Eating food that is contaminated with Listeria can cause a bacterial infection called listeriosis. Although rare, it is one of the most severe types of food poisoning, especially for young children, pregnant women, the elderly, and people with vulnerable immune systems. Unlike most bacteria, listeria can grow on food in the refrigerator and even survive freezing.
What You Can Do & How We Can Help
The Schmidt Firm, PLLC is currently accepting food poisoning induced injury cases in all 50 states. If you or somebody you know has been diagnosed with Listeria, you should contact our lawyers immediately for a free case consultation. Please use the form below to contact our Food Poisoning Litigation Group or call us toll-free 24 hours a day at (866) 920-0753.
Listeria Outbreaks & Recalls 2024
- August 2024 – Boar’s Head Deli Meat (All Types of Boar’s Head Deli Meat Recalled After Deadly Listeria Outbreak)
- August 2024 — Bei Hollow Farm Raw Milk Cheddar Cheese
- August 2024 — Kenny’s Farmhouse Cheese
- August 2024 — Lunds & Byerlys Guacamole
- July 2024 — Wiers Farm Vegetables
- July 2024 — Boar’s Head Liverwurst
- July 2024 — Walnuts
- July 2024 — Deli Meat
- July 2024 — Cucumbers
- June 2024 — Spinach
- June 2024 — Classic Delight Sandwiches
- May 2024 — Irvington Seafood Crabmeat
- May 2024 — Planters Nuts
- February 2024 — Chicken Taco Kits
- February 2024 — Whole Foods Ricotta
- February 2024 — Rizo Lopez Foods (all dairy products)
- January 2024 — BrightFarms Spinach & Salad Kits
- January 2024 — Cotija Cheese
Listeria Outbreaks & Recalls 2023
- December 2023 — Fresh Express & Publix Spinach
- December 2023 — Chicken Fried Rice Bowls
- November 2023 — Peaches, plums and nectarines
- November 2023 — Wilcox Ice cream
- August 2023 — The Ice Cream House – Ice Cream and Non-Dairy Desserts
- August 2023 — Kosher Soft Serve On The Go Ice Cream Cups
- August 2023 — Zespri Kiwi
- July 2023 — Sheep Milk Cheese
- June 2023 — Private Selection® Frozen Fruit with Mango Chunks
- June 2023 — Frozen Fruit
- May 2023 — Cheeses from Cricket Creek Farm
- May 2023 — Bagged Spinach, Kale, Collard Greens
- April 2023 — Fresh From Meijer® Pre-Made Salads
- April 2023 — Fresh Express® and Publix® Salad Kits
- April 2023 — Revolution Farms Lettuce & Salad Kits
- March 2023 — Lidl Cocktail Shrimp
- January 2023 — Boar’s Head Deli Meat
Listeria Outbreaks & Recalls 2022
- November / December 2022 — Enoki Mushrooms
- October 2022 — Family Fare Chili Cheese Wieners
- September 2022 — Brie & Camembert Cheese
- September 2022 — Behrmann Meat
- September 2022 — Kroger Vegetable Items in Deli / Produce Sections
- August 2022 — Wegmans Lemon Dill Finishing Butter
- July 2022 — Just Egg Spring Greens
- July 2022 — Big Olaf Ice Cream
- July 2022 — Vidalia Onions
- June 2022 — Wegmans Vidalia Onions
- June 2022 — Supermom’s Kitchen Salads
- June 2022 — Crabmeat from Irvington Seafood
