Food Poisoning Lawsuits and Listeria Lawsuit Help
The Weinberg Law Firm is currently assisting victims of Listeria food poisoning outbreaks nationwide. We are ready to help you. If you or a loved one was sickened after consuming a Listeria contaminated product and you have a question regarding you legal rights, please call us toll free at 1-877-934-6274. Let us help you take the first step toward seeking compensation for your Listeria food poisoning injuries.
About Listeria and Listeria Food Poisoning
Listeria infection, or listeriosis, is a serious and sometimes fatal foodborne illness caused by eating food contaminated with the bacterium Listeria monocytogenes.
Listeria can found in soil, water, and on plant material. Animals can carry Listeria without appearing ill, and may serve as a source of contamination for meat and dairy products. Listeria may be introduced to a food manufacturing facility through any of these food materials, resulting in the contamination of food processing equipment and the environment. Once Listeria contaminates the environmental surfaces of a food processing plant, it can be very difficult to eradicate.
Listeria food poisoning has been associated with ready-to-eats foods including deli meats, hot dogs, and spreads; uncooked meats; fish and other seafood (uncooked or smoked); vegetables and fruits; and dairy products including cheese (particularly soft cheeses) and ice cream. Nonpasteurized milk and dairy products may contain Listeria. Unlike other bacteria, Listeria can tolerate higher levels of salt and can multiply in foods stored at refrigerator temperatures.
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) there are about 880 confirmed cases of listeriosis in the U.S. each year.
Diagnosis of Listeriosis
Culture and identification of the bacteria from samples of blood, spinal fluid (CSF), amniotic fluid, placenta, or other normally sterile tissue are necessary for diagnosis of L. monocytogenes infection. According to the CDC, stool cultures are of little assistance in diagnosing a Listeria infection.
Symptoms and Complications of Listeria Food Poisoning
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. If a pregnant woman experiences a Listeria infection, bacteria may cross the placenta causing a miscarriage, premature delivery, still birth, or an infection in the new born. Recommendations for reducing the risk of Listeria infection can be found on the CDC’s website.
Infection with Listeria may remain limited to intestinal tract, or the bacteria may spread beyond the intestinal tract causing a life-threatening septicemia (blood infection) or meningitis. Once the bacteria have entered the blood stream, other organs can also be infected including the lungs, resulting in pneumonia, or the heart, causing an endocarditis.
Initial symptoms may include fever, chills, muscle aches, fatigue, and sometimes gastrointestinal symptoms, such as nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea. If the infection spreads to the nervous system, symptoms may include headache, weakness, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance, or convulsions. Because presentation of the infection can be affected by the type of infection or the patient’s risk group, it is important to direct your questions and concerns to your health care professional.
Obtain a Free Food Poisoning Lawsuit Evaluation
If you have been diagnosed with listeriosis, are awaiting confirmation of infection, or are looking for Listeria Lawsuit Help, you can request a free personal injury lawsuit case evaluation by calling The Weinberg Law Firm toll free at 1-877-934-6274.
The information contained on this page has been gathered from the websites of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Food and Drug Administration, and other sources in the public domain.
