Dole Salad Listeria Outbreak Affects 18 Victims in Nine States

 Posted on March 09, 2016 in Food poisoning attorney

By the time the source of a food poisoning outbreak is determined, acknowledged, and publicized, usually hundreds or even thousands of victims or more have been exposed to the dangerous bacteria. This is especially true if the outbreak is linked to a popular or widely-distributed food product. This is currently happening with the Listeria outbreak linked to Dole prepackaged salads, which has affected 18 people in nine states: Indiana, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Michigan, Missouri, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, New York, and Ohio. The first reports of illness linked to the salads were made in the summer of 2015, with more coming in during the following months, right up to January 2016.

All 18 of the victims affected by this outbreak, one of whom was a pregnant woman, were hospitalized. The victims ranged in age from three to 83 years old. In Canada, 11 people were affected by the outbreak, three of whom died of complications related to the infection.

Which Brands are Affected?

Salads sold under numerous labels were affected by the Listeria outbreak. Affected brands include:

• Marketside;
• Dole;
• Fresh Selections;
• Simple Truth;
• President's Choice; and
• The Little Salad Bar.

These bagged salad brands were sold at a variety of retailers, including Shoprite, Stop n Shop, Kroger, Aldi, Price Chopper, and Walmart. The affected salads were traced to Dole's Springfield, Ohio packaging facility. The company recalled all products from this facility following reports of listeriosis.

Listeriosis Can Kill

Listeriosis can become a serious disease if a victim does not receive the appropriate treatment. This is especially true for victims with weak immune systems, children, the elderly, and pregnant women. Symptoms of listeriosis include the following:

• Stiff joints;
• Flu-like symptoms;
• Nausea;
• Diarrhea;
• Muscle soreness; and
• Gastrointestinal upset.

Individuals who experience one or more of these symptoms and feel it could have been linked to contaminated food should seek medical care to confirm whether they are suffering from food poisoning. If an individual is found to be suffering from listeriosis, he or she may be treated with antibiotics. Usually, the symptoms of Listeria poisoning show up within 70 hours of eating contaminated food. Foods that are at risk of becoming contaminated with Listeria include dairy products made with unpasteurized milk, soft cheeses, processed meats like hot dogs and bologna, and meat and poultry that has not been cooked through. Minimize your risk of contracting listeriosis by heating all meats to the recommended internal temperature and only choosing pasteurized dairy products.

Work with a Chicago Food Poisoning Attorney

Helping clients with multiple legal issues in northern Illinois and Chicago, our team of experienced food poisoning attorneys at Newland & Newland, LLP works in the prestigious 180 N. LaSalle St. building. Contact our firm today to schedule your free legal consultation with an attorney who can answer your questions about the personal injury claim process and help you get closer to receiving monetary compensation for your losses caused by your illness.