Boar's Head is expanding its recall of deli meat due to possible listeria contamination.
On Friday, July 26, the Sarasota-based company announced it was recalling 207,528 pounds of deli meat linked to anoutbreak of listeria that hadkilled two people and affected 34across 13 states.
Less than a week later, on Tuesday night, the company said it is now recalling about 7 million additional pounds of ready-to-eat meat and poultry products after aliverwurst sample collected by the Maryland Department of Health tested positive for the outbreak strain oflisteria.
Here's what you should know:
Boar's Head recalls more than 7 million pounds of ready-eat-meat, poultry products
Boar's Head Provisions Co., Inc. in Jarratt, Virginia, Tuesday expanded itsJuly 26 recall of deli meat products that may be contaminated withlisteria, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service.
The facility is recalling approximately 7 million additional pounds of ready-to-eat meat and poultry products after "whole genome sequencing results show that a liverwurst sample collected by the Maryland Department of Health tested positive for the outbreak strain oflisteria monocytogenes."
What Boar's Head deli meat was recalled earlier in July?
On July 26, Boar's Head announced it was recalling all liverwurst products, along with additional deli meat products produced on the same line and on the same day as the liverwurst.
A company spokesperson confirmed all of the recalled products were produced in the company's Jarratt facility in Virginia.
Boar's Head was recalling approximately 207,528 pounds of products at that time.
What is Boar's Head recalling now due to possible listeria contamination?
The expanded recall includes 71 products produced between May 10 and July 29 under the Boar’s Head and Old Country brand names.These products include ham, bologna, beef salami and more.
➤ Full list of items included in recall
The recalled food "includes meat intended for slicing at retail delis as well as some packaged meat and poultry products sold at retail locations."
"These products have 'sell by' dates ranging from July 29 through Oct. 17, 2024," according to a news release from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service.
The products have the establishment number “EST. 12612” or “P-12612” inside the USDA mark of inspection on the product labels.
Searchable list of Boar's Head recalled products
Where were the recalled items made by Boar's Head sold?
The products subject to recall were distributed to retail locations nationwide.
Some were exported to the Cayman Islands, Dominican Republic, Mexico, and Panama.
How was the listeria discovered?
The problem was discovered when the Food Safety and Inspection Service was notified a liverwurst sample collected by the Maryland Department of Health tested positive forlisteria.
"The Maryland Department of Health, in collaboration with the Baltimore City Health Department, collected an unopened liverwurst product from a retail store for testing as part of an outbreak investigation oflisteria infections. Further testing is ongoing to determine if the product sample is related to the outbreak," the USDA said.
2 dead, 34 sickened by listeria outbreak
The outbreak haskilled two people and affected 34across 13 states, as of Wednesday. Thirty-three have been hospitalized, according to