MINNEAPOLIS — A Minnesota law firm has filed the first lawsuit in federal court related to a major listeria outbreak linked to deli meats, after a pregnant woman in the metro claimed the outbreak nearly caused her to lose her unborn child.
“In my 20-year career, there has never been a time when I have not had a listeria case in my practice,” said attorney Brendan Flaherty.
Flaherty said many listeria cases go unnoticed, but this nationwide outbreak is drawing attention to the problem.
Last week, Boar’s Head expanded its recall to include an additional 3.7 million kilograms of sausage products linked to the listeria outbreak. The recall includes more than 70 different products.
“Listeria is interesting because it can be found in almost any food, in vegetables, in ice cream, in caramel apples, and these are all cases I have worked with,” Flaherty said.
Flaherty’s client, Ashley Solberg of Coon Rapids, was in Florida to visit her parents.
“She went to Publix to buy sausage. She ate very little of it, but what she did eat turned out to be heavily contaminated,” Flaherty said.
Solberg did not feel ill until 10 days later.
“When she started not feeling well, she developed diarrhea, body aches, severe headache and fever, and at that point she knew something was really wrong and went to the emergency room,” Flaherty said.
Flaherty believes that the quick intervention of doctors who took her to the hospital and treated her symptoms saved the life of her unborn child. Pregnant women can become infected more quickly than others.
“They are ten times more likely to become infected with listeria. When this happens, the mother’s health is at risk, but what’s worse, the fetus and unborn child are at great risk. Listeria is transmitted directly from mother to unborn child and leads to fetal death and severe birth defects,” Flaherty said.
Since the outbreak began in May, three people have died and more than 40 people in 13 states, including Minnesota and Wisconsin, have become sick enough to be hospitalized, according to the CDC.
“She wants responsibility, she wants to draw attention to the issue of food safety,” Flaherty said.
WCCO reached out to Boars Head for comment but did not receive a response.
Reg Chapman
