Listeria Threat Linked to Pre-Packaged Sandwiches

 Posted on October 24, 2019 in Listeria

Listeria outbreaks in the U.S. are rare compared to other forms of food poisoning, but food manufacturers and regulators take the potential of an outbreak seriously. For instance, Lipari Foods recently issued a voluntary recall of some of its pre-packaged sandwiches because they potentially contained listeria monocytogenes. The products included chicken salad and ham and cheese sandwiches under the Premo, Fresh Grab, and Lipari Old Tyme brand names. Lipari Foods distributed the sandwiches to retailers in 15 states, including Illinois. There were no reported illnesses connected to the recalled products as of the announcement of the recall on Oct. 8. A listeria infection, known as listeriosis, can be life-threatening, depending on the patient.

Those Most Vulnerable

Symptoms of listeriosis may appear as soon as a day after eating contaminated food or take weeks to develop. The severity of the symptoms depends on whether the infection has spread beyond the gut – known as invasive listeriosis – and may include:

• Fever
• Diarrhea
• Nausea
• Abdominal pain
• Muscle aches
• Stiff neck
• Loss of balance

Healthy adults rarely develop long-lasting illnesses from listeriosis, but the infection can be more serious for children, the elderly, and people with weakened immune systems. Patients with invasive listeriosis often require hospitalization, and about one in five patients die according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC).

Pregnancy Threat

Unborn children may be the ones who are most vulnerable during a listeria infection. Pregnant women with listeriosis may experience only minor symptoms, but the infection has been known to cause:

• Miscarriages
• Premature births
• Stillbirths
• Infections in newborns

According to the CDC, listeriosis causes a fetal loss in one in five cases and newborn death in three percent of cases. Newborns with listeriosis may show symptoms such as fever, irritability, vomiting, and disinterest in feeding.

Contact an Arlington Heights Food Poisoning Lawyer

Listeria monocytogenes originate in soil and water, which allows them to infect the vegetables, meats and dairy products that people eat. One source of contaminated food can spread to other foods in the same processing facility, and the bacteria are resilient, being able to grow in refrigerator temperatures. With the potentially devastating effects of listeriosis, it is important to remember that you have the right to liability compensation from the party at the source of the contaminated food. An Illinois food poisoning attorney at Newland & Newland, LLP, can help you prove the connection between your illness and the contaminated food. Schedule a consultation by calling 847-797-8000.

Source:

https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/lipari-foods-issues-recall-ham-cheese-wedge-sandwiches-due-potential-contamination-listeria?utm_campaign=Lipari%20Foods%20Issues%20Recall%20of%20Ham%20%26%20Cheese%20Wedge%20Sandwiches&utm_medium=email&utm_source=Eloqua

https://www.cdc.gov/listeria/faq.html