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Listeria Food Poisoning Lawsuit

Listeria Food Poisoning Lawsuit

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

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Listeria Outbreaks & Recalls 2021

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Listeria Outbreaks & Recalls 2019

Listeria Outbreaks & Recalls 2018

Listeria Recalls 2017

Listeria Recalls 2016

Listeria Recalls 2015

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.

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