Listeria Symptoms, Bacteria Outbreak & Meningitis Infection

Sangar Fresh Cut Produce, a San Antonio, Texas food processing company, has been ordered to cease processing food and to recall products that have been shipped from the plant since January of this year.  This order was issued following laboratory tests performed on chopped celery indicated that Listeria monocytogenes were present in the produce.

The products recalled were mostly fresh cut produce that was distributed to schools, hospitals and restaurants.  The products were in sealed packages; it is believed that the products recalled were not sold in grocery stores.

The Texas Department of State Health Services tested the produce as part of an investigation in to 10 cases of listeriosis reported over a 8 month time span.  Five of these cases resulted in death.  Of these 10 reported Listeria illnesses, 6 were linked to the chopped celery from the Sangar plant.  The Texas counties involved in these illnesses were Bexar, Hidalgo and Travis.  Those who became ill reportedly all had serious underlying health problems, which put people who contract Listeria at an increased risk of severe or deadly complications. – Article provided by Injury attorneys in Buffalo

The Sangar plant was found to have sanitation issues by DSHS inspectors, who believe that other produce at the plant may have been contaminated by the chopped celery.  Some of the issues found by inspectors included improper hand washing, a soiled preparation table and condensation leaking over a food product area.  Investigations are ongoing as DSHS attempts to determine the source of the contamination, and where all of the products involved may have been distributed.

Sanger President Kenneth Sanquist disputes the findings, and says that independent tests showed that the produce is completely safe.  He says that the findings by the state are erroneous, and that the company is aggressively fighting these accusations.

That being said, it is highly unusual for a plant to be ordered to stop all production and recall products from many months prior; businesses are not normally shut down by health departments for no reason.

Listeria food poisoning is commonly characterized by nausea, abdominal cramps, diarrhea, muscle aches, stiff neck and fever.  Individuals with weakened immune systems, as well as the very young and the elderly, may be at risk for serious or even fatal complications.

Contact an experienced food poisoning law firm if you suspect you have become ill due to Listeria tainted foods; you may be eligible for compensation of costs related to your illness.

Recently, 2087 cases of 20 pound bulk packaged corn and poblano peppers were recalled by Pasco Processing LLC, a Pasco, WA company.  These products are thought to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes, although no illnesses have been reported so far.  Apparently, tests on finished retail samples that were performed indicated the presence of Listeria.   (article provided by Buffalo personal injury attorneys in New York)

Products included in this recall are coded 3901741007 and 3901751007.  These products were distributed to only two foodservice companies, one located in Arizona and one in California.  The products distributed to Arizona were further distributed to Chipotle Mexican Grill Restaurant locations in Arizona, California and Nevada.

The products included in this recall are:

Corn and Poblano Blend, 10071179 017738 Net Wt. 20 lbs.  Product distributed by J.R. Simplot Co., Boise, Idaho

In other food poisoning news, Specialty-Farms LLC recently recalled Organic Alfalfa Sprouts Blend and Organic Sprout Salad products with a sell-by date of 7/26/10 due to contamination with Listeria monocytogenes.  Both of these products are under the Specialty Farms brand, and are sold in 4 ounce plastic containers.  The company recalled these products voluntarily on July 23rd following lab analysis that resulted positive for Listeria from one retail sample taken.

The items included in this recall are:

Specialty Farms Organic Alfalfa Sprouts Blend UPC Code 8192400108
Specialty Farms Organic Sprout Salad UPC Code 8192400024

Listeria symptoms include nausea, diarrhea, abdominal cramps, muscle aches, and fever.  If the bacteria spreads to the nervous system, individuals may suffer headache, stiff neck, loss of balance and even convulsions.  While some people become only mildly ill, those at risk may develop serious and life-threatening complications.  These individuals include babies and young children, the elderly, those with a weakened immune system, and pregnant women who may experience a miscarriage or stillbirth.  Infection during pregnancy can also lead to infection of the new born baby.

Those who experience symptoms of Listeria should seek medical attention.  If you develop symptoms after eating foods that may be tainted, contact a listeria food poisoning attorney who can advise you of any rights you may have to monetary compensation.

Marjon Specialty Foods, Inc., a Plant City Florida based company, recently recalled 119 cases of sliced apples that tested positive for listeria contamination.  The apples recalled are packaged in 2 ounce serving packs.

This is a voluntary recall issed by the company, who states that no other products produced by Marjon Specialty Foods are involved in the recall.  To date, there have been no illnesses related to this recall.  According to reports, all apple slices that are involved in this recall have been located.  The tainted apples were sold to three Florida food service distributors, and Marjon claimed in a statement that the apple slices were all accounted for and that customers destroyed the contaminated product.

On July 6, the Agriculture Department conducted an inspection and found no further contamination, clearing Marjon to resume production.

