Safeway Sued Over Contaminated Raspberries

A San Ramon couple sued Safeway Inc. and a fruit distributor, claiming at least 10 people were sickened with the cyclospora parasite after eating raspberries. The suit, filed in Contra Costa County Superior Court in Martinez on behalf of Ron and Carmen Haydel, also names Driscoll Strawberry Associates, a Watsonville fruit distributor. The suit claims the raspberries--thought to have come from Guatemala and purchased at a San Ramon Safeway in May--were contaminated with the cyclospora parasite, which can cause weeks of fever and diarrhea. Executives at Driscoll said they could not comment because they had not seen the suit. Pleasanton-based Safeway did not return a call for comment.