TAMPA, Fla. — The widow of a 79-year-old Air Force veteran who died after allegedly consuming tainted deli meat has initiated a wrongful death lawsuit against Boar’s Head and Publix. The case marks the first such legal action to allege a death resulting from a listeria infection linked to a deli product other than liverwurst, amid a broader nationwide outbreak.
Judith Adams, 71, claims her husband Otis Adams Jr. fell ill after eating Boar’s Head ham purchased at a Publix in Florida. His condition rapidly deteriorated, developing into listeriosis, which later progressed to meningitis and sepsis, leading to his death on May 5. The suit filed in Florida circuit court accuses Boar’s Head and Publix of negligence and breach of contract, seeking unspecified damages for the loss.
This incident is part of a larger listeria outbreak initially identified in July and attributed to a now-shuttered Boar’s Head facility in Virginia. The outbreak is linked to 59 hospitalizations and 10 deaths across 19 states, as noted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The conditions leading to the outbreak were highlighted by unsanitary factory conditions, including the presence of black mold and mildew at the Virginia plant.
Listeria, a robust bacterium that thrives in deli environments, has caused significant concern due to its resistance to cold temperatures that usually slow down or kill other pathogens. The bacterium spreads through contaminated food equipment and can survive both refrigeration and freezing.
Boar’s Head has responded to the outbreak by recalling over 7 million pounds of various deli products and discontinuing its liverwurst, which was the first identified source of the outbreak. The company expressed its intention to bolster food safety measures industry-wide in light of these events.
The impact of listeria is particularly severe among individuals over 65, newborns, and pregnant women. While typically resulting in mild symptoms for many, the infection can be fatal or cause severe illness among these vulnerable groups. Indeed, there has been a report of a pregnant individual being infected during this outbreak, though the pregnancy was not terminated.
The lawsuit underscores ongoing concerns regarding food safety and the effectiveness of recall systems once an outbreak is detected. It also highlights the challenges faced by companies in tracing and containing listeria once it has entered the production and distribution process.
Legal experts suggest that this case might prompt more stringent measures and accountability in food processing and handling, especially in the deli sector, where the risk of listeria contamination is particularly high.
As the legal processes unfold, both the affected families and the implicated companies await the outcomes that could influence industry practices and regulatory oversight in the food production sector significantly. Meanwhile, consumers are urged to stay informed about recalls and to adhere to food safety guidelines to minimize the risk of infection.