Missouri Couple Sue Over Deadly Listeria Outbreak

A lawsuit has been filed against Boar's Head, alleging their deli meat caused a life-threatening listeria infection.

URLs:

• Law firm: https://www.oftlaw.com/
• Press statement by OFC attorney Ryan Osterholm: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/lawsuit-filed-against-boars-head-on-behalf-of-missouri-woman-hospitalized-in-listeria-outbreak-linked-to-deli-meats-302207602.html
• Recalled deli meat products: https://www.fsis.usda.gov/recalls-alerts/boars-head-provisions-co--recalls-ready-eat-liverwurst-and-other-deli-meat-products
• Ongoing investigation by the USDA and CDC: https://www.cdc.gov/listeria/outbreaks/delimeats-7-24/index.html
• States affected: https://www.cdc.gov/listeria/outbreaks/delimeats-7-24/map.html

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A Missouri couple, Patrick and Sue Fleming, have filed a lawsuit against Boar's Head and Schnucks Markets, alleging that their deli meat caused a severe listeria infection. The elderly couple claims they purchased Boar's Head liverwurst from Schnucks, resulting in an extended hospital stay for 88-year-old Sue, who became "deathly ill."

The complaint details Sue's distressing symptoms:

"...nausea, diarrhea, stomach cramping, and, most disturbingly, intense whole-body aches, shaking, and muscle weakness.”

It alleges negligence, manufacturing defects, and breach of implied warranty, seeking $25,000 in damages.

Ryan Osterholm, an attorney with OFT Food Safety & Injury Lawyers, stated:

"It gets in the facility, and if you're not doing deep cleans often enough, it sticks around. That's how Listeria proliferates. From there, it gets into the food and makes people very sick... far too often, people die."

Boar's Head recently recalled over 200,000 pounds of liverwurst and other meats due to listeria contamination. The ongoing outbreak has sickened 34 people across 13 states, causing 33 hospitalizations and two deaths.

The CDC and the USDA advise those aged 65+ or with weakened immune systems to be vigilant, stressing the importance of proper heating and cleaning procedures to prevent listeriosis, a life-threatening condition.