Products included in this recall:

1 cs. 100 Simply Fresh Fruit – Use by date 7-20-10
5 cs. 100 Simply Fresh Fruit – Use by date 7-21-10
83 cs. 72 Simply Fresh Fruit – Use by date 7-20-10
30 cs. 24 Miller’s Ale House – Use by date 7-20-10

Prompt precautionary measures were implemented by the company in order to prevent illness and protect public health.  For more information, Marjon requests that consumers call 813-752-3482 between the hours of 8 am and 4 pm EST Monday through Friday.

Listeria food poisoning bacteria causes mild symptoms such as abdominal pain, diarrhea, headache, fever and nausea in healthy individuals.  Some people may be at a higher risk for developing serious complications including the very young, pregnant women, the elderly and those with a weakened immune system.  If you develop these symptoms after eating foods that are possibly contaminated with listeria, seek medical attention.

If you suspect listeria food poisoning after eating foods that are possibly contaminated, contact a New York food poisoning lawyer to determine if you may be eligible for compensation for expenses related to your illness.

Brown Chiari, personal injury lawyers in Buffalo New York help represent injured clients in a variety of matters.

The FDA announced a spinach recall on June 24th after North Carolina food inspectors found Listeria monocytogenes during random sampling in spinach produced by Lancaster Foods, LLC which is a Maryland based company.  The spinach involved in this recall includes produce sold under the Lancaster Fresh, Giant, Krisp-Pak and America’s Choice labels.

This recall affects several states, including New Jersey, Delaware, Pennsylvania, Maryland, North Carolina and Virginia.  So far, no illnesses have been reported in association with this spinach recall.

In a statement by the company, Lancaster said that the spinach in question could still be on store shelves, or that consumers could have recently purchased the products.  They ask that consumers check their refrigerators for spinach included in this recall, which has best buy dates of 19JUN10 through 27JUN10.

This statement said “Consumers who may have potentially affected product are asked to empty the contents of the package into your garbage, save the package, and contact a Lancaster Foods, LLC consumer representative toll-free at (800) 247-8125 between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.”  The company also urges retailers to confirm with all individual stores and distribution centers to be certain that none of the tainted spinach remains at their store or in their inventory.

The products included in this recall are below:

Ten-ounce packages of Krisp-Pak Hydro-Cooled Fresh Spinach, with Bag UPC codes 33383 and 65201

Eight, ten and 12-ounce packages of Lancaster Fresh, Triple Washed, All Natural, Curly Leaf Spinach, with Bag UPC codes 13055 and 01145

Ten-ounce packages of Giant Fresh Spinach, with Bag UPC codes 88267 and 09813

Ten-ounce bags of America’s Choice, Spinach, Cold Water Washed, with Bag UPC codes of 54807 and 76060

Listeria food poisoning causes flu-like symptoms including diarrhea, nausea, abdominal cramps and vomiting.  Certain individuals are at an increased risk of serious complications from listeria; these individuals include young children, the elderly, those with a weakened immune system and pregnant women, who are subject to miscarriage or still birth.  Listeriosis carries about a 25% fatality rate.

Those who have eaten foods that are possibly contaminated and developed symptoms of listeria should seek medical attention at once.

Contact a Buffalo food poisoning attorney if you have eaten foods that have caused listeria or any other type of food poisoning.  You may be entitled to compensation for costs related to your illness.

A press release was recently issued regarding one case of listeriosis and one case of brucellosis in Delaware, which are believed to be linked to raw dairy products.  This press release was issued by Delaware Health and Social Services, after the Delaware Division of Public Health identified simultaneous cases of the illnesses in a 58 year old New Castle County woman and a 44 year old Sussex County man.

Listeria and brucellosis are bacterial infections that usually affect those consuming contaminated animal products such as raw dairy products and foods.  Both of these individuals had eaten raw dairy products before becoming sick.  The Sussex County man had also reportedly handled raw poultry products before becoming ill with listeria.  Both individuals were hospitalized, and the man with listeria was still hospitalized as of June 15th but in stable condition.

Delaware prohibits the sale of raw dairy products, which have been connected to several outbreaks in the United States thus far this year, including an E. coli outbreak in Minnesota recently.  While listeria can be contracted in several different ways, it is commonly spread through consuming contaminated vegetables or raw milk that is not pasteurized.

Raw milk often contains harmful bacteria, and pasteurizing requires milk to be heated to a temperature that kills bacteria such as listeria, e. coli and salmonella.  The sale of raw milk is legal in 26 states.  DPH announced that it will begin inspecting retail food establishments for illegal sales of unpasteurized milk in light of the recent illnesses.

Listeria food poisoning bacteria usually cause mild symptoms such as nausea, diarrhea and abdominal pain, but can cause serious complications in some individuals including the very young, the frail or elderly, and those with a weakened immune system.

