Sprouts Recall Lawsuit, CDC Final Report on Listeria Outbreak

Today, January 27, 2015, the CDC issued its final report on a Listeria monocytogenes outbreak linked to bean sprouts.

The Sprouts Outbreak and Recall

Wholesome Soy Products issued a recall of mung bean sprouts in August of 2014 after 5 people were sickened in an outbreak of Listeria infections (listeriosis) linked to the sprouts. The FDA found the deadly bacteria in product samples, irrigation water and in the processing plant:

During the FDA inspection, the investigators collected mung bean sprouts and spent irrigation water collected during mung bean production. Two mung bean sprout samples and one spent irrigation water sample tested positive for Listeria monocytogenes. Additionally, FDA investigators collected additional environmental swabs, 25 of which showed the presence of Listeria monocytogenes.

Whole genome sequences of the Listeria strains isolated from mung bean sprouts produced by Wholesome Soy Products, Inc. and environmental isolates collected at the processing facility were found to be highly related to sequences of Listeria strains isolated from the 5 people sickened in the outbreak.

• 4 people from Illinois and 1 from Michigan were sickened in the outbreak;
• All 5 were hospitalized;
• 2 of the 5 died;
• Only 2 of the people sickened were interviewed (others were too sick or already gone), and the 2 said they ate bean sprouts before getting symptoms of Listeria.

FDA Inspection of Wholesome Soy Products Facility

The FDA inspected the Wholesome Soy Products processing plant twice, in August and in October of 2014. During these inspections, investigators found Listeria monocytogenes bacteria in sprout samples and in the plant. They also observed unsanitary conditions that could have caused contamination of sprout products.

Unsanitary conditions included:

1. Employees exited the sprout production area while wearing their rubber boots and aprons, and then returned without changing, or sanitizing equipment;
2. Employees used a water hose to rinse off themselves, plastic bins and equipment, creating a spray of water droplets near the sprouts that could have been contaminated;
3. A delivery van drove to the sprout processing area through an area of the warehouse that tested positive for Listeria monocytogenes;
4. While transerfing sprout waste to the dumpster, a forklift drove right up to the sprout production area, then drover through the alley to the dumpster area;
5. Plastic bins were used for a variety of purposes were rinsed out and stored upside down on the floor, which was contaminated with the bacteria;
6. A shovel was used for sprout processing was stored on the floor;
7. An employee without gloves (barehanded) had contact with finished product and packaging;
8. Equipment and utensils were not properly maintained;
9. The walls in the sprout growing rooms have an apparent mold-like growth present;
10. Flying insects were present routinely throughout the inspection in the sprout production area.

Lawsuit for Listeria from Sprouts

You can contact our Listeria lawyers to find out if you have a personal injury or wrongful death claim against Wholesome Soy Products, another sprouts processor, a grocery store and/or a restaurant. You have the right to sue for compensation if there is evidence to support your claim.

Why are these lawsuits important?

Consumers like you should be able to trust that food sold is safe to eat. When it is not, the companies responsible for illnesses should be held accountable and made to compensate people harmed.

Sprouts are one of the most common sources of food poisoning and have been the source of outbreaks of

• E. coli -In July of 2014, 19 people in 6 states were sickened with E. coli O121 infections in an outbreak linked to eating clover sprouts processed by Evergreen Fresh Sprouts, LLC and served at Jimmy John’s Gourmet Sandwiches, the Pita Pit and Daanen’s Deli.
• Listeria – See above.
• Salmonella – In November of 2014, 87 people in 11 states got Salmonella food poisoning in an outbreak linked to bean sprouts served at restaurants and processed by Wonton Foods Inc., a New York company.
• Shigella – In September of 2014, at least 4 people were sickened in an outbreak of shigellosis food poisoning was associated with eating at Zov’s Restaurant in Irvine, California.

Our lawyers have won millions for people sickened by Listeria and their families. You can contact our law firm about your claim and find out if you have the right to sue. Request a FREE consultation: 1-888-377-8900.