Big Olaf® Ice Cream Lawsuit | Listeria Lawyer, Attorney

A deadly outbreak of Listeria food poisoning has been linked to ice cream sold by Big Olaf Creamery in Sarasota, Florida.

What You Can Do & How We Can Help

The Schmidt Firm, PLLC is currently accepting Big Olaf Ice Cream induced injury cases in all 50 states. If you or somebody you know has been diagnosed with Listeria after eating ice cream, you should contact our lawyers immediately for a free case consultation. Please use the form below to contact our Food Poisoning Litigation Group or call toll free 24 hours a day at (866) 920-0753.

UPDATE: $4 Million Awarded to Family of Woman Who Died

In January 2023, a judge in Florida approved a $4 million payout to the family of Mary Billman, a woman who died only 2 weeks after eating a cup of Listeria-tainted ice cream from Big Olaf Creamery in Sarasota, Florida.

16 of 17 Big Olaf Ice Cream Flavors Had Listeria, Florida Officials Report

Sixteen out of 17 ice cream flavors from Big Olaf Creamery tested positive for Listeria, according to the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS). Listeria was also found on 10 samples from equipment in the facility.

Lawsuits Filed for Woman Who Died, and Pregnant Woman who Miscarried

Two lawsuits have already been filed against Big Olaf Creamery, including the family of a 79-year-old woman from Illinois who died. Another family sued Big Olaf on behalf of a woman named Kristin, who was 11 weeks pregnant and vacationing in Florida when she ate Big Olaf ice cream. She miscarried after being infected with Listeria.

What Ice Cream Flavors Tested Positive for Listeria?

The flavors of Big Olaf ice cream that tested positive for Listeria include:

Blueberry cheesecake
Butter pecan
Cherry cordial
Chocolate
Chocolate chip
Coconut
Coconut Almond Joy
Cookie dough
Cookies & cream
Kahlua krunch
Mint chip
Pistachio
Plantation praline
Superman
Vanilla
White chocolate raspberry

Big Olaf Recalls All Ice Cream

On July 13, 2022, Big Olaf Creamery announced a recall for all flavors and all lots of Big Olaf ice cream products due to a risk of Listeria.

The ice cream was sold at Big Olaf retailers in Florida as well as to consumers in restaurants and senior homes, and one location in Fredericksburg, Ohio.

1st Lawsuit Filed Against Ice Cream Company After Illinois Woman Dies of Listeria

A wrongful death lawsuit has been filed on behalf of a 79-year-old woman from Illinois who died after eating ice cream produced by the Florida-based Big Olaf Creamery.

According to the lawsuit, the woman ate at a Big Olaf ice cream shop on January 18 during a visit to Florida. She was infected with Listeria, hospitalized, and died of severe brain swelling on January 29, according to her attorneys.

Deadly Listeria Outbreak Linked to Big Olaf Ice Cream

In July 2022, a deadly outbreak of food poisoning in 10 states was linked to ice cream made by Big Olaf Creamery in Sarasota, Florida, according to a Food Safety Alert from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

How Many People Got Sick?

As of Friday, July 8, 2022, the CDC reported that 23 people were infected with the outbreak strain of Listeria between January 2021 through June 2022, including 22 people who were hospitalized, 1 death in Illinois, and 1 pregnant woman who suffered a miscarriage.

Illnesses have been reported from 10 states. Eighteen people interviewed reported eating ice cream, and 10 reported eating Big Olaf Creamery ice cream or eating at locations that might have been supplied by Big Olaf Creamery.

Most of the sick people lived in or traveled to Florida in the month before they got sick. The true number of sick people in this outbreak is likely higher and involves more states, according to the CDC.

Pregnant Woman Loses Baby After Eating Big Olaf Ice Cream

Listeria is extremely dangerous for pregnant women. Five pregnant women got sick after eating Big Olaf ice cream, including 1 woman who suffered a fetal loss. Pregnant women may have only mild fever, fatigue, and muscle aches, but suffer a miscarriage, stillbirth, premature delivery, or life-threatening infection of the newborn baby.

Sick People Lived in or Traveled to Florida

Ice cream from Big Olaf Creamery is only sold in Florida. At least 20 sick people lived in Florida or traveled to Florida in the month before they got sick. Big Olaf Creamery sold ice cream at many shops in Florida, including some locations that were not branded as Big Olaf®.

How Long Until Symptoms Appear?

Listeria can cause a severe, life-threatening illness when it spreads beyond the gut to other parts of the body. The symptoms of severe illness usually start within 2 weeks after eating contaminated food, but may start as early as the same day or as late as 70 days.

Signs & Symptoms of Listeria Food Poisoning

Headache
Stiff neck
Confusion
Loss of balance
Convulsions
Fever
Muscle aches
Gastrointestinal symptoms
Diarrhea
Vomiting

Ice Cream is Recurrent Source of Listeria Illnesses

Ice cream may seem like a harmless food, but there have actually been many recalls for ice cream that tested positive for contamination with deadly Listeria bacteria. The most notorious outbreak was linked to Blue Bell Ice Cream manufactured in Texas. At least 10 people were infected, including 3 who died, and the former CEO of the company was charged in a criminal conspiracy to cover up the Listeria outbreak.

Do I have a Big Olaf Ice Cream Lawsuit?

Attention Lawyers: We consider a referral from another law firm to be one of the greatest compliments. If your firm is interested in referring us a case or for us to send you a list of previous award judgments and/or average referral fees, please visit the Lawyer Referral section of our website.

Big Olaf Ice Cream Lawsuit