FROZEN VEGETABLE LISTERIA OUTBREAK LAWSUIT
The Weinberg Law Firm is currently assisting victims of Listeria food poisoning outbreaks nationwide. To those suffering due to the Frozen Vegetable Listeria Outbreak, we are ready to help you.
If you or a loved one was sickened after consuming a Listeria contaminated product, please fill out the Free Legal Case Evaluation form found on this page. You can also call us toll free, 24/7 at 877-934-6274. Let us help you take the first step toward seeking compensation for your food poisoning injuries.
FROZEN VEGETABLE LISTERIA OUTBREAK
Since March 2016, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC),the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), have been working with local health departments to track the source of a multistate outbreak of Listeria monocytogenes associated with consumption of frozen vegetables.
At this time, available epidemiological and laboratory evidence strongly suggest that frozen vegetables produced by CRF Frozen Foods, sold under various brand names, are the likely source of this Listeria outbreak.
CRF Frozen Vegetable Listeria Outbreak Recall
This possibility was addressed on May 2, 2016, when CRF Frozen Foods recalled all frozen vegetable and fruit products manufactured in the company’s Pasco, Washington facility since May 1, 2014. This recall initiated dozens of other companies to recall hundreds of frozen vegetable product under dozens of brand names which had been provided by CRF Frozen Foods.
Access full recall at foodsafety.gov to see if you may have been exposed to a potentially contaminated recalled product.
CRF Frozen Vegetable Listeria Outbreak: Eight Sickened in Outbreak
The first known illness involved in the Listeria contamination of frozen vegetables produced by CRF Frozen Foods occurred in September of 2013. However, authorities did not identify the illness to be the first of an outbreak until March 2016. Listeria specimens were collected from September 13, 2013 to March 28, 2016.
While two illness were identified as Listeria in 2016, five illness occurred in 2015, and one illness of Listeria infection occurred 2013. The six illness in 2013 and 2015 were identified through a retrospective review of the PulseNet database.
Those people sickened by listeriosis range from 56 years to 86 in age, with a median age of 76. Six of ill people are female. All eight sickened people were hospitalized. One patient was a resident of Washington, one of Maryland, and six people were residents of California.
Timeline Of CRF Frozen Vegetable Listeria Outbreak
- September, 2013: The first known instance of Listeria illness is identified in CFR Frozen Vegetables Outbreak
- April 23, 2016: CRF Frozen Foods recalled 11 frozen vegetable products because they may be contaminated with Listeria.
- May 2, 2016: CRF Frozen Foods expanded the initial recall to include all organic and traditional frozen vegetable and fruit products processed in its Pasco, Washington facility since May 1, 2014; approximately 358 consumer products sold under 42 separate brands were recalled.
- May 3, 2016: The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued an outbreak announcement, publicizing the statistics of the outbreak, how many were sickened,and the status of ongoing investigation.
- May 13, 2016: The Listeria recall has expanded to 47 million pounds of meat and poultry products sold in Illinois and across the nation.
Investigations are ongoing to determine if food sources used to manufacture CRF Frozen Foods products could explain some of the illnesses.
Investigation of CRF Frozen Vegetable Listeria Outbreak
State and local health departments attempted to interview the ill people, a family member, or a caregiver for the ill person about the foods the ill person may have eaten in the month before the illness began. Three of eight ill people, or their caregiver, were interviewed using a questionnaire that asked about a variety of foods. Two of these three people reported buying and eating frozen vegetables in the month before illness began and both reported Organic by Nature brand frozen vegetables. Organic by Nature frozen vegetables are produced by CRF Frozen Foods.
About Listeria and Listeriosis
Listeria infection, or listeriosis, is a serious and sometimes fatal foodborne illness caused by eating food contaminated with the bacterium Listeria monocytogenes. Listeriosis affects primarily pregnant women (and sometimes their developing fetuses), newborns, older adults, and adults with weakened immune systems. However, persons without these risk factors can also be affected.
Obtain a Free Listeria Lawsuit Case Evaluation
The Weinberg Law Firm is currently assisting victims of Listeria food poisoning outbreaks nationwide, including those injured in the recent multistate outbreak that may be linked to eating CRF Frozen Vegetables. Please contact our law firm 24/7, toll free at 1-877-934-6274, if you have a question regarding a Listeria food poisoning lawsuit.
