One person has died, a pregnant woman lost her baby, and several others have required hospitalization after contracting listeria from deli meat and cheese. Listeria is the third leading cause of death from food poisoning in the United States and is especially dangerous for pregnant women, those over 65 years old, and people with a weak immune system. If you have been affected by the latest outbreak contact Newland & Newland, LLP. We have experienced listeria food poisoning attorneys who can help.

Impacted States

Infections have been reported in Illinois, New York, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, and California. People have reported getting sick after eating deli meat or cheese sold at a market in New York. But officials believe this store is not the only source of the contaminated food and that the number of sick people is likely to rise.

Health Complications Due to Listeria

Listeria monocytogenes is a bacteria that produces an infection called listeriosis. It is a severe illness that involves multiple organs and complications including brain infection. The elderly can suffer blood infections leading to sepsis. About 25 percent of listeriosis cases are fatal, but it can take as much as three to four weeks to determine if you are sick as a result of listeria. Symptoms include confusion, stiff neck, convulsions, loss of balance, and muscle aches. If caught early, antibiotics can be used to treat listeria.

A listeria outbreak has been tied to Brie and Camembert cheeses. Listeria is especially dangerous for moms-to-be because an infection can cause pregnancy loss and stillbirths. Young children, the elderly, and those with a weaker immune system also face a higher risk of illness. So far, five people in the United States have been hospitalized because of this outbreak. If you felt sick after eating one of these cheeses, you need a listeria food poisoning attorney who can help.

Brie and Camembert Cheeses Recall

All Old Europe Cheese Brie and Camembert products were distributed to stores across the nation and Mexico between August 1, 2022, and September 28, 2022. Some of the retailers that carry them include Albertsons, Safeway, Whole Foods, Sprouts, Save Mart, and Stop & Shop, among others.

Retailers may have repackaged bulk cheese into smaller packages for sale. That packaging may not have the original food labels. The cheese was sold under multiple brand names including Black Bear, Trader Joe, Prestige, Primo Taglio, Glenview Farms, and Cobblestone, among others.

You would think you could trust the packaging labels at your local grocery store, but incorrect labeling of products happens more often than we would like. Each year some 90,000 people end up in the emergency room after suffering a severe allergic reaction to food due to improper labeling. The most recent recall involves packaged potatoes that you microwave. Food allergies are an increasing public health concern in the United States, and food labels are often the only line of defense.

Dutch Red Potatoes with Dijon Mustard Sauce

World Variety Produce Inc. recalled Melissa’s Dutch Red Potatoes with Dijon Mustard Sauce. The product contains eggs, but they are not listed on the food label. Federal law requires known allergens such as eggs, peanuts, and other ingredients to be printed on food labels when it is in or a part of the product. In this case, the sauce includes a cream that is tossed over the potatoes when it is ready to cook.

People with an allergy or severe sensitivity to eggs are at risk of developing a life-threatening allergic reaction if they eat the potatoes and sauce. Anaphylaxis is a sudden and severe allergic reaction that may cause death. 

You may often pair thoughts of your favorite comfort foods with dinner rolls. But 37 types of bread that found their way onto dinner tables, grocery stores, and restaurants have been recalled because they contain dangerous bacteria. Babies, the elderly, and those with a weakened immune system are most at risk. If you or a family member experienced food poisoning due to someone else’s negligence, it is a very serious matter.

Bread Products Recalled

The recall involves dinner rolls, sandwich rolls, and buns that were made between March 21, 2022, and April 25, 2022, with an ingredient supplied by Lyons Magnus, a company that also makes nutritional drinks and coffee. Piantedosi Baking Company announced the recall in August. Here are some of the products included in that recall:

• Hawaiian Sandwich Roll

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When we stop for a quick bite to eat at a fast-food restaurant, we generally temper our expectations about the overall quality of the food. While it can certainly be frustrating, we are more or less willing to accept slightly cold fries in exchange for the convenience of a meal on the go. However, our expectations for food safety do not change, and we never expect to suffer from food poisoning when we choose fast food.

Unfortunately, this is exactly what reportedly happened to at least 97 people in six states after eating sandwiches from Wendy’s restaurants. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), those who experienced foodborne illness as part of this outbreak were infected with a specific strain of E. coli.

Details of the Outbreak

The first reports of illness associated with what would become a multi-state E. coli outbreak started in late July and continued through the second week of August. Cases of E. coli infections were reported in Michigan, Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and New York, with more than half of all of the reported cases being from Michigan.