Monika Samaan and her familyDEAN LEWINS/AAP/Press Association Images

KFC in Australia has been ordered to pay the equivalent of £5 million in damages to the family of a girl who was left severely brain damaged after contracting Salmonella.

The fast food chain has said it is appealing the decision.

The case

The family of Monika Samaan brought the case, saying that in 2005 at the age of seven she contracted Salmonella, along with her parents and her brother, after eating a Twister Wrap at a KFC near Sydney. She was left with severe brain damage, which means she is confined to a wheelchair.

New South Wales supreme court judge, Justice Stephen Rothman, ruled in favour of the family and awarded A$8 million plus legal costs. The Australian Telegraph reported her lawyer, George Vlahakis, as stating: "Monika's severe brain damage and severe disability has already exhausted the very limited resources of the family." And that: "The compensation ordered is very much needed."


Appeal

In a statement, KFC Australia's chief corporate affairs officer Sally Glover said: "This is clearly a very tragic case but we are deeply disappointed and surprised by the judge's decision."

"We believe the evidence showed KFC did not cause this tragedy and, after reviewing the judgment and seeking further advice from our lawyers, we have decided to appeal Justice Rothman's decision."

"We feel deeply for Monika and the Samaan family however we also have a responsibility to defend KFC's reputation as a provider of safe, high quality food."

Glover added:"Given the matter will now be on appeal, it is not appropriate that we make further comment at this time."

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