Listeria Lawsuits

Listeriosis food poisoning can be caused by negligence in the manufacturing, packaging, preparation or handling of food products. Eating foods contaminated with the Listeria monocytogenes bacteria could lead to severe and potentially fatal illness.

REVIEW A LISTERIA LAWSUIT: Lawyers review potential food poisoning lawsuits for Listeriosis poisoning which can be traced to a particular manufacturer, retailer, restaurant or food preparer.

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OVERVIEW: Listeria is a type of bacteria that can cause mild to severe infection of the gastrointestinal tract. The strain which causes listeriosis food poisoning is Listeria monocytogenes. Those with weak immune systems, the very young, elderly or pregnant woman face the greatest risk of listeriosis from consumption of food contaminated with Listeria. In severe cases, the infection could spread via the bloodstream to the nervous system, and the food-borne infection carries a devastating fatality rate of about 25%.

In most cases, Listeria food poisoning lawsuits are filed after a mass produced food is caused to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes, resulting in widespread sickness.

LISTERIA FOOD POISONING SYMPTOMS: According to health officials, about 2,500 cases of Listeriosis are reported in the U.S. every year, of which about 500 typically result in death. Pregnant women are 20 times more likely and AIDS patients are 300 times more likely to be affected than healthy adults.

Listeriosis symptoms could include:

• Muscle ache
• Nausea
• Diarrhea
• Fever

In severe cases, the bacteria can spread from the intestines to the bloodstream and the nervous system, causing meningitis and other complications. For pregnant women, the illness may lead to miscarriages, premature deliveries, stillbirths, or Listeria infections in the newborn.

LISTERIA TREATMENTS: A blood test is often required to diagnosis Listeriosis, as there are no reliable serological or stool tests available.

Listeriosis can be treated with antibiotics, and Ampicillin is the most commonly used drug.

LISTERIA OUTBREAKS: Listeriosis can be prevented by maintaining proper hygiene when preparing food, cooking raw meats and vegetables thoroughly, and sanitizing food preparation surfaces. The bacteria is most commonly found in soft cheeses, pates, smoked fish and unpasteurized milk products.

When mass produced foods are contaminated with Listeria during the manufacturing, processing or packaging process, this could cause a large number of people to become sick, and often results in Listeria food poisoning lawsuits.

Recent Listeria food poisoning outbreaks and recalls include:

• August 2008: Progressive Gourmet Chicken Roller Sandwich Recall in Massachusetts
• December 2007: Milk Products from Whittier Farms in Shrewsberry, Massachusetts resulted in 2 deaths
• November 2002: Recall of Chicken Products from Pilgrim’s Pride, which killed 7 people, sickened 46 and caused 3 miscarriages
• Summer 1985: Mexican-style soft cheese in Southern California caused 47 deaths, including 19 stillbirths and 10 infant deaths