---
title: China Buffet Linked to Listeria Outbreak Sickening Five in Tampa
date: 2026-07-10T15:21:00-07:00
author: Julie Dueck
canonical_url: "https://marlerclark.com/china-buffet-linked-to-listeria-outbreak-sickening-five-in-tampa"
section: Litigation Landing Pages
---
[Foodborne Illnesses](/foodborne-illnesses) / [Listeria](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/listeria) /

# China Buffet Linked to Listeria Outbreak Sickening Five in Tampa

 

 

 A *Listeria monocytogenes* outbreak in Tampa, Florida, has sickened five individuals, with four victims linked to the China Buffet at 1245 E. Fowler Avenue between March and June. The Florida Department of Health confirmed the source via environmental swabs, prompting an advisory for anyone who dined at the establishment between April 9 and June 28 to monitor for symptoms, which can take up to 70 days to appear.

The outbreak follows a documented history of severe sanitation violations at the location, including previous shutdowns for issues like rodent droppings and improper food storage. Food safety experts identify the restaurant's recurring lapses in sanitation as a predictable cause for the *Listeria* contamination. The Florida Department of Health continues to investigate this foodborne outbreak.

**Listeria Symptoms**

- Pregnant women typically experience fever, fatigue, and muscle aches. However, listeria infections during pregnancy can lead to miscarriage, stillbirth, premature delivery, or a life-threatening infection in the newborn.
- Individuals may experience headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance, and convulsions, in addition to fever and muscle aches.
- Symptoms of severe illness usually start one to four weeks after eating food contaminated with listeria but may start as early as the same day or as late as 70 days later.

***Listeria:*** [Marler Clark, The Food Safety Law Firm](http://www.marlerclark.com/), is the nation’s leading law firm representing victims of [Listeria](https://about-listeria.com/) outbreaks. The [Listeria lawyers of Marler Clark](https://marlerclark.com/food-litigation/listeria-outbreak-litigation) have represented thousands of victims of [Listeria](https://about-listeria.com/) and other foodborne illness outbreaks and have recovered over $900 million for clients. Marler Clark is the only law firm in the nation with a practice focused exclusively on foodborne illness litigation. Our Listeria lawyers have litigated Listeria cases stemming from outbreaks traced to a variety of foods, such as lettuce, polony, deli meat, cantaloupe, cheese, celery and milk.

If you or a family member became ill with a Listeria infection after consuming food and you’re interested in pursuing a legal claim, contact the Marler Clark Listeria attorneys for a free case evaluation.

  

### Listeria outbreaks and recalls

August 23, 2023

###### [Listeria outbreak: Three die after drinking contaminated milkshakes](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/listeria-outbreak-three-die-after-drinking-contaminated-milkshakes) 

Three people have died, and three others are in hospital after drinking milkshakes contaminated with listeria bacteria in the US state of Washington, health officials …

 

July 12, 2023

###### [2011 Listeria outbreaks linked to cantaloupes: A history](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/2011-listeria-outbreak-linked-to-cantaloupes-a-history) 

A total of 148 persons infected with any of the five outbreak-associated strains of Listeria monocytogenes were reported to the CDC from 28 states. The …

 

May 20, 2023

###### [A quick look at the 2018 Hepatitis A outbreak](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/a-quick-look-at-the-2018-hepatitis-a-outbreak) 

Litigation proceeded in a Virginia state court against Tropical Smoothie and the strawberry supply chain. 134 people with Hepatitis A were reported from nine states …

 

 [1. View all
 ](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/outbreaks) 

 

## All Listeria Resources

 

 [######  Listeria Food Poisoning 

 

 

 

 ](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/listeria/about-listeria) [######  The Incidence of Listeria Infections 

 

 

 

 ](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/listeria/the-incidence-of-listeria-infections) [######  The Prevalence of Listeria in Food and the Environment 

 

 

 

 ](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/listeria/listeria-prevalence) [######  Transmission of and Infection with Listeria 

 

 

 

 ](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/listeria/transmission-of-and-infection-with-listeria) [######  Who is Most at Risk of Becoming Ill with Listeria? 

 

 

 

 ](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/listeria/who-is-most-at-risk-for-becoming-ill-with-listeria) [######  What Are the Symptoms of Listeria Infection? 

 

 

 

 ](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/listeria/listeria-symptoms-risks) [######  Complications of Listeria Infection 

 

 

 

 ](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/listeria/complications-of-listeria-infection) [######  How is Listeria Infection Diagnosed? 

 

 

 

 ](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/listeria/listeria-diagnosis) [######  Treatment for Listeria Infection 

 

 

 

 ](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/listeria/listeria-treatment) [######  Antimicrobial Resistance in Bacteria 

 

 

 

 ](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/listeria/antimicrobial-resistance-in-bacteria) [######  The Economic Impact of Listeria Infections 

 

 

 

 ](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/listeria/the-economic-impact-of-listeria-infections) [######  Preventing Listeria Infection 

 

 

 

 ](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/listeria/listeria-prevention) [######  Listeria References 

 

 

 

 ](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/listeria/listeria-references) 

### Other foodborne illnesses

 [E. coli](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/e-coli) [Salmonella](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/salmonella) [Listeria](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/listeria) [Hepatitis A](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/hepatitis-a) [Reactive Arthritis](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/reactive-arthritis) [Guillain-Barre Syndrome](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/guillain-barre-syndrome) [Irritable Bowel Syndrome](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/irritable-bowel-syndrome) [Norovirus](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/norovirus) [Botulism](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/botulism) [Campylobacter](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/campylobacter) [Shigella](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/shigella) [Cyclospora](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/cyclospora) [Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/hemolytic-uremic-syndrome)