This article was compiled by Dataflurry internet marketing, working on behalf of buffalo personal injury attorneys at Brown Chiari.

Over the first few months of this year, 7 people in Texas have become ill from listeriosis, and 2 have died.  This unusual cluster of foodborne listeria illnesses has been near the San Antonio area, and the source of the outbreak has yet to be identified by health officials.

Evidence to date does appear that all of the illnesses most likely came from the same produce, as genetic analysis identified a common bacterial strain among all of the individuals who became ill.  DNA patterns isolated from blood samples or stools of those who became ill were indistinguishable.  This, according to health officials, suggests that all of the victims had eaten the same food.  It is difficult to pinpoint the exact source of the listeria food poisoning bacteria due to the fact that those who became ill are scattered around a 300 mile radius.

The first case of listeriosis was reported in January of this year, with the most recent being reported on May 6th.  According to Roger Sanchez, a senior epidemiologist at the local health department, the victims range in age from 66 to 93.

So far this year, listeria monocytogenes has been the reason for several recalls including:

822 pounds of prosiutto products recalled by Greco and Sons

460 pounds of fully cooked crumbled pork sausage products recalled by Custom Corned Beef, Inc. of Denver, CO.

The sale of raw milk products by a Pennsylvania dairy was prohibited because of positive tests for listeria

Ham was recalled in Minnesota

Approximately two weeks ago, the USDA-FSIS issued a public health alert for various ready-to-eat deli meat products due to potential contamination with listeria.

While this is a small outbreak, it has unfortunately affected mostly the elderly.  With most cases of food poisoning, the frail and elderly are at great risk of complications than younger, healthier individuals.

Symptoms of listeriosis include fever, muscle aches and occasional nausea or diarrhea; however, if it enters the nervous system individuals may experience a stiff neck, headache, loss of balance, confusion or even convulsions.

Individuals who suspect listeria or have tested positive are urged to consult with a New York food poisoning attorney to learn your legal rights.

Over the course of this year, seven people have become sickened in Texas with an infection caused by Listeria monocytogenes.  Listeriosis has now taken the lives of two elderly people.  This is not surprising, as most food poisoning related illnesses are most dangerous in certain groups of individuals, including the elderly.  The seven people who have become ill so far are from Bexar County, Travis County and Hidalgo County.  The San Antonio Metropolitan Health District states that the victims who died ranged in ages from 66 to 93.

While this has been a relatively small outbreak, Roger Sanchez who is senior epidemiologist with the Metropolitan Health District says it may be hard to pinpoint the source of the Listeria food poisoning infection, because two of the patients lived 300 miles apart.  He also said that genetic analysis performed found that the strain of bacteria in all patients was identical, which means the victims were likely infected by the same food item.

While this is not a large outbreak or epidemic, what makes it sad is that it infected two people who were fragile and elderly, taking their lives.  Sanchez also stated that most who became infected suffered serious underlying health problems, which made them more susceptible to serious complications that can develop from the infection.

So far this year, reports of illness due to Listeria food poisoning in Texas have ranged from January to the most recent case discovered on May 6.  The San Antonio Metropolitan Health District also believes it is likely that other individuals become ill with food poisoning, but developed only flu-like symptoms and did not become seriously ill.

Individuals who develop flu-like symptoms after eating foods possibly tainted with Listeria should contact a doctor at once.  Symptoms often include diarrhea, stomach cramps and nausea.  While symptoms are usually only mild in healthy individuals, they may become more serious and even life-threatening in young children, the elderly and those with weakened immune systems.

Contact a New York food poisoning attorney if you or a loved one become ill after consuming foods that are possibly contaminated by Listeria.

A Houston egg roll manufacturer, Chung’s Products LP, is the target of a permanent injunction sought by the US Food and Drug Administration because of a continuing food safety issue.

Those named in a complaint accusing them of manufacturing shrimp egg rolls under unsanitary conditions are Chung’s Products LP, the company’s president, Charlie Kujawa and the directory of quality assurance, Gregory Birdsell.  The conditions under which these shrimp egg rolls and manufactured are said to be filthy, and a 2009 inspection found Listeria monocytogenes present in the firm’s egg roll processing environment.  Officials state that the complaint is only related to Chung’s fish and fishery products and not other foods that Chung’s produces.

The 2009 inspection that revealed the presence of listeria food poisoning also found that there were deficiencies in the way the company manufactured shrimp egg rolls, which are sold nationwide.  The plant has continued to fail in the area of controlling risks of the formation of Clostridium botulinum, which can cause the potentially fatal illness botulism.

