At Corradino & Papa, LLC, we have long stood for the principle that corporations must be held accountable when their negligence harms the public. Today, we are pursuing justice on behalf of the widow and family of a beloved member of the Clifton, New Jersey community whose life was tragically cut short due to Boar’s Head’s failure to ensure the safety of its food products.
A Trusted Product Turned Deadly
In what should have been a routine purchase, the plaintiff bought Boar’s Head liverwurst—a product trusted by millions of Americans. What the plaintiff and her deceased husband could never have known was that this product was contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes, a dangerous bacterium that can cause severe illness or death, particularly among the elderly, pregnant women, and those with compromised immune systems.
After consuming the liverwurst, her husband developed a severe listeriosis infection. Despite extensive medical intervention, he succumbed to the illness, leaving behind a grieving family that included a loving wife of over 40 years, his children, grandchildren and also left the local Clifton community in shock.
A Pattern of Negligence
Boar’s Head has a legal and ethical responsibility to ensure that its food products are safe for consumption. Yet, the presence of listeria in this liverwurst suggests a failure in one or more critical areas of production—sanitation, temperature control, handling, or packaging. Our investigation indicates this was not an isolated incident, but a result of systemic negligence in quality control.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) considers listeriosis one of the most dangerous foodborne illnesses, with high hospitalization and fatality rates. Food manufacturers are required by law to implement stringent pathogen-control measures. Boar’s Head’s apparent failure to do so in this case is unacceptable—and deadly.
A Family’s Fight for Accountability
Corradino & Papa has filed a wrongful death lawsuit on behalf of the man’s widow and his estate, including claims that Boar’s Head expressly warrantied that their products are safe for human consumption when the company makes statements to consumers like “Boar’s Head set out to craft products of uncompromising standards using only the finest ingredients.”
In response, Boar’s Head has recently filed opposition to that claim, indicating that statement and similar ones that Boar’s Head made about the quality of their product is nothing more than Consumer Puffery and were not intended to be relied upon by the consumer for purchase of their product. This suit not only seeks compensation for the devastating loss suffered by his family, but also aims to send a clear message to Boar’s Head and the food industry at large: when corporations cut corners on safety, real lives are at stake.
The complaint, filed in the United States District Court, District of New Jersey, outlines the multiple breaches of duty committed by Boar’s Head, including:
- Manufacturing and distributing a food product contaminated with a deadly pathogen
- Failing to conduct adequate testing and monitoring
- Neglecting to recall or warn consumers of potential danger
Seeking Justice, Protecting Consumers
This is more than a lawsuit. It is a call for transparency, responsibility, and change in an industry that impacts every household. We must not allow corporations like Boar’s Head, which place food on family tables, to prioritize profit over life. Corradino & Papa is committed to exposing what went wrong and ensuring that no other family has to endure a loss like this due to preventable corporate carelessness.
We are honored to represent this beloved Clifton family in their fight for justice and accountability. Through this case, we aim not only to honor the memory of our client’s husband, but also to help prevent future tragedies.
If you or a loved one has suffered due to a contaminated food product, please contact Corradino & Papa, LLC. Your health and safety should never be compromised.