NEWPORT NEWS, Va. — A Newport News family is heartbroken after they say a loved one, 88-year-old Gunter Garshon Morgenstein, died after eating deli meat from Boar's Head.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Morgenstein is the third person to die since Boar's Head issued a recall in July.
"We're all still in shock, for all of the things you know that he's seen and been through in its life to come to that, you know, lunch meat," said his son, Garshon Morgenstein.
Garshon said his father grew up in Germany and is a Holocaust survivor. He said his father's parents would hide him in the floorboards of their home until they were able to escape Germany and move to America years later.
Garshon said his father enjoyed eating the familiar food.
"He always ate lunch meat, always Boar's Head -- and me too -- for a good majority of my life. I don't eat liverwurst, but that was something that he ate and those types of things cause he was European. But we're all still in shock," Garshon said.
However, when his father fell ill on July 8 and died 10 days later on July 18, Garshon said he decided to review his dad's shopping history and noticed that he had purchased Boar Head Deli Meat. Later, his death certificate would confirm his cause of death.
"Listeria monocytogenes and he had meningitis. They had to do lumber puncture to confirm that, and the meningitis is a side effect of the listeria," Garshon said.
Although he is still coping with his father's death, Garshon said he wishes he could tell his father one thing.
"I miss you, and I'm sorry that this happened."
Garshon said the family is actively pursuing legal action against the company. He also said he is trying to warn others against buying Boar's Head deli meat.
