A class action lawsuit has been filed against a major deli meat producer, alleging contamination with harmful bacteria. On August 16, 2024, Samantha Chuskas filed the complaint in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois against Boar’s Head Provisions Co. Inc.
The lawsuit centers on claims that various Boar’s Head and Old Country deli meats, sold between May and August 2024, were contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. The plaintiff asserts that these products, including liverwurst, ham, bologna, salami, and bacon, are unfit for consumption due to this contamination. According to the complaint, Chuskas fell ill after consuming the affected products. The first recall occurred on July 26, 2024, followed by a second recall on July 30, 2024. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) have linked these recalls to a multistate outbreak of listeriosis.
Listeriosis is a severe infection caused by Listeria monocytogenes and can lead to serious health issues such as sepsis, meningitis, encephalitis, miscarriage in pregnant women, and life-threatening infections in newborns. The plaintiff alleges that Boar’s Head failed to warn consumers about the risks associated with their products despite knowing about the potential contamination.
Chuskas claims that she purchased Boar’s Head Old Fashioned Ham and Bologna without knowledge of their contamination risk. She argues that had she known about the Listeria risk, she would not have bought these products or would have paid significantly less for them. The lawsuit accuses Boar’s Head of multiple violations including negligence in manufacturing and marketing practices and failing to provide adequate warnings about the contamination risk.
The plaintiffs seek compensatory damages for those who purchased the recalled deli meats under false pretenses regarding their safety. They also demand punitive damages for what they describe as fraudulent concealment of product risks by Boar’s Head. Additionally, they seek injunctive relief to prevent further sales of contaminated products until safety can be assured.
This article was first published in Cook County Record.
