On January 5th, 2011 the firm filed a lawsuit on behalf of a widow of a man who died as a result of consuming celery produced by Sangar Fresh Cut Produce.
The Celery Listeria Outbreak
On October 20, 2010, the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) announced that it had determined chopped celery was the source of a Listeria outbreak among Texas residents. Texas DSHS had been investigating the source of 10 cases of listeriosis--the illness caused by the ingestion of Listeria baciteria, 5 of which resulted in death, for 8 months when investigators determined that the source of the outbreak was chopped celery sold by Sangar Fresh Cut Produce in San Antonio.
Listeriosis
The incubation period (time between ingestion and the onset of symptoms) for Listeria ranges from three to 70 days and averages 21 days.
A person with listeriosis may develop fever, muscle aches, and sometimes gastrointestinal symptoms such as nausea or diarrhea. If infection spreads to the nervous system, symptoms such as headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance, or convulsions can occur. In immune-deficient individuals, Listeria can invade the central nervous system, causing meningitis and/or encephalitis (brain infection). Infected pregnant women ordinarily experience only a mild, flu-like illness; however, infection during pregnancy can lead to miscarriage, infection of the newborn or even stillbirth.
Newborns may present clinically with early-onset (less than 7 days) or late-onset forms of infection (7 or more days). Those with the early-onset form are often diagnosed in the first 24 hours of life with sepsis (infection in the blood). Early-onset listeriosis is most often acquired from the mother through transplacental transmission. Late-onset neonatal listeriosis is less common than the early-onset form. Clinical symptoms may be subtle and include irritability, fever and poor feeding. The mode of acquisition of late-onset listeriosis is poorly understood.
Contact an Attorney
If you or a family member became ill with Listeria food poisoning after eating chopped celery produced by Sangar Fresh Cut Produce and you're interested in pursuing a legal claim, you can contact the Marler Clark food safety attorneys for a free case evaluation. Marler Clark is the nation's leading law firm representing victims of Listeria outbreaks and other foodborne illnesses. You can fill out the contact form or call toll-free at 866-770-2032. There is no cost to you.