Outbreak of Listeria Infections Traced to Hard-Boiled Eggs

Outbreak of Listeria Infections Traced to Hard-Boiled Eggs

December 18, 2019 — The CDC announced today that at least seven people have been sickened with serious Listeria infections that it has traced back to contaminated hard-boiled eggs likely produced by Almark Foods of Gainesville, Georgia.

Remarkably, the first two infections in this outbreak occurred over two years ago, in the spring of 2017. Three confirmed cases have occurred more recently, with the latest known case in November of 2019. One person, in Texas, has died. The known cases span five non-contiguous states:

Since the eggs in this product are not sold directly to consumers, they are typically used by retailers and food service operators to make ready-to-eat foods such as egg salad, deviled eggs, or Cobb salads. Those at a higher risk for a Listeria infection—pregnant women, newborns, older adults, and individuals with compromised immune systems—should therefore throw away any store-bought hard-boiled eggs and avoid ready-to-eat foods containing hard-boiled egg products.

What is Listeria?

Listeriosis is a serious infection you can contract 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 is typically a mild illness for pregnant women. While they may show minor symptoms, the infection is a very serious issue for the fetus or newborn baby.

Pregnant women can suffer from miscarriage, stillbirth, or premature delivery. According to the CDC, Listeriosis causes a fetal loss in about 20% of cases. The newborn 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.

Listeria is a rare but terrible disease. OFT’s Food Safety Lawyers can help.

Brendan Flaherty, Ryan Osterholm, and Lindsay Lien Rinholen know what to do. As soon as you have a confirmed diagnosis of listeriosis, the Listeria Lawyers will take your side. They know what to do to preserve your rights.

You focus on getting better. We take care of everything else.

You deserve compensation. America deserves a safe food supply. In helping you obtain compensation, we hold giant corporations and their insurance companies accountable—and force them to be more careful the next time. The only way to prevent outbreaks is to make them pay big time for the outbreaks they’ve already caused.