More illnesses and deaths have been reported due to a massive contamination of deli meats. It is now the largest listeria outbreak in 13 years, according to a statement from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Illnesses have been reported over the past several weeks in Missouri and 17 other states including Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia and Wisconsin.
Death have occurred in six states including Illinois, New Jersey, New Mexico, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia.
Listeria is a hardy germ that can remain on surfaces, like meat slicers, and foods, even at refrigerated temperatures. It can also take up to 10 weeks for some people to have symptoms of listeriosis.
Do not eat recalled deli meats. Some of the products have sell by dates into October 2024. Click here for a list of items included in the recall.
- Produced between June 11, 2024 and July 17, 2024, and have a 44-day shelf-life
- “Boar’s Head Strassburger Brand Liverwurst made in Virginia”
- 3.5 pound loaves in plastic casing, or various weight packages sliced in retail delis
- Sell by dates range from July 25, 2024, to August 30, 2024
Other Boar’s Head Deli Meat Products
Boar’s Head also recalled all deli products, including prepackaged deli products, in shelf life from this establishment. Look for “EST. 12612” or “P-12612” inside the USDA mark of inspection on the product labels.
What you should do
For people who are generally healthy and not at higher risk of serious infection:
- Do not eat recalled meats. Throw them away or contact stores about returns.
- Check your refrigerator for any recalled deli meats and throw them away or return them to the store. Listeria can grow on foods kept in the refrigerator.
- Clean your refrigerator, containers and surfaces that may have touched recalled meats.
What People at Higher Risk Should Do
Listeria is especially harmful if you are pregnant, are aged 65 or older, or have a weakened immune system due to certain medical conditions or treatments. Other people can be infected with Listeria, but they rarely become seriously ill.
If you are pregnant, are aged 65 or older, or have a weakened immune system:
- Do not eat recalled deli meats. Throw them away or contact stores about returns.
- In addition, do not eat any other deli meats you get sliced at deli counters, unless it is reheated to an internal temperature of 165°F or until steaming hot. Let it cool before you eat it.Listeria can grow on foods kept in the refrigerator, but it is easily killed by heating food to a high enough temperature.
- Listeria can grow on foods kept in the refrigerator, but it is easily killed by heating food to a high enough temperature.
- Clean your refrigerator, containers, and surfaces that may have touched sliced deli meats.This is especially important if you purchased any of the recalled deli products.
- This is especially important if you purchased any of the recalled deli products.
- Call your healthcare provider right away if you have any of these symptoms:People who are not pregnant usually have fever, muscle aches, and tiredness. They may also get a headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance, or seizures.Pregnant people usually have fever, muscle aches, and tiredness. However, Listeria can cause pregnancy loss or premature birth. It can also cause serious illness or death in newborns.
- People who are not pregnant usually have fever, muscle aches, and tiredness. They may also get a headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance, or seizures.
- Pregnant people usually have fever, muscle aches, and tiredness. However, Listeria can cause pregnancy loss or premature birth. It can also cause serious illness or death in newborns.
What Businesses Should Do
- For delis that received recalled meats:Thoroughly clean and sanitize all food and non-food surfaces, including deli slicers.Throw away any open meats and cheeses in the deli.USDA-FSIS is advising delis to not use any opened deli products because recalled products can cross-contaminate other deli meats and cheeses.
- Thoroughly clean and sanitize all food and non-food surfaces, including deli slicers.
- Throw away any open meats and cheeses in the deli.
- USDA-FSIS is advising delis to not use any opened deli products because recalled products can cross-contaminate other deli meats and cheeses.
- Always follow USDA-FSIS best practices for controlling Listeria contamination in deli areas.
Symptoms of Listeria
- Listeria is especially harmful to people who are pregnant, aged 65 or older, or with weakened immune systems. This is because Listeria is more likely to spread beyond their gut to other parts of their body, resulting in a severe condition known as invasive listeriosis.For people who are pregnant, Listeria can cause pregnancy loss, premature birth, or a life-threatening infection in their newborn.For people who are 65 years or older or who have a weakened immune system, Listeria often results in hospitalization and sometimes death.
- For people who are pregnant, Listeria can cause pregnancy loss, premature birth, or a life-threatening infection in their newborn.
- For people who are 65 years or older or who have a weakened immune system, Listeria often results in hospitalization and sometimes death.
- Symptoms usually start within 2 weeks after eating food contaminated with Listeria but may start as early as the same day or as late as 10 weeks after.Pregnant people usually have fever, muscle aches, and tiredness.People who are not pregnant usually have fever, muscle aches, and tiredness. They may also get a headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance, or seizures.
- Pregnant people usually have fever, muscle aches, and tiredness.
- People who are not pregnant usually have fever, muscle aches, and tiredness. They may also get a headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance, or seizures.
