Update on Listeria Outbreak Linked to Whittier Farms in Massachusetts
The Massachusetts Department of Public Health (MDPH) has reported no new cases of listereosis from milk produced by Whittier Farms, according to WCVB TV in Boston. Four cases between June and November have been linked to Whittier Farms milk, but no new cases have been reported. Two elderly men died, one woman had a miscarriage (see information on Listeria and pregnancy) and another elderly man was sickened.
According to a Boston Globe report:
Genetic fingerprinting conducted at the state laboratory has indicated that a milk [coffee-flavored] sample collected at Whittier Farms dairy two weeks ago, a sample taken in November from a bottle in a victim's refrigerator, and blood drawn from the four patients all harbored exactly the same type of listeria, a striking discovery, state disease trackers said.
Whittier Farms has shut down production until the source of contamination is identified and fixed. MDPH released a health advisory on December 27 warning all customers to discard products from Whittier Farms immediately.
Whittier Farms products are sold under the brand names of Whittier, Schultz, Balance Rock, Spring Brook, Model Dairy and Maple. Whittier Farms products include whole milk, 2 percent, 1 percent, skim and heavy cream with flavors of low fat chocolate, coffee, strawberry, vanilla and eggnog. As stated in the Boston Globe report, the outbreak-strain of Listeria was found in Whittier Farms coffee-flavored milk.
Our firm is monitoring this Massachusetts outbreak. To contact a Listeria attorney at the firm, please call toll-free at 1-888-377-8900 or submit the firm's free case consultation form. Attorney Fred Pritzker has significant experience litigating Listeria cases. He has a national reputation and has been interviewed by The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal and other publications. Media may contact him at the toll-free number above.
