Class Action Lawsuit against Maple Leaf Foods Inc. in British Columbia
The Proposed Representative Plaintiff developed Listeria Brain Abscesses as a result of exposure to the Listeria Bacteria. The class action against Maple Leaf Foods has been filed in the Supreme Court of British Columbia. We will be seeking certification from the court which would make all persons in British Columbia who suffered losses as a result of Listeria Contaminated food originating from Maple Leaf Foods or as a result of the recall of its product a class member eligible for compensation.
To see a list of recalled brands, click on this link: http://www.inspection.gc.ca/english/corpaffr/recarapp/2008/list97be.shtml
What is Listeriosis?
Listeriosis is a serious infection caused by eating food contaminated with
the bacterium Listeria monocytogenes which can cause serious illness and
death.
Who is at risk for getting Listeriosis?
* Pregnant women (20 times more likely than other adults to get Listeriosis)
* The elderly and people with weakened immune systems
* People with cancer, diabetes, alcoholism or kidney disease
* People with AIDS (300 times more likely to get Listeriosis than people
with healthy immune systems)
* People who take glucocorticosteroid medications as well as those who take
medication to block rejection of a transplanted organ
What are the symptoms of Listeriosis?
A person with Listeriosis can have fever, muscle aches, vomiting, diarrhea,
lethargy, cramps, constipation or difficulty breathing. If the
infection spreads to the nervous system, symptoms such as headache, stiff
neck, sensitivity to light, confusion, loss of balance or convulsions can
occur.
Infected pregnant women may experience mild flu-like symptoms with chills,
fatigue or headache as well as muscular and joint pain. Infected
pregnant women are at risk for premature delivery, miscarriage, stillbirth
or infection of the newborn
Signs and symptoms in a newborn may include loss of appetite, lethargy,
jaundice, vomiting, skin rash or breathing difficulty.
How do you get Listeriosis?
You get Listeriosis by eating food contaminated with Listeria. Babies
can be born with Listeriosis if their mothers eat contaminated food during
pregnancy. Although healthy people may consume contaminated foods
without becoming ill, those at increased risk for infection can get
Listeriosis after eating food contaminated with even a few bacteria.
How does Listeria get into food?
Listeria is found in soil and water. Vegetables can become
contaminated from the soil or from manure used as fertilizer. The
bacterium has been found in a variety of raw foods, such as uncooked meats
and vegetables, as well as in processed foods that become contaminated after
processing, such as soft cheeses, hot dogs, pate, deli meats, ice cream, and
coleslaw made from contaminated cabbage. Listeria has also been found
in cooked poultry and raw and smoked fish. Listeria is killed by
pasteurization and cooking; however, in certain ready-to-eat foods
contamination may occur after cooking but before packaging. Listeria
has the ability to multiply and grow in contaminated food stored in the
refrigerator or freezer.
Complications
Listeriosis may take many forms depending on what organ or organ systems are
infected. It may occur as meningitis, pneumonia, septicemia,
endocarditis (heart infection) or death. Infants who survive
Listeriosis may experience long-term neurological damage and delayed
development.
For more information, please call or email us at guy@colletteparsons.com