Listeria Outbreak Prompts Massive Recall of Boar’s Head Deli Meat

By KABIRAAZ

July 27, 2024 | 14:54:50

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Key Takeaways

Boar’s Head has recalled all its liver wurst products as well as some of its other meats sliced at deli counters because of potential contamination with Listeria monocytogenes, a bacteria that can cause serious illness.
Government agencies are continuing to investigate additional sources of this multi state listeria outbreak.
To stay safe, discard any potentially contaminated deli meat from Boar’s Head and heat other deli meat to 165 degrees F or until steaming hot, letting it cool (if desired) before eating it.
Boar’s Head Provisions, a company based in Virginia, is recalling all its liver wurst sold ready-to-slice at retail deli counters because of concerns about potential contamination with listeria, a type of bacteria that can cause serious and even life-threatening infection in vulnerable people.
Boar’s Head is also recalling other deli meats processed on the same day and production line as the liver wurst, including certain varieties of ham, bologna, and salami, for a total of over 200,000 pounds, according to a statement from the U.S. Department of Agriculture Food Safety and Inspection Service.

The USDA website offers specific information about foods included in the recall, including types of Boar’s Head deli meats and “sell by” dates on items shipped to retailers. The USDA is urging customers to throw away any recalled deli meats or return them to their place of purchase, and to clean their refrigerators thoroughly to prevent any possible cross-contamination.

The USDA says that, as of July 25, 33 people have been hospitalized and 2 people have died in 13 states as a result of bacterial infection. Investigation into the causes is ongoing.

Reports Likely Under count the Number of Sick People

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) made a public report about this listeria outbreak on July 19.

So far, there has been one death in Illinois and one in New Jersey, the CDC said, noting that people were hospitalized in states across the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, Midwest, and South.

“The true number of sick people in this outbreak is likely higher than the number reported, and the outbreak may not be limited to the states with known illnesses,” the CDC said.

“This is because some people recover without medical care and are not tested for listeria,” the CDC said. “In addition, recent illnesses may not yet be reported as it usually takes three to four weeks to determine if a sick person is part of an outbreak.”

Illnesses have occurred over several months, with the first case dating back to late May, the CDC said.

CDC Connected the Outbreak to Sliced Deli Meat

All but 2 of the 18 individuals that public health officials interviewed as part of the investigation into the listeria outbreak as of July 19 reported eating sliced deli meats at some point in the month before they got sick, the CDC said. Investigators had not identified any cases of people becoming sick after eating prepackaged deli meats.

Among those interviewed as part of the investigation, most people recalled eating turkey or liver wurst sliced at a deli, and a handful of people also recalled consuming ham, the CDC said. They all got meat from different types of grocery store deli counters, according to the CDC. But they all appeared to be infected with a similar strain of bacteria.

The CDC noted that listeria spreads easily from deli equipment, surfaces, hands, and food. Refrigeration doesn’t kill listeria, the CDC said. But cooking deli meat at high heat can kill any germs that may contaminate these products.

For this reason, the CDC warned people against consuming uncooked deli meats. Instead, the CDC recommended heating any meat sliced at a deli counter to 165 degrees F or until steaming hot, then letting it cool before consumption if a cold sandwich is preferred.

“It is not surprising to find listeria contamination of deli meats,” says Nancy Freitag, PhD, a professor and the head of pharmaceutical sciences at the college of pharmacy at the University of Illinois in Chicago. “The sources of contamination can vary, but often come from food-processing facilities. Listeria has long been associated with deli meats and soft cheeses; but more recent contamination has been found with a variety of foods, including ice cream and produce.”

She adds, “The best way to avoid listeria is to cook your food, which unfortunately is not always practical” — as with ice cream, for instance.

Symptoms of Listeria Infection Can Range From Mild to Severe

Listeria monocytogenes can cause a serious infection known as listeria. People may become sick a few hours after exposure, or it may take up to 30 days for symptoms to appear, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Symptoms of listeria include fever, muscle aches, headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance, and convulsions, according to the CDC.

Most people who become infected experience only brief, mild illness, but people with autoimmune conditions and those older than 65 can develop deadly infections in the bloodstream or brain. Pregnant people may experience some flu-like symptoms, but are also at risk of miscarriage, stillbirth, or premature delivery, as well as life-threatening infections in their newborns.