork, according to a recent lawsuit filed against New Seasons.


It was not immediately clear if the men were Jews or Muslims; both religions prohibit observant members from eating pork, which is considered unclean.

Fikre and Kariye said a store manager later confirmed there was pork in the dish, according to the Multnomah County Circuit Court lawsuit. The meal also gave them stomachaches, they said.

They accused New Seasons of negligent misrepresentation and breach of contract. Each seeks up to $200 in actual damages and up to $7,500 for “discomfort, anxiety (and) emotional distress.”

New Seasons spokeswoman Helen Neville did not return e-mail and voice mail messages.

Brandon Mayfield, a Portland attorney representing the two men, said, “I am in initial discussion and negotiations with New Seasons and their adjuster and hopeful we will be able to reach a reasonable resolution of this matter.”

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