Listeriosis Outbreak in Cantaloupe Sparks Lawsuits against Farm and Wal-mart

Several people have filed lawsuits against Jensen Farms, which grew the cantaloupe contaminated by the bacterium Listeria monocytogenes. One couple is also suing Wal-mart Stores, Inc., which sold the fruit.
 
As of last week, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported that there had been a total of 55 people sickened and 8 killed by the same strain of Listeria bacteria that was found on Jensen Farms’ melons.
 
Lawsuits have been filed on behalf of two Colorado residents and one Texas resident who were sickened in the outbreak. The first to file charges was a couple from Colorado Springs, Charles and Tammy Palmer. Mr. Palmer, 71 years old, ate Jensen Farms’ Listeria-contaminated cantaloupe that he bought from Walmart on August 17. The next morning he was found unresponsive and was taken to a hospital, where he remains. Mr. and Mrs. Palmer are also suing Wal-mart Stores Inc. for selling him the tainted fruit.
 
“Companies can avoid expensive legal costs and the stigma resulting from lawsuits by preemptively testing their products,” states Joseph Frasca, Senior VP at EMSL Analytical, Inc. “Our testing services provide an inexpensive alternative to lawsuits and recalls.”
 
For more information on EMSL’s testing services, please contact EMSL at (800) 220-3675, visit www.EMSL.com or email info@EMSL.com.
 
 
About EMSL Analytical, Inc.
EMSL Analytical Inc. is a nationally recognized and locally focused provider of consumer product, environmental, industrial hygiene, food and materials testing services to professionals and the general public. In addition, the company offers a large variety of air sampling equipment, sampling cassettes and monitoring equipment. The company has an extensive list of accreditations from leading organizations as well as state and federal regulating bodies including, but not limited to AIHA IHLAP, AIHA EMLAP, AIHA ELLAP, A2LA, NVLAP, CDC Elite, CPSC (Consumer Product Safety Commission), CA ELAP, NY ELAP, TX Department of State Health Services, and multiple other state accrediting agencies. Please visit our website for a complete listing of accreditations.
 

Contact Information

Joseph Frasca

Senior VP

EMSL Analytical Inc.

(1) 1-800-220-3675

jfrasca@emsl.com