British woman sues cheese company for over £200,000 after husband's death from Valentine's Day gift

A British woman is seeking more than £200,000 in damages from a cheese company, alleging that a contaminated product led to her husband's death. Carina Parkes claims her husband, Roger Parkes, consumed an artisanal cheese in February 2023, part of a Valentine's Day gift package ordered online.

The cheese was delivered on February 10, and Roger began eating it about a week later. His health rapidly declined shortly thereafter. He was hospitalized on February 21 and later diagnosed with a listeria infection. Despite antibiotic treatment and specialist care, his condition worsened, and he died on February 27, 2023.

Subsequent investigations concluded the cheese was contaminated and unsafe for consumption. Medical records attributed his death to multiple organ failure and meningoencephalitis caused by Listeria. The company recalled the affected product batch, and it was found that two other individuals also fell ill from cheeses in the same series.

The company acknowledges the Listeria contamination but denies it was the direct cause of Roger Parkes' death. They argue he had severe pre-existing conditions, including cardiovascular issues, kidney and heart failure, and hypertension, and had recently undergone complex aortic surgeries. The company's defense contends there is insufficient evidence linking the listeria infection to his death and disputes the requested damages.

Carina Parkes, however, maintains that had the product been recalled promptly, her husband would not have become ill or died. Roger Parkes was known as a self-taught artist and painter, and also worked as a chef. The case will proceed to court if the parties cannot reach an amicable settlement.

“

If the product had been withdrawn from sale in time, my husband would not have fallen ill and would not have lost his life.