--- title: "\"Poisoned\" Netflix documentary on food safety to be screened at the Garde" date: 2023-06-28T14:04:00-07:00 author: Julie Dueck canonical_url: "https://marlerclark.com/news_events/poisoned-netflix-documentary-on-food-safety-to-be-screened-at-the-garde" section: News --- [All News](/news_events) / [Firm News](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/firm-news) / # "Poisoned" Netflix documentary on food safety to be screened at the Garde Connecticut Post | By Susan Shultz | June 27, 2023 On Dec. 24, 1992, 6-year-old Lauren Rudolph was hospitalized with excruciating stomach pain. Less than a week later she was dead. Doctors were baffled: How could a healthy child become so sick so quickly? After a frenzied investigation, public health officials announced that the cause was E. coli O157:H7; the source was hamburger meat served at a Jack in the Box restaurant. During this unprecedented crisis, four children died and more than 700 others became gravely ill. Author Jeff Benedict, who serves as the Garde Arts Center’s sole writer in residence, penned this story over a decade ago. Though he had previously published several non-fiction books, Benedict originally chose to self-publish “Poisoned,” which has since been picked up by Simon & Schuster due to its impact. Benedict said while he felt the story was important at the time, he realized why his representatives felt it might not initially be a commercial success. However, he knew the story had to be told. Now, 12 years later, the documentary film has been co-produced by Netflix. The new movie “Poisoned” is based on Benedict’s book. The film chronicles the events surrounding the worst food-poisoning epidemic in US history: the deadly Jack in the Box E. coli infections of 1993. It first debuted at the Tribeca Film Festival earlier this month. Though Netflix doesn’t usually screen its productions in a traditional movie theater set-up, Benedict opted for this special debut at the Garde due to his close relationship with the organization. “It’s a chance to see the film in the way that films were meant to be seen,” Benedict said. ![Jeff](https://holistic-kudu.transforms.svdcdn.com/production/Jeff-Benedict-1.jpg?w=350&h=515&auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=crop&dm=1687986094&s=48f43fa692a77e3204f9ba6c85628684)The Garde & Netflix will present “Poisoned: The Dirty Truth About Your Food” in an exclusive theatrical movie premiere on June 28 at 7:30 p.m., followed by a post-film discussion and book signing. The film will go directly to the source, following the distribution trail from start to finish, examining where the process breaks down, as well as the bureaucratic red tape and collusion among lobbyists and lawmakers who worked against addressing this life-or-death problem. Benedict said the case caused an immeasurable impact on the way fast food restaurants source and prepare their meals. Also included in the evening is the book and film’s lead character, William Marler. Since his involvement in the Jack in the Box case, he has become the most prominent foodborne illness lawyer in America. He is also a major force in food policy in the U.S. and around the world. Marler began litigating foodborne illness cases in 1993 when he represented Brianne Kiner, the most seriously injured survivor of the historic Jack in the Box E. coli outbreak. Paul Mecurio will serve as moderator. He is an Emmy & Peabody Award-winning comedian for his work on “The Daily Show with Jon Stewart,” “The Colbert Report,” and “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.” Following the event, Benedict will sign copies of the book. Netflix will include the [movie in its documentary rotation during 2023](https://www.whats-on-netflix.com/news/netflix-sets-poisoned-the-dirty-truth-about-your-food-documentary-for-2023-release/), though no release date has been announced. For more information or to buy tickets, visit [gardearts.org/events/poisoned](https://gardearts.org/events/poisoned/). **About the author** Jeff Benedict is the best-selling author of “Poisoned: The True Story of the Deadly E. coli Outbreak That Changed the Way Americans Eat;” he’s also an executive producer on the documentary. Benedict is the author of 17 non-fiction books, including his latest book “Lebron,” an instant New York Times bestseller. He also wrote the no. 1 bestseller “Tiger Woods,” the source of the Emmy-nominated HBO documentary “Tiger,” which he produced. Benedict also wrote “The Dynasty,” the definitive inside story of the New England Patriots under Robert Kraft, Bill Belichick, and Tom Brady; it is currently being made into a 10-part documentary series for Apple TV+. Benedict is a writer-in-residence at The Garde Arts Center. **About the Garde** Southeastern Connecticut’s non-profit home for the performing arts, cinema and education, the Garde Arts Center was founded in 1985 to save, restore and operate in the heart of downtown New London the historic (1926) Garde Theater and Building as a regional cultural gathering place and economic catalyst. Last year, the Garde was recognized