Consumers of boiled eggs in Pennsylvania should beware. Michael Foods recently recalled more than a million eggs that were hard-cooked for fear of listeria contamination. Pennsylvania is one of the 34 states where the possibly defective product was distributed.

The potential listeria contamination was discovered after a third party conducted lab testing. The food company believes the contamination was due to repairs being conducted in the room used for packing the items.

The eggs that were recalled were sold directly to manufacturers and distributors in buckets of brine. The brand names under which they were sold are: Silverbrook, Columbia Valley Farms, Papetti's, GFS, Wholesome Farms and Glenview Farms. They were used for institutional use only.

Listeria was last in the headlines last year when infected cantaloupe resulted in illness and even some deaths to individuals located throughout the United States. The symptoms include severe headache, nausea, diarrhea and high fever.

Healthy individuals usually recover from the illness quickly. In others however the end result can be devastating and even in some cases, result in death. Included in the at-risk group are those with weakened immune systems, the elderly and young children. It can also cause miscarriages in pregnant women.

According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, thus far there have not been any reports of anyone becoming sick after eating them. This is a fortunate turn of events. When people do become sick due to foods they eat there is a legal recourse. A successful products liability lawsuit is designed to provide financial compensation to those who sustain an injury from a defective product such as this.

Source: USA Today, "Minn. food company recalls about 1 million eggs in 34 states," Feb. 3, 2012