John Powers Victim in Whittier Farms Listeria Outbreak
Officials report the death of 88-year-old John J. Powers from drinking Listeria contaminated milk from Whittier Farms, according the Metro West Daily News. Born on December 25, 1919, Mr. Powers was an avid Boston Red Sox fan and World War II veteran, the story states.
Powers contracted listeriosis from pasteurized milk produced by Whittier Farms and purchased at Shady Oaks Farms in Medway, Massachusetts. Dr. Alfred DeMaria, director of communicable diseases of the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, reports that coffee flavored milk in Powers’ refrigerator tested positive for Listeria.
Mr. Powers became ill right after Thanksgiving, while two other elderly men died from listeriosis in June and October. (Read about Listeria / listeriosis wrongful death.) Two pregnant women were also sickened in this outbreak; one of them had a miscarriage. (Read about Listeria, listeriosis and miscarriage.) The deaths have halted production at Whittier Farms, including Whittier, Schultz, Balance Rock, Spring Brook, and Maple brand names of whole milk, 1 percent, 2 percent, skim milk and heavy cream, and the low-fat chocolate, coffee, strawberry, vanilla and eggnog flavors.