by The League of Historic American Theatres (LHAT), as the 2022 Outstanding Historic Theatre in America at its 46th Annual National Conference in Cleveland, Ohio. ### Lawsuit updates about foodborne illnesses [Reactive Arthritis Lawsuit Updates](/news_events/case-news?illness=reactive-arthritis&year=all) [E. coli Lawsuit Updates](/news_events/case-news?illness=e-coli&year=all) [Guillain-Barre Syndrome Lawsuit Updates](/news_events/case-news?illness=guillain-barre-syndrome&year=all) [Salmonella Lawsuit Updates](/news_events/case-news?illness=salmonella&year=all) [Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome Lawsuit Updates](/news_events/case-news?illness=hemolytic-uremic-syndrome&year=all) [Listeria Lawsuit Updates](/news_events/case-news?illness=listeria&year=all) [Irritable Bowel Syndrome Lawsuit Updates](/news_events/case-news?illness=irritable-bowel-syndrome&year=all) [Hepatitis A Lawsuit Updates](/news_events/case-news?illness=hepatitis-a&year=all) [Norovirus Lawsuit Updates](/news_events/case-news?illness=norovirus&year=all) [Botulism Lawsuit Updates](/news_events/case-news?illness=botulism&year=all) [Campylobacter Lawsuit Updates](/news_events/case-news?illness=campylobacter&year=all) [Shigella Lawsuit Updates](/news_events/case-news?illness=shigella&year=all) [Cyclospora Lawsuit Updates](/news_events/case-news?illness=cyclospora&year=all) ### Lawsuits updates by year [Foodborne Illness Lawsuits in 1998](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/case-news?illness=all&year=1998) [Foodborne Illness Lawsuits in 1999](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/case-news?illness=all&year=1999) [Foodborne Illness Lawsuits in 2000](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/case-news?illness=all&year=2000) [Foodborne Illness Lawsuits in 2001](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/case-news?illness=all&year=2001) [Foodborne Illness Lawsuits in 2002](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/case-news?illness=all&year=2002) [Foodborne Illness Lawsuits in 2003](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/case-news?illness=all&year=2003) [Foodborne Illness Lawsuits in 2004](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/case-news?illness=all&year=2004) [Foodborne Illness Lawsuits in 2005](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/case-news?illness=all&year=2005) [Foodborne Illness Lawsuits in 2006](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/case-news?illness=all&year=2006) [Foodborne Illness Lawsuits in 2007](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/case-news?illness=all&year=2007) [Foodborne Illness Lawsuits in 2008](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/case-news?illness=all&year=2008) [Foodborne Illness Lawsuits in 2009](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/case-news?illness=all&year=2009) [Foodborne Illness Lawsuits in 2010](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/case-news?illness=all&year=2010) [Foodborne Illness Lawsuits in 2011](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/case-news?illness=all&year=2011) [Foodborne Illness Lawsuits in 2012](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/case-news?illness=all&year=2012) [Foodborne Illness Lawsuits in 2013](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/case-news?illness=all&year=2013) [Foodborne Illness Lawsuits in 2014](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/case-news?illness=all&year=2014) [Foodborne Illness Lawsuits in 2015](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/case-news?illness=all&year=2015) [Foodborne Illness Lawsuits in 2016](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/case-news?illness=all&year=2016) [Foodborne Illness Lawsuits in 2017](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/case-news?illness=all&year=2017) [Foodborne Illness Lawsuits in 2018](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/case-news?illness=all&year=2018) [Foodborne Illness Lawsuits in 2019](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/case-news?illness=all&year=2019) [Foodborne Illness Lawsuits in 2020](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/case-news?illness=all&year=2020) [Foodborne Illness Lawsuits in 2021](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/case-news?illness=all&year=2021) [Foodborne Illness Lawsuits in 2022](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/case-news?illness=all&year=2022) [Foodborne Illness Lawsuits in 2023](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/case-news?illness=all&year=2023) [Foodborne Illness Lawsuits in 2024](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/case-news?illness=all&year=2024) [Foodborne Illness Lawsuits in 2025](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/case-news?illness=all&year=2025) [Foodborne Illness Lawsuits in 2026](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/case-news?illness=all&year=2026) ##### Get Help #### Affected by an outbreak or recall? 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