July 29, 2024
Posted by: OFT Food Safety & Injury Lawyers
Because of the recent multistate Listeria outbreak linked to Boar’s Head deli meat, pregnant women who have eaten any deli meat in the last 60 days, regardless if it was Boar’s Head brand, are at risk and should know the basic facts about Listeria and pregnancy.
The most important thing to know is that Listeria is always dangerous to pregnant women and their unborn children. If you have any question about whether you may have been exposed to Listeria or may be developing an Listeria infection, seek medical attention.
Listeria is the most dangerous foodborne bacteria during pregnancy because more than any other bacteria, it impacts the fetus. Because of the unique infectious process of the Listeria bacteria and changes to the mother’s immune system during pregnancy, pregnant women are 10 times more likely to contract a Listeria infection than others.
The most frightening aspect of Listeria during pregnancy is that the maternal symptoms can be very mild or imperceptible. The infection typically causes mild, flu-like symptoms, including fever, chills, muscle aches, diarrhea, or upset stomach. More severe cases include intense neck stiffness, and neurological symptoms like headache, confusion or balance issues.
Even if the symptoms in the mother are mild, the impact on the baby can be catastrophic.
Listeria infections in the mother are easily transferred to amniotic fluid and the fetus. This can trigger miscarriage, stillbirth or preterm labor. If the child survives but has an independent Listeria infection it can cause a variety of severe complications, including brain damage, paralysis, seizures, blindness, and permanent damage to the child’s brain, kidneys, and heart.
Not all maternal infections cause severe complications, but immediate medical attention is critically important.
Importantly, doctors can test your blood, stool, or amniotic fluid to determine conclusively whether you did in fact contract Listeria. Depending on the stage of the pregnancy, your medical team may recommend a course of antibiotics to prevent the infection from spreading to the fetus. The team may also be able to prevent preterm labor. If you think you have eaten contaminated food like Boar’s Head or other deli meats, and have symptoms, you should seek medical advice.
Remember: the time between when you ate the contaminated deli meat or other food product and your first symptoms may be up to 60 days.
Listeria cases are often difficult to solve because the time period between eating the contaminated food and your symptoms may be as long as two months. If you test positive for Listeria, however, your sample should be sent to the health department who performs genetic analysis on the sample. This analysis can link your case to an outbreak.
If you did test positive, you should also contact an experienced Listeria lawyer to investigate and preserve evidence related to your case. OFT has represented many families impacted by Listeria during pregnancy, including from the Boar’s Head outbreak. To talk through your case and legal options, OFT lawyers offer free consultations.
MORE INFORMATION:
Listeria Outbreak Linked to Boar’s Head Deli Meat.
