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Outbreak Summary

The CDC has announced a new outbreak of listeriosis illnesses tied to a specific strain of Listeria monocytogenes. At least 25 people have been sickened, with nearly all of them hospitalized, and one person has died. Public health investigators have linked this outbreak to ice cream produced by Big Olaf Creamery in Sarasota, FL. Over 80% of the sick people interviewed remembered eating ice cream before getting sick, and half of those who remembered details about the specific type of ice cream they ate reported eating Big Olaf Creamery brand ice cream or eating ice cream at locations that might have been supplied by Big Olaf Creamery.

On July 13th, Big Olaf recalled all lots of all its ice cream products. According to the FDA, “The Big Olaf brand ice cream was sold to consumers in plastic pint size containers, plastic ½ gallon containers, and plastic 2.5-gallon tubs, scoopable are sold to the independent retail stores. All flavors, lots, codes, and all expiration dates through 6/30/2022 are included in this recall.”

The same day, the Florida Department of Agricultural and Consumer Services (FDACS) announced that testing at the Big Olaf Creamery processing confirmed the widespread presence of Listeria contamination: “Of the 100 samples collected, nine have come back positive for Listeria monocytogenes.” On August 4th, the CDC confirmed that Whole Genome Sequencing identified the outbreak strain in the samples collected from the ice cream and the environment at the Big Olaf Creamery. This leaves no doubt that ice cream from Big Olaf Creamery caused this outbreak.

Our Listeria Lawyers have been retained by several people sickened in this outbreak, including a pregnant woman who lost her baby after contracting the strain of Listeria involved in this outbreak. If you or a loved one recently became sick with a Listeria infection after eating ice cream that may have been produced by Big Olaf Creamery, please contact us for a free consultation.

More Details

At Least 25 Sick in Listeria Outbreak Linked to Ice Cream from Big Olaf Creamery in Sarasota, FL

What is Listeria?

Listeriosis is a serious infection usually contracted from food contaminated by Listeria monocytogenes. Anyone can contract this bacterial infection, but pregnant women, newborns, older adults, and individuals with compromised immune systems are most at risk.

Listeriosis can be particularly dangerous for pregnant women, as it can cause miscarriage, stillbirth, or premature delivery. According to the CDC, Listeriosis causes a fetal loss in about 20% of cases. Newborns can also suffer a life-threatening infection. The CDC reports newborn death occurs in about 3% of cases. When a pregnant woman notices the symptoms of Listeriosis, it is important to seek medical care immediately to protect the pregnancy.

Individuals with weak immune systems and the elderly are more likely to develop severe infections in the bloodstream or brain, which can be fatal. Listeriosis can also affect other parts of the body, including the bones and joints.

Severe Listeriosis can be treated with antibiotics. Prompt treatment of severe symptoms is important and dramatically reduces the risk of more severe complications.

Common Symptoms of Listeria

Listeriosis symptoms can vary dramatically from person to person. In less serious cases, the infection may remain in the gut and cause flu-like symptoms. In some cases, however the Listeria bacteria will spread beyond the gut, This is known as invasive listeriosis. When Listeria spreads to the nervous system, individuals can experience:

  • Headache
  • Stiff neck
  • Confusion
  • Changes in alertness
  • Difficulty with balance
  • Convulsions
  • Sensitivity to light

Anyone experiencing these symptoms should seek medical care right away. These can be signs of bacterial meningitis, which can cause severe complications, disabilities, and death.

Contact us for more information

OFT Food Safety & Injury Lawyers is a national food safety law firm and offers free consultations to anybody potentially impacted by this outbreak. Listeria lawyers Ryan Osterholm and Brendan Flaherty have represented people sickened by Listeria throughout the country, and can your questions and help you pursue compensation.

Notable Recoveries

$10 million

Seven infants were sickened after consuming a contaminated food product marketed to infants

$6.5 million

Verdict on behalf of a little boy who contracted a severe Salmonella infection from chicken

$7.55 million

Verdict on behalf of a little girl who contracted E. coli at a petting zoo

$2.25 million

E. coli infections contracted from a major fast food chain

$45 million

An over-the-counter medication caused severe kidney damage to multiple users

$3.4 million

A pregnant woman contracted a Listeria infection from contaminated fruit and passed the infection to her child

$3 million

Multistate Cyclospora outbreaks

$275,000

A couple contracted Salmonella from a restaurant

$525,000

A pedestrian was struck by a left-turning car, fracturing her tibia

$700,000

A semi-truck rear-ended a motorcyclist causing a collapsed lung, rib fractures and road rash