- May 2022 — Paris Brothers Cheese
- April 2022 — Enoki mushrooms
- April 2022 — Hippie Organics French Beans
- April 2022 — Whole Foods Red Lentil Dal
- April 2022 — Frozen Blueberries
- March 2022 — Enoki mushrooms
- March 2022 — Fresh cut fruit and veggie platters
- March 2022 — Beef jerky
- February 2022 — The Royal Ice Cream Company (multiple brands)
- February 2022 — Enoki mushrooms
- February 2022 — Batch Ice Cream
- January 2022 — Simply Fresh Chicken Salad
- January 2022 — Lidl Frozen Chopped Spinach
- January 2022 — Dole salads
Listeria Outbreaks & Recalls 2021
- December 2021 — Haifa Smoked Fish
- December 2021 — Dole salads
- December 2021 — Fresh Express Salads
- December 2021 — Ham & Pepperoni
- November 2021 — Frozen cauliflower
- November 2021 — Wild Cold Smoked Keta Salmon Lox
- November 2021 — Fisherman’s Wharf Jumbo Cooked Shrimp
- October 2021 — Dole Garden Salads
- October 2021 — Taylor Farms Mushroom Stir Fry
- October 2021 — Nick’s Famous Bar-B-Q Hickory Smoked Pork
- September 2021 — Argentina Mighty Meaty Hot Dogs
- September 2021 — Kale
- August 2021 — Hostess Hot Dog & Hamburger Buns
- July 2021 — 5000 Years Foods Kimchi
- July 2021 — Cahill’s Cheese
- July 2021 — Muffins
- July 2021 — Circle K Chicken Salad Sandwich
- July 2021 — Tyson chicken
- June 2021 — Banner Smoked Fish
- May 2021 — Seafood Mushrooms
- May 2021 — Enoki Mushrooms
- May 2021 — Guan’s Seafood Mushrooms
- May 2021 — Chicken
- May 2021 — Whole Foods – Little Hatch’s Jalapeno Cream Cheese
- April 2021 — Robinson Fresh Turnip Greens
- April 2021 — Velvet Ice Cream & Sherbet
- April 2021 — Enoki Mushrooms
- March 2021 — Turkey Sandwiches (MG Foods, Fresh to You)
- February 2021 — J&J Distributing (taco products, salads, wraps, sandwiches)
- February 2021 — El Abuelito Queso Fresco
- February 2021 — Hispanic-style fresh and soft cheese
- January 2021 — Butternut squash
Listeria Outbreaks & Recalls 2020
- December 2020 — Trader Joe’s Lightly Salted Edamame
- November 2020 — Hy-Vee Short Cuts Vegetable Mixes
- October 2020 — Italian-style deli meat
- October 2020 — Walmart fruit bowls (Freshness Guaranteed®)
- October 2020 — Watermelon from Walmart & RaceTrac
- August 2020 — Freshouse and Wegmans lemons, limes, oranges, and red potatoes
- August 2020 — Lidl smoked bratwurst & other sausage products
- July 2020 — Shrimp poke
- July 2020 — Five Cheese Stuffed Shells
- May 2020 — Peekaboo Ice Cream
- April 2020 — Homestead Creamery unsalted butter
- March 2020 — Enoki mushrooms from Korea
- February 2020 — Blendtopia Superfood Smoothie Kits
- February 2020 — Nuts ‘N More Plain Peanut Spread
- January 2020 — Premo & Fresh Grab Sandwiches (Lipari Foods)
- January 2020 — Clay Center Locker
- January 2020 — Salvadorean String Cheese
Listeria Outbreaks & Recalls 2019
- December 2019 — Hard-boiled eggs
- December 2019 — Smoked salmon
- November 2019 — Trader Joe’s Sushi (Fuji Food Products, Inc.)
