--- title: "The Litigated Dish: Recounting the most startling recent foodborne illness outbreaks" date: 2024-01-10T17:16:00-08:00 author: Julie Dueck canonical_url: "https://marlerclark.com/news_events/the-litigated-dish-recounting-the-most-startling-recent-foodborne-illness-outbreaks" section: News --- [All News](/news_events) / [Firm News](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/firm-news) / # The Litigated Dish: Recounting the most startling recent foodborne illness outbreaks **By Ilana Korchia** During my time at [Marler Clark](https://marlerclark.com/), I have had the chance to witness and work on some of the most tragic and profoundly disturbing foodborne illness outbreaks our firm has encountered. Here are a few of the recent, particularly alarming outbreaks — some of which I had extensive involvement with — presented in no particular order: **The Baby Food Outbreaks: Infant formula shortage and applesauce contaminated with lead** The 2022 infant formula crisis left a lasting impact on caregivers nationwide. It all began with an FDA investigation, prompted by reports linking powdered infant formula products manufactured by Abbott Nutrition to severe infections in children. The FDA conducted an onsite inspection of Abbott’s Sturgis, Michigan, facility and uncovered insanitary conditions, including the presence of the bacteria Cronobacter sakazakii. In response, Abbott voluntarily recalled the implicated products, triggering immediate and far-reaching consequences. An acute shortage of infant formula swept across the country, causing significant worry and distress among parents and caregivers. Online support communities, like the Facebook group "Baby Formula Search and Swap: Parents Helping Parents," emerged, and platforms such as "Find My Baby Formula" were created to track and alert users about formula availability. Notably, the [Biden-Harris Administration](https://www.whitehouse.gov/formula/) took steps to address this unprecedented formula shortage, highlighting the gravity and broad impact of the situation. Tragically, this outbreak claimed the lives of two infants. The 2023 outbreak tied to WanaBana, Schnucks, and Weis brand applesauce garnered significant attention due to the alarming discovery of exceedingly high levels of lead in their products. Lead poses grave health risks, especially for children. Even minute concentrations, as low as 0.035 parts per million (ppm), could impact children's intelligence and behavior, per the World Health Organization. Elevated lead exposure can cause irreversible damage to the brain and central nervous system, leading to coma and death. The FDA's investigation and subsequent sample testing revealed lead levels in the apple puree at 2.18 ppm, surpassing the maximum recommended limit by over 200 times. Austrofood, the cinnamon supplier for WanaBana, acknowledged their cinnamon as the likely source of the contamination. One of their cinnamon samples revealed an exceptionally high lead level of 5,110 ppm. In a more recent development, on January 5, 2024, the FDA detected chromium, another metal contaminant, in Austrofood’s cinnamon, measuring at 1201 and 531 ppm. This ongoing outbreak has affected at least 86 individuals thus far, most of them infants and children. In addition to the 86 cases confirmed by the CDC, there are additional reports of [209 probable cases and 26 suspected cases](https://www.marlerblog.com/case-news/as-many-as-321-impacted-by-lead-in-applesauce/). **The World's Deadliest Outbreak of Listeriosis** In 2017 and 2018, South Africa faced the world’s largest and deadliest outbreak of listeriosis. The Health Minister identified [Tiger Brands' polony](https://www.foodsafetynews.com/2023/08/publishers-platform-it-has-nearly-been-six-years-since-over-1000-people-were-sickened-and-over-200-died-from-listeria-tainted-polony-in-south-africa/) — a ready-to-eat, processed meat product — as the culprit and ordered an immediate recall in December 2017. This outbreak affected multiple South African provinces, with Gauteng reporting 58% of cases, mainly among women. Between January 2017 and July 2018, there were 1,060 *reported* cases and 216 fatalities. The term "reported" is key here, as numerous affected individuals resided in rural areas with limited access to healthcare. Additionally, listeriosis was not categorized as a reportable disease in South Africa until after the outbreak, hampering data collection even from diagnosed hospital cases. Listeriosis, a severe foodborne bacterial illness, poses significant risks to pregnant women, individuals over 65, and those with weakened immune systems. With a fatality rate of 25%, it is associated with miscarriage, stillbirth, and premature labor. The impact on infants and children among the 216 fatalities in this outbreak was particularly devastating, underscoring the vulnerability of this demographic. **The "Recurring, Always Ongoing" Outbreaks: Romaine lettuce, sprouts, and cantaloupe** This trio needs no introduction. Since 2018, there have been close to a dozen outbreaks involving leafy greens (many linked to romaine lettuce), three outbreaks related to sprouts, and at least three outbreaks associated with cut melon or cut cantaloupe. I make a conscious effort to avoid these foods due to their frequent appearance on the [FDA’s list of ongoing investigations](https://www.fda.gov/food/outbreaks-foodborne-illness/investigations-foodborne-illness-outbreaks). **About Ilana Korchia** Ilana Korchia is a civil litigator specializing in food safety and foodborne illness litigation at Marler Clark. She represents victims of foodborne illness outbreaks both in the United States and internationally. Ilana first joined Marler Clark as a summer intern in May 2019, shortly after earning her degree in food science from the University of Florida. During her internship, she petitioned the U.S. Department of Agriculture to classify 31 strains of Salmonella as