Food Poisoning from Costco, Mariano’s, or Boar’s Head? You Need a Lawyer

 Posted on December 31, 2024 in Personal Injury

Food poisoning occurs when there are germs or other harmful things in a food or beverage. Symptoms of food poisoning usually begin within hours of eating the food but could occur several days after. For the most part, food poisoning is a mild illness that gets better without medical intervention but, in some cases, can cause severe illness, complications, and even death.

Across the United States, people expect the food products purchased at grocery stores, delis, and other food businesses to be safe. Unfortunately, food products can become contaminated, resulting in food poisoning. Recently, people in multiple states have been affected by Listeria and salmonella-contaminated foods, resulting in severe illnesses, death, and the necessity of a personal injury attorney.

If you or a loved one has been affected by food poisoning, you must understand your legal options for a product liability claim. With the assistance of an experienced Will County, IL personal injury attorney, steps can be taken to hold a negligent product manufacturer or other party responsible for food contamination. At Schwartz Injury Law, we provide effective legal representation for those who are victims of contaminated food, helping them recover fair financial compensation.

Where Have Contaminated Foods Been Found Recently?

It seems like it is hard to listen to the news without hearing about an instance of food-borne illness. Recently, some high-profile companies have been responsible for contaminated food products that resulted in a significant number of victims. These companies include:

Boar’s Head Listeria Outbreaks

Between May and August of 2024, numerous listeria infections were reported from those who consumed Boar’s Head food products. These infections affected 18 states, leading to dozens of hospitalizations and 10 deaths. Most of the cases occurred in Maryland, New York, and New Jersey, but there were also significant numbers of listeria cases in Missouri, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, and Indiana.

Over seven million pounds of deli meats like liverwurst were recalled after it was found that Boar’s Head repeatedly violated federal regulations at its Virginia plant. Federal and state investigators uncovered issues like insects, mold, and a variety of other unsanitary practices. Although the company claimed these issues were addressed immediately, it is hard to see these practices as anything but negligent.

Costco Listeria and Salmonella Incidents

Costco has recalled a variety of foods due to contaminants. These include the following:

• Kirkland Signature smoked salmon, sold in October 2024, was recalled due to Listeria contamination.

• Readywise Emergency Protein Buckets containing freeze-dried meat were recalled due to Listeria contamination of the chicken.

• El Monterey chicken taquitos sold between July and October 2024 were recalled due to possible Listeria contamination.

• Rana pasta meal kits sold between September and October 2024 were recalled due to possible Listeria contamination.

• Busseto and Fratelli Beretta charcuterie meat samplers sold in January 2024 were recalled after being linked to an outbreak of Salmonella.

• Chicken wraps sold at Costco delis between October 2023 and February 2024 were recalled due to possible Listeria contamination of the cheese.

Mariano’s Products Recalled for Listeria Contamination

BrucePac, a company that provides poultry and meat products, recently announced a massive recall of almost 12 million pounds of products due to Listeria contamination at the Oklahoma plant. Since meat and poultry provided by BrucePac were used in products sold by other companies, many items sold at Mariano’s stores were part of the recall, including:

• El Monterey chicken enchiladas

• Kroger frozen pancakes and waffles

• Red’s chicken burritos

• Kodiak waffle mix and frozen waffles

• Simple truth frozen waffles

• Michelina’s frozen chicken meals

• HMCF chicken tacos

• Home Chef meal kits

• Rana chicken and pasta meals

• Atkins chicken pot pies and frozen chicken meals

• Evol frozen chicken entrees

• Kroger salad bowls

• Don Pancho chicken meal kits

In addition to Mariano’s, other stores like Kroger, Metro Market, Gerbes, Food4Less, and Pick ‘n Save were also affected.

What Are the Symptoms of Food-Borne Illnesses?

Salmonella is commonly found in poultry, eggs, dairy products, and unpasteurized juices and can result in vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal cramps, nausea, and fever. Salmonella can spread from the intestines to the bloodstream in more severe cases with life-threatening complications.

Listeria contamination is typically found in raw, unpasteurized milk, cheeses, ice cream, raw or processed vegetables and fruits, undercooked poultry, sausages, hot dogs, deli meats, raw or smoked fish, and other seafood. Symptoms of Listeria include headaches, fatigue, muscle aches, and high fevers.

In the more serious cases of Listeria, those with food-borne listeria can experience confusion, balance issues, and even seizures. Listeria infections during pregnancy can lead to miscarriage or premature birth. Those over the age of 65 are more likely to experience hospitalization due to life-threatening complications or even wrongful death.       

E. coli is commonly found in ground beef, unpasteurized juices, leafy greens, and raw milk and can lead to symptoms like abdominal cramps, diarrhea, fever, and vomiting. Severe E. coli infections can result in kidney failure and death, particularly among the elderly and young children.

Norovirus contamination is commonly found in fruits, leafy greens, and ready-to-eat foods and can cause gastroenteritis, leading to stomach pain, dehydration, intense vomiting, and diarrhea. The illness can be very severe in young children and the elderly, although symptoms for most people resolve within a few days.  

Damages Associated with Food-borne Illnesses

Those with a food-borne illness may require prolonged medical care, hospitalization, and ongoing medical interventions. A severe food-borne illness can affect a person’s daily life, ability to work, and emotional well-being. The company whose negligence caused the illness should be held liable for the damages resulting from food poisoning.

These damages include medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, wrongful death compensation for family members who lost a loved one due to a contaminated product, and even punitive damages in some cases. Legal claims related to food poisoning can be complex, requiring multiple forms of evidence that can include records related to manufacturing, shipping, and storing of products. Detailed medical records showing how the victim has been affected are also required.

Contact a Kendall County, IL Food Poisoning Injury Lawyer

If you have been affected by a Listeria, Salmonella, or other food-borne illness, you could benefit from speaking to a Joliet, IL food poisoning injury attorney from Schwartz Injury Law. We will take steps to help you recover compensation that fully addresses all the ways your food-borne illness has affected you.

Our attorneys provide dedicated support and representation for those affected by foodborne illnesses. We have major multimillion-dollar settlements to our credit, are highly experienced with a stellar reputation, and are aggressive and willing to go to trial when necessary. Call 708-888-2160 to schedule a free consultation and learn more about your legal options.