- November 2019 — Ezzo Sausage Co. Pepperoni Pizza Toppings
- November 2019 — QFC/Fred Meyer Stir Fry Vegetable Trays
- November 2019 — Mann Packing Co. vegetables
- October 2019 — Michigan apples
- October 2019 — Chicken
- October 2019 — SuperMom’s and Hometown Kitchen Chicken Salad Sandwiches
- October 2019 — Tuscan Sun Chicken Salad Sandwich
- October 2019 — Ready-to-eat foods with chicken (expanded recall)
- October 2019 — Chicken salad sandwiches
- October 2019 — Lipari Foods chicken salad & chicken salad sandwiches
- October 2019 — Tip Top Poultry
- September 2019 — Euphoria Fancy Food ‘Capitan K’ Salmon Pieces
- August 2019 — Chicken
- July 2019 — Target & Fresh Market — Archer Farms and Freskët Salads & Sandwiches
- July 2019 — Hummus
- July 2019 — Growers Express Fresh Vegetables
- June 2019 — Woodstock Frozen Organic Grilled Red Peppers
- June 2019 — Frozen Avocado Chunks
- June 2019 — Frozen Spinach
- May 2019 — Deli meats and cheeses
- April 2019 — Valero and Circle K Salads, Sandwiches, and Wraps
- March 2019 — Avocados (“Bravocado” and “Organic California”)
- February 2019 — Walmart / Marketside Green Beans and Butternut Squash
- January 2019 — Peaches, Plums and Nectarines from Costco, ALDI, and Walmart
- January 2019 — Thrive Market Nut Butters
- January 2019 — Lunch Box Sandwiches
- January 2019 — Oskri and Thrive Organic Tahini Butter and Sunflower Butter
Listeria Outbreaks & Recalls 2018
- December 2018 — Eat Smart® Single-Serve Salad Shake-Ups™ (salad bowls)
- November 2018 — Vietnamese Pork Rolls
- October 2018 — Trader Joe’s Salads & Burritos
- October 2018 — Harris Teeter Fresh Foods BBQ Chicken Pizza & Burritos
- October 2018 — Ruiz Foods Taquitos
- October 2018 — Jenny Craig BBQ Chicken Wraps
- October 2018 — Ukrop’s Homestyle Foods
- October 2018 — Johnston County Hams – Deli Ham
- March 2018 — Oregon Food Bank – Pumpkin Seeds
- January 2018 — Panera cream cheese
- January 2018 — Ice cream bars
Listeria Recalls 2017
- December 2017 — Fresh-Pak and Meijer Sliced Apple Products
- December 2017 — Frozen Biscuit Dough
- December 2017 — Jack Brown Produce “Apple Ridge” Gala, Fuji, Honeycrisp, and Golden Delicious apples
- November 2017 — Frozen Corn
- October 2017 — Mann’s Fresh Vegetables and Nourish Bowls
- September 2017 — Queso Fresco and Raw Milk Cheese
- June 2017 — Ava’s Organic Roasted Cashews & Peanuts
- June 2017 — Hummus with Roasted Pine Nuts
- May 2017 — Aunt Jemima & Hungry Man
- March 2017 — Menu Del Sol Bean & Cheese Burritos
- March 2017 — Whole Foods Vulto Creamery Cheese
- February 2017 — Deutsch Kase Haus Cheese
Listeria Recalls 2016
- November 2016 — Sabra Hummus
- October 2016 — Cookie Dough Ice Cream
- September 2016 — Blue Bell Ice Cream
- July 2016 — Bar-S Hot Dogs and Corndogs
- June 20216 — National Frozen Food Corp.
- June 2016 — Nature Valley Granola Bars
- June 2016 — Clif Bars
- April 2016 — CRF Frozen Foods (Peas, Corn)
- March 2016 — Starbucks breakfast sandwiches
- January 2016 — Dole salad
Listeria Recalls 2015
- October 2015 — Whole Foods Papillon Organic Roquefort cheese
- September 2015 — Picnic Gourmet Spreads yogurt cheese
- September 2015 — Karoun Dairies soft cheese
- June 2015 — Santa Barbara Smokehouse cold smoked salmon
- May 2015 — Good Seed Inc. raw mung bean and soybean sprouts
- August 2015 — Hy-Vee Summer Fresh Pasta Salad
- April 2015 — Today’s Harvest frozen peas, corn, and broccoli
- April 2015 — Jamba “At Home” smoothie kits and Fresh Frozen vegetables
- April 2015 — Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams
- April 2015 — Blue Bell ice cream
- April 2015 — Sabra Classic Hummus
- April 2015 — Blue Bell Creamery
- March 2015 — Target frozen organic spinach
- March 2015 — Amy’s Kitchen and Wegmans Food Markets spinach product
- January 2015 — Snoqualmie Gourmet Ice Cream
- January 2015 — Queseria Bendita soft cheese
- January 2015 — Rader Farms Fresh Start frozen smoothie mixes
- January 2015 — Santa Barbara Smokehouse cold smoke salmon
- December 2014 — Caramel apples
What is Listeriosis?
