Consumers Report Illness, Listeria Contamination, Leading to Whole Foods Product Recall
Whole Foods has built a reputation on marketing healthy foods to consumers. However, just because the grocery store chain focuses on health consciousness does not mean they and their suppliers are immune to food-borne pathogens. The chain’s latest product recall shows exactly how susceptible they are to food-borne illnesses like Listeria.
Whole Foods Market Inc has issued a serious product recall notice for Crave Brothers Les Freres cheese after learning about an outbreak of Listeria that sickened consumers in several states, and led to at least one death.
The product recall notice says that the cheese is believed to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. The cheese was sold in 30 states and Washington DC, as either Les Freres or Crve Brothers Les Freres. The company will post signs in its stores warning customers about the product recall.
Public officials say so far there have been reports of Listeria contamination in at least three states, with five people total hospitalized because of the illness. Officials in Minnesota say that they had two reported cases in June – one person was hospitalized, and one elderly person died, after consuming the cheese. The FDA reported that one case of illness in a pregnant woman resulted in a miscarriage.
The Minnesota Department of Agriculture conducted preliminary tests on samples of the recalled cheese, and found the presence of the Listeria strain. Further testing and confirmation of the results are pending, according to the FDA.
Crave Brothers has also issued a voluntary product recall for the Les Freres, Petit Freres, and Petit Freres with Truffles cheeses, made July 1st or earlier. The company said they distributed the cheeses both through retail outlets, as well as mail order.
The Center for Disease Control said that Listeria monocytogenes are a serious public health problem in the United States, and primarily affect the elderly, pregnant women, and newborns. In a healthy individual, symptoms of Listeria infection can include fever, nausea, severe headache, stiffness, abdominal pain, and diarrhea.
For more information about the outbreak, consumers are encouraged to visit the FDA’s website.
Defective Products Recall Notices Are One Step to Ensure Consumer Safety
To protect yourself and your family, it’s important to know what products have been recalled because they are defective or unsafe. Federal agencies such as the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) and the CPSC (U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission) frequently issue recalls for medical devices, drugs, and products that may be harmful to consumers.
Every year, thousands of consumers sustain serious injuries from defective products. A defective product lawyer can help you with an injury you may receive. Many of these injuries could be avoided if the manufacturers or distributors of these products took additional steps to ensure consumer safety. Defective products that commonly cause injuries include medical devices, pharmaceutical products, and other defective products such as toys, cars, and automotive parts.
There are a number of reasons that defective products make it to our shelves:
- Defective manufacturing
- Inadequate testing
- Design defects
- Marketing Misrepresentation
The Strom Law Firm Protects Citizens Harmed by Delayed Defective Product Recalls
The attorneys at the Strom Law Firm keep a close watch on recalls of dangerous and defective products in the US. We aim to protect our clients’ health and safety, and hold manufacturers to the highest possible standard of safety. Health recalls are especially important because defective drugs and medical devices, like generic Wellbutrin, prescription painkillers, Granuflo and Naturalyte, Actos, and transvaginal mesh can cause serious harm and even death.
If you or a loved one have experienced severe, life-limiting side effects from a defective product or drug, and believe that your pain stems from a health recall that came too late, you may be entitled to compensation. The Strom Law Firm can help. We offer free, confidential consultations to discuss the facts of your case, so contact us today. 803.252.4800.