adulterants in meat and poultry products, an effort that contributed to significant legislative changes. Currently, Ilana’s work at Marler Clark encompasses all facets of litigation, along with speaking engagements, advocacy, and media appearances. She also authors The Litigated Dish column on Food Safety News, which educates the public about foodborne illness outbreaks and their associated pathogens. Beyond her role at Marler Clark, Ilana frequently judges competitions at Seattle University School of Law and serves as a Bar Examiner for the Washington State Bar Association. ### Lawsuit updates about foodborne illnesses [Reactive Arthritis Lawsuit Updates](/news_events/case-news?illness=reactive-arthritis&year=all) [E. coli Lawsuit Updates](/news_events/case-news?illness=e-coli&year=all) [Guillain-Barre Syndrome Lawsuit Updates](/news_events/case-news?illness=guillain-barre-syndrome&year=all) [Salmonella Lawsuit Updates](/news_events/case-news?illness=salmonella&year=all) [Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome Lawsuit Updates](/news_events/case-news?illness=hemolytic-uremic-syndrome&year=all) [Listeria Lawsuit Updates](/news_events/case-news?illness=listeria&year=all) [Irritable Bowel Syndrome Lawsuit Updates](/news_events/case-news?illness=irritable-bowel-syndrome&year=all) [Hepatitis A Lawsuit Updates](/news_events/case-news?illness=hepatitis-a&year=all) [Norovirus Lawsuit Updates](/news_events/case-news?illness=norovirus&year=all) [Botulism Lawsuit Updates](/news_events/case-news?illness=botulism&year=all) [Campylobacter Lawsuit Updates](/news_events/case-news?illness=campylobacter&year=all) [Shigella Lawsuit Updates](/news_events/case-news?illness=shigella&year=all) [Cyclospora Lawsuit Updates](/news_events/case-news?illness=cyclospora&year=all) ### Lawsuits updates by year [Foodborne Illness Lawsuits in 1998](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/case-news?illness=all&year=1998) [Foodborne Illness Lawsuits in 1999](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/case-news?illness=all&year=1999) [Foodborne Illness Lawsuits in 2000](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/case-news?illness=all&year=2000) [Foodborne Illness Lawsuits in 2001](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/case-news?illness=all&year=2001) [Foodborne Illness Lawsuits in 2002](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/case-news?illness=all&year=2002) [Foodborne Illness Lawsuits in 2003](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/case-news?illness=all&year=2003) [Foodborne Illness Lawsuits in 2004](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/case-news?illness=all&year=2004) [Foodborne Illness Lawsuits in 2005](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/case-news?illness=all&year=2005) [Foodborne Illness Lawsuits in 2006](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/case-news?illness=all&year=2006) [Foodborne Illness Lawsuits in 2007](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/case-news?illness=all&year=2007) [Foodborne Illness Lawsuits in 2008](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/case-news?illness=all&year=2008) [Foodborne Illness Lawsuits in 2009](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/case-news?illness=all&year=2009) [Foodborne Illness Lawsuits in 2010](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/case-news?illness=all&year=2010) [Foodborne Illness Lawsuits in 2011](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/case-news?illness=all&year=2011) [Foodborne Illness Lawsuits in 2012](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/case-news?illness=all&year=2012) [Foodborne Illness Lawsuits in 2013](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/case-news?illness=all&year=2013) [Foodborne Illness Lawsuits in 2014](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/case-news?illness=all&year=2014) [Foodborne Illness Lawsuits in 2015](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/case-news?illness=all&year=2015) [Foodborne Illness Lawsuits in 2016](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/case-news?illness=all&year=2016) [Foodborne Illness Lawsuits in 2017](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/case-news?illness=all&year=2017) [Foodborne Illness Lawsuits in 2018](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/case-news?illness=all&year=2018) [Foodborne Illness Lawsuits in 2019](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/case-news?illness=all&year=2019) [Foodborne Illness Lawsuits in 2020](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/case-news?illness=all&year=2020) [Foodborne Illness Lawsuits in 2021](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/case-news?illness=all&year=2021) [Foodborne Illness Lawsuits in 2022](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/case-news?illness=all&year=2022) [Foodborne Illness Lawsuits in 2023](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/case-news?illness=all&year=2023) [Foodborne Illness Lawsuits in 2024](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/case-news?illness=all&year=2024) [Foodborne Illness Lawsuits in 2025](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/case-news?illness=all&year=2025) [Foodborne Illness Lawsuits in 2026](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/case-news?illness=all&year=2026) ##### Get Help #### Affected by an outbreak or recall? The team at Marler Clark is here to answer all your questions. Find out if you’re eligible for a lawsuit, what questions to ask your doctor, and more. [ Get a free consultation ](https://marlerclark.com/contact) ##### Outbreak Database #### Looking for a comprehensive list of outbreaks? The team at Marler Clark is here to answer all your questions. Find out if you’re eligible for a lawsuit, what questions to ask your doctor, and more. [ View Outbreak Database ](https://outbreakdatabase.com)