Eating food or drinking water contaminated with Listeria can cause a bacterial infection called listeriosis. It is very dangerous for people who have weak immune systems, newborns, adults over 60 years of age, or pregnant women. The CDC estimates that approximately 1,600 people become ill with listeriosis every year.
What is Listeria?
Listeria is a group of at least seven types of bacteria, of which only three are known to cause disease. The Listeria monocytogenes bacteria causes the vast majority of listeria infections in humans. It is commonly found in nature, especially in soil, water, decaying vegetation, and in the gastrointestinal tract of many animals. It is frequently found in sewage and manure fertilizer.
What Foods are Most Dangerous?
Listeria is most commonly found on unprocessed deli meats, unpasteurized milk products, sprouts, raw vegetables that have been contaminated with soil or manure fertilizer, soft cheeses, or uncooked hot dogs. Listeria can also be found on other types of foods. The bacteria grows best in warm temperatures, but unlike most bacteria, Listeria can survive inside a refrigerator, and even freezing.
What Can I Do?
Becuase Listeria can spread to other foods that are cut and served on the same cutting board or stored in the same area, food handlers should take steps to prevent cross-contamination from the recalled product.
Listeria Infection in Pregnant Women
Pregnant women account for approximately 17% of all listeriosis infections. Listeria can infect an unborn baby when the mother ingests contaminated food, which can cause miscarriage, stillbirth, or premature birth. Sometimes, babies are born with a listeria infection, which can become life-threatening after they are born.
Complications
Most listeria infections are very mild, and do not cause severe symptoms. In some cases, however, listeria can cause a life-threatening blood infection or meningitis (inflammation of the fluid-filled spaces around the brain and spinal cord). These serious complications are very rare for healthy adults.
Symptoms of Listeriosis
If you ate food that has been recalled due to listeria contamination, be on the lookout for signs and symptoms of listeria infection. The symptoms of listeriosis typically begin a few days after the contaminated food is eaten. However, it may take up to two months (70 days) before symptoms appear. If you experience any of the following symptoms, contact your doctor:
- Fever
- Muscle aches
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
Symptoms of Meningitis
In some cases, serious listeria infection can spread to the central nervous system and cause bacterial meningitis. This is a life-threatening complication. If you experience any of the following symptoms after ingesting food contaminated with listeria, seek emergency medical attention:
- Severe headache
- Stiff neck
- Confusion of changes in alertness
- Loss of balance
- Convulsions
- Sensitivity to light
How to Reduce the Risk of Listeria Infection
According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), you can reduce your risk of listeriosis infection in the following ways:
- Cook raw food from animals thoroughly
- Wash raw vegetables thoroughly before eating
- Do not mix uncooked meats and other foods
- Do not consume raw (unpasteurized) milk products
- Wash hands, knives, cutting boards, and utensils after handling uncooked meats or raw vegetables
- Consume perishable foods soon after purchasing them
- Avoid consuming deli meats and hot dogs that have not been heated to an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit
- Clean up spills that occur in your refrigerator, especially spills involving meat juices
Do I have a Listeria Food Poisoning Lawsuit?
The Schmidt Firm, PLLC is currently accepting food poisoning induced injury cases in all 50 states. If you or somebody you know has been diagnosed with Listeria, you should contact our lawyers immediately for a free case consultation. Please use the form below to contact our Food Poisoning Litigation Group or call toll free 24 hours a day at (866) 920-0753. Attention Lawyers: We consider a referral from another law firm to be one of the greatest compliments. If your firm is interested in referring us a case or for us to send you a list of previous award judgments and/or average referral fees, please visit the Lawyer Referral section of our website.