Missouri Listeria Death and Illness Possibly Caused by Rocky Ford Cantaloupe
Attorneys Fred Pritzker and Brendan Flaherty won over $6,000,000 for their clients in a Listeria food poisoning case that involved the wrongful deaths of an elderly man and unborn babies. They have a national practice and are available for a free consultation regarding a cantaloupe lawsuit.
Our attorneys are now investigating Listeria cases in several states that are part of a multistate outbreak linked to Rocky Ford cantaloupe grown by Jensen Farms in Colorado and distributed by Frontera Produce of Texas. In response to this outbreak, Jensen Farms has recalled cantaloupe that was sent to several states, including Missouri. Retailers like Walmart, Supervalue and Whole Foods Market pulled the recalled cantaloupes off of their shelves.
Recalled Colorado cantaloupes are being investigated for their potential link to two cases of listeriosis in Missouri, one of which resulted in a fatality, according to the Springfield-Greene County Health Department. “Do not consume Rocky Ford cantaloupes at this time. As this investigation continues, more information will be made available in order to protect the health and safety of the community,” the release states.
"The Springfield-Greene County Health Department is investigating two cases of listeria that could be linked to this cantaloupe recall. The individuals did eat cantaloupe prior to their own set of illness, but we do not know the specific brand of cantaloupe at this time," Kendra Williams, community health and epidemiology administrator for the health department, told KSPR News.
The FDA is warning consumers not to eat Rocky Ford cantaloupe shipped by Jensen Farms. Jensen Farms is voluntarily recalling the Rocky Ford cantaloupe it shipped from July 29 through September 10, 2011, because it potentially may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes, the foodborne pathogen that causes listeriosis.
The Rocky Ford cantaloupe outbreak of listeriosis began on or after August 15, 2011. The victims range in age from 38 to 96, but most have been women over the age of 60. All of them required hospitalization.
Listeriosis is a serious, sometimes fatal infection caused by eating food contaminated with the bacterium Listeria monocytogenes. The disease primarily affects older adults, people with weakened immune systems, pregnant women and newborns.
Symptoms include fever and muscle aches, often preceded by diarrhea or other gastrointestinal symptoms. In more severe cases, there can also be headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance, and convulsions, according to the CDC. Pregnant women typically experience only mild, flu-like symptoms. However, infections during pregnancy can lead to miscarriage, stillbirth, premature delivery, or life-threatening infection of the newborn.
News sources: http://www.springfieldmo.gov/health/getStory.jsp?relid=6941;
http://www.kspr.com/news/local/kspr-confirmed-one-dead-in-greene-county-mo-from-listeria-possibly-linked-to-cantaloupe-recall-20110916,0,2597542.story
