A Palm Beach County couple has sued food manufacturer Boar's Head and supermarket chain Publix, claiming that deli turkey contaminated with listeria made Michael Silberman ill. According to a WPTV report, Silberman suffered severe health issues, including meningitis, encephalitis, renal failure, muscle atrophy, and cognitive impairment, after eating the tainted meat.
The lawsuit claims that Boar's Head and Publix should have been aware of the risks of selling contaminated deli meat. Silberman's life was greatly impacted; he spent a month in the hospital and rehab and was unable to care for his wife as he had before. Just days after eating the turkey, Silberman required immediate medical attention and quickly deteriorated, necessitating emergency transport to Delray Medical Center.
As per the information provided by BocaNewsNow, Silberman was admitted to the hospital with sepsis and an altered mental status, eventually falling into a coma. He is now dependent on a walker for mobility and needs help with daily tasks, a significant change from his previous independence.
In response to requests for comments, Publix chose not to discuss the pending litigation. Boar's Head issued a public apology, formed a food safety advisory council, and appointed a chief food safety advisor to help prevent future incidents. A recall was initiated after Silberman's purchase, including various Boar's Head products, but the specific deli turkey involved was not mentioned in the July 29 updated recall list.
The couple's legal team is seeking damages over $50,000, the minimum required for such lawsuits in Palm Beach County Circuit Court, according to BocaNewsNow. If the court rules in the Silbermans' favor, the case could provide personal compensation and encourage stricter food safety practices among food sellers and producers.
