Listeria outbreak lawsuit against Boar’s Head says ‘defective’ deli meat killed Holocaust survivor

MARISA SARNOFF
Sep 2nd, 2024, 11:47 am

A Virginia man who escaped to the U.S. after surviving the Holocaust in Germany died in July from a listeria infection from tainted deli meat — and now his family is suing over his death.

Gunter Garshon Morgenstein, 88, died on July 18 after spending 10 days in the hospital fighting a host of infections and medical conditions that struck days eating Boar’s Head meat purchased from a Harris Teeter grocery store in Newport News. On July 26, following an investigation launched less than 10 days earlier, a recall was announced warning people against consuming certain packages of ham, salami, bologna, liverwurst and bacon sold by the company.

According to a lawsuit [pdf] filed in Florida, where Boar’s Head is headquartered, the man’s death was caused by tainted Boar’s Head meat.

“On June 30, 2024, Gunter Morgenstein purchased Boar’s Head Liverwurst and other Boar’s Head products,” the lawsuit says. “In the coming days, he consumed them on various occasions. He subsequently became ill, suffering from weakness, diarrhea, fatigue, and a fever.”

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