The complaint, filed by the US Department of Justice, was filed in the US District Court for the Southern District of Texas, and charges the defendants with violating the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act by preparing, packaging and holding shrimp egg rolls under unsanitary conditions.  Significant deviations from the seafood Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) requirements have been revealed by FDA inspections, and the agency has previously warned Chung’s that corrective actions need to be taken.  The FDA is taking this action in order to protect public health.

Botulism and listeria are infections that can cause either mild or severe illness.  In most healthy adults, symptoms are only mild.  However, certain groups of individuals may be put at risk of serious complications or even death when infected with these foodborne illnesses.  Pregnant women, babies, young children, the elderly and those with immune deficiencies are at highest risk of developing serious complications.

If you believe you have been infected with any type of foodborne bacteria, seek medical attention.  Following receipt of medical attention, you need to research a food poisoning attorney to review your case and help you obtain compensation for lost wages, medical bills and possibly other factors.

Three types of cheeses have recently been recalled by Queseria Bendita, a Yakima, Washington company due to possible Listeria food poisoning infection.  Queso Fresco, Panela and Requeson have been recalled because of the potentially dangerous Listeria monocytogenes organism that can be serious or even fatal in some individuals.

These cheeses were distributed in Oregon and Washington, and are sold at Queseria Bendita’s retail stores, which is mostly a Hispanic market.  The products in question are the Queso Fresco packaged in one and three pound vacuum packed wheels, Panela one and three pound vacuum packed, and Requeson 8 ounce and one pound cheese packed in clear plastic tubs.  Each variety has a date code up to and including “Apr 30 2010″ and a green label containing the Queseria Bendita name and type of cheese.

While there are mild illnesses that may be related to the cheese in Oregon and Washington, five people are known to have been made ill and hospitalized after consuming these cheese products.  The illnesses are what prompted the public health investigation, which led to the products being sampled and tested.  These tests concluded that the three products were contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes.  Production and distribution of the products has been stopped while the source of the contamination is being investigated by the Washington State Dept. of Agriculture and the U.S. FDA.

Earlier in the month cheese was recalled by the Estrella Family Creamery in Montesano, Washington.  What is interesting about these two recalls is that not all of the cheeses that were recalled were produced with unpasteurized milk, which means that the environment in which the products were being made is somehow contaminated.

Two of the five who became ill after eating the Queserita Bendita cheeses were pregnant women who became ill and gave birth prematurely because of fetal distress.  The FDA strongly cautions pregnant women against consuming soft cheeses made from raw milk products due to the possibility of serious risks to their babies.

This being said, the cheese in question in the Queseria Bendita’s recall are made with pasteurized products.  Essentially, this means that the Listeria bacteria was present in the processing facility, and may have been brought in either by an infected worker or a contaminated ingredient introduced into the environment.

Those who contract Listeria infection after eating tainted foods should contact a reputable New York food poisoning attorney, who can advise you of possible monetary compensation you may be entitled to.

A January 27th letter from the FDA warned the Kellogg Company about their failure to address food safety violations following detection of Listeria bacteria in Eggo Buttermilk Waffles in August of last year, according to a Reuters news agency.  The contamination was detected at the Atlanta Eggo and frozen food plant.

A follow-up inspection performed after the waffles were found to be tainted with Listeria found sanitation violations and bacterial contamination remained at the plant.  According to the FDA the Atlanta plant was cited for improperly sanitizing of equipment and insufficient handling of trash and food.  The Atlanta Food and Drug Administration found Listeria on five swabs that were taken from around the plant, one of the positive results coming from a forklift wheel used in the plant.  To date, no illnesses have been reported in relation to the contamination, but Listeria bacteria can cause serious illness in certain individuals, especially pregnant women.

The Kellogg company stated that it has made enhancements to the plant to insure food safety, while the warning letter sent by the FDA said that Kellogg had failed to address the violations found so far.  Kellogg told Reuters recently that all of the violations have been corrected, and that they will notify the FDA in a response to the letter of warning received in January.

Listeria food poisoning usually produces nausea, diarrhea, fever and muscle aches.  Headache, a stiff neck, loss of balance and confusion may occur if the infection spreads to the nervous system.  Those with compromised immune systems may develop meningitis and/or encephalitis.  In pregnant women, Listeria may lead to infection of the baby, stillbirth or miscarriage.

Individuals who become ill after eating foods possibly tainted with Listeria should see a doctor at once to evaluate your symptoms and to determine if you need Listeria treatment.  Manufacturers and others involved with food preparation may be held responsible for expenses associated with Listeria food poisoning.  Lost wages and medical expenses are some costs that may be recouped.

It is always a good idea to evaluate the records of restaurants to determine whether they have a good sanitation record to reduce the risks of Listeria infection. If you or a loved one have become ill after eating contaminated foods manufactured or prepared in an unsanitary manner, contact an aggressive New York food poisoning attorneys.