Boar’s Head ham from a Broward Publix caused pregnancy-risking listeria, lawsuit says
A pregnant woman got listeria, which can lead to stillbirths and miscarriages, from Boar’s Head deli meat bought at a Hollywood Publix, a federal lawsuit claims.
The lawsuit says listeria hospitalized Ashley Solberg as the Boar’s Head-linked outbreak being tracked by the CDC began in late May and early June. As of last Thursday, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported 43 people were known to be sickened, all of whom were hospitalized, and three have died.
Boar’s Head liverwurst tested by Maryland inspectors in Baltimore came up positive for listeria, triggering a pair of recalls that eventually yanked more than 71 kinds of deli meats sold by supermarkets across the country.
READ MORE: Boar’s Head listeria recall includes deli meats sold by Kroger, Publix, H-E-B and others
“Products sold at the deli, especially those sliced or prepared at the deli, can be contaminated with listeria,” the CDC said. “Listeria spreads easily among deli equipment, surfaces, hands and food. Refrigeration does not kill listeria, but reheating to a high enough temperature before eating will kill any germs that may be on these meats.”
Though Publix of Lakeland and Boar’s Head of Sarasota are based in Florida, the lawsuit was filed in Minnesota, where Solberg lives in the Minneapolis-St. Paul suburb of Coon Rapids. Boar’s Head, which hasn’t responded to a Miami Herald request for comment, is the sole defendant.
“We strongly considered naming Publix but because, at the time of filing, it was very clear that the source of the outbreak strain was Boar’s Head from both the massive recall and public health assessments, Ms. Solberg did not feel that Publix was necessarily at fault,” Solberg’s attorney, Brendan J. Flaherty of OFT Law, wrote in a Tuesday email to the Miami Herald. “That could change if new information comes to light or if Publix withholds information about the distribution and sale of Boar’s Head products.”
The lawsuit says Solberg was 35 weeks pregnant in late May when she, her daughter and her parents went to Florida on vacation. They made a run to the Publix at 1700 Sheridan St. and picked up sliced Boar’s Head ham and turkey that might have been Boar’s Head at the deli counter.
“After returning to Minnesota, (Solberg) started to become severely ill, suffering from diarrhea, fever, chills, headaches, and body aches, among other symptoms,” the lawsuit said. “Concerned for herself and terrified for her unborn child, (Solberg) — now 36 weeks pregnant — sought medical attention. The doctors quickly suspected an infection and ordered blood cultures from (Solberg).”
The cultures came back positive for listeria and, the lawsuit said, the sample matched the strain in the outbreak. Antibiotics and a six-day hospital stay followed for Solberg.
“Thankfully and thanks to aggressive medical interventions, Ms. Solberg’s doctors believe that the infection was not transferred from mother to child,” Flaherty’s email said. “Her child appears happy and healthy, despite the extremely high-risk pregnancy.”
