Eight Listeria Wrongful Death Cases Linked to Cantaloupe
Laboratory tests, including DNA fingerprinting (PFGE), have confirmed eight deaths in the Listeria outbreak linked to Rocky Ford cantaloupe grown by Jensen Farms of Holly Colorado: 2 in Colorado, 1 in Maryland, 4 in New Mexico, and 1 in Oklahoma, according to today's CDC update on the outbreak.
In addition to the eight deaths listed above, Listeria deaths in other states are being investigated to determine if they were caused by Jensen Farms cantaloupe. Our law firm is representing the family of a 76-year-old Illinois man who died from complications of a Listeria infection (listeriosis) on September 9, 2011. He had eaten cantaloupe on a daily basis before becoming ill. Contact our law firm for a free consultation regarding a Listeria wrongful death investigation and lawsuit.
Investigation of Cantaloupe Listeria Outbreak
Laboratory testing has identified Listeria monocytogenes bacteria matching the outbreak strains:
- on cantaloupes from Jensen Farms collected from grocery stores
- on Jensen Farms cantaloupe collected from an ill person’s home
- in samples from equipment and cantaloupe at the Jensen Farms’ packing facility in Granada, Colorado.
Among the 36 ill persons with available information on what they ate, 34 (94%) reported consuming cantaloupes in the month before illness onset. Several ill persons remembered the type of cantaloupe they had eaten and said they were Rocky Ford cantaloupes, which are grown in the Rocky Ford region of southeastern Colorado. Source tracing of the cantaloupes that ill persons ate indicated that they came from Jensen Farms, and were marketed as being from the Rocky Ford region. These cantaloupes were shipped from July 29 through Sept 10 to at least 17 states with possible further distribution.
Cantaloupe Recall Too Late to Save Lives
In response to this outbreak, Jensen Farms recalled its Rocky Ford cantaloupe on September 14, 20ll, 41 days after outbreak victims started to get sick:
- The cantaloupe may be labeled: Colorado Grown, Distributed by Frontera Produce, USA, Pesticide Free, Jensenfarms.com, Sweet Rocky Fords.
- The cantaloupes are packed in cartons that are labeled: Frontera Produce, www.fronteraproduce.com or with Frontera Produce, Rocky Ford Cantaloupes. Both cartons also include: Grown and packed by Jensen Farms Granada, CO and Shipped by Frontera Produce LTD, Edinburg, Texas.
- Not all of the recalled cantaloupes are labeled with a sticker. Consumers should consult the retailer if they have questions about the origin of a cantaloupe.
