A couple from Missouri is taking legal action after a woman became critically ill due to listeria.
The lawsuit has been filed by OFT Food Safety & Injury Lawyers in St. Louis Circuit Court against Boar’s Head Provisions, Co., Inc. and Schnucks Markets, Inc.
Currently, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) are investigating Boar’s Head after listeria was detected in one of its products. This bacterium is known to cause severe, sometimes fatal illnesses and is linked to a multi-state outbreak, which has led to 33 hospitalizations.
The affected woman purchased liverwurst made by Boar’s Head from a Schnucks store in June and found herself hospitalized in early July due to a “deathly ill” condition, as stated by her attorneys.
According to OFT Food Safety & Injury Lawyers, testing confirmed she had a severe listeria infection. Thankfully, she recovered after an extended hospital stay but needed additional time in rehab for a full recovery.
Boar’s Head identified nine products included in the recall, such as the liverwurst linked to the outbreak and eight other deli meats made on the same production line that day.
The latest CDC report states there are 35 illness cases tied to this outbreak across 13 states, including Georgia, Illinois, and Missouri.
In total, around 207,528 pounds of meat are being recalled, classified as Class I risk, meaning they are deemed “unfit for human consumption.”
“We’ve seen this before with deli meats,” noted attorney Ryan Osterholm. “If a facility isn’t cleaned thoroughly, listeria can linger, contaminate food, and make people really sick.” He added that this often leads to hospitalizations and, in some tragic cases, fatalities.
The FSIS has advised anyone who bought these products to discard them or return them to their source.
“Make sure to clean your fridge to prevent cross-contamination,” the FSIS advised on July 26.
If you have any questions about the recall, contact Boar’s Head Provisions Co. at 1-800-352-6277.