Listeria Recall: Wal-Mart Egg Salad
A sample of Ballard's Farm Egg Salad sold in a Wake County, North Carolina, Wal-Mart store has tested positive for Listeria monocytogenes, a potentially-fatal foodborne pathogen. Yesterday the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services announced a recall of Ballard's Farm Egg Salad sold in 12-ounce containers with the code "Best Used By 11/07/06." The egg salad is sold at Wal-Mart and other food retailers in North Carolina. It also has been distributed to Ohio, Indiana, Virginia, Kentucky, Tennessee, Pennsylvania and West Virginia. More Ballard's Farm Egg Salad may be recalled after further testing.
North Carolina Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler stated, "If consumers have this product, they shouldn't eat it, and should either discard it or return it to the place of purchase for a refund." However, if you have eaten some of the recalled Ballard's Farm Egg Salad, you should keep it until you are sure you have not contracted Listeria poisoning, also called listeriosis. Uneaten egg salad could be used as evidence if you are diagnosed with listeriosis. The incubation period for Listeria is anywhere from 10-70 days.
If you have eaten Ballard's Farm Egg Salad, you should watch for Listeria symptoms, including fever, muscle aches, diarrhea, headache, loss of balance and confusion. If you suspect Listeria poisoning (listeriosis), contact a doctor immediately. Listeriosis can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in those with weakened immune systems including the elderly and persons with HIV infection or undergoing chemotherapy.
About one-third of all confirmed cases of listeriosis are pregnant women. Listeria symptoms in pregnant women may be so mild that the woman does not know she has been infected with the bacteria. However, the Listeria bacteria also infect the unborn baby and can cause miscarriage, stillbirth, or premature birth. Infants born with Listeria infections (listeriosis) are generally gravely ill and some die. If you were pregnant and ate Wal-Mart egg salad and then had a miscarriage, stillbirth or premature birth, you should contact a Listeria attorney immediately.
Attorney Fred Pritzker, has practiced law for over 30 years. He focuses his practice on food poisoning lawsuits and has recovered millions for victims of food poisoning, including a recent $6,425,000 settlement. Learn how Listeria lawyer Fred Pritzker develops winning legal theories.
If you or a family member has been diagnosed with Listeria monocytogenes after eating Ballard's Farm Egg Salad, a lawyer at Pritzker | Ruohonen is available for a free consultation. You can call toll-free at 1-888-377-8900, e-mail fhp@pritzkerlaw.com or fill out the online,attorney-consultation form.
If you have eaten the recalled egg salad, you should keep it until the incubation period for listeriosis has passed. Make sure it is clearly marked "Do not eat!" Watch for symptoms of Listeria, including a flu-like illness with a fever, headache, and sometimes nausea and diarrhea. If you are pregnant, you should go to the doctor if you experience fever and chills and have the doctor test for listeriosis. Listeriosis normally strikes within two to eight weeks after eating contaminated food, but it can take up to 10 weeks to become ill. If you have no symptoms after the 10-week period is over, dispose of the salad.
According to medical authorities, you do not need to go to the doctor if you have eaten a recalled product and have no symptoms. As stated in the entry above, however, if you do have symptoms, you should go to the doctor.
This is not and should not be considered legal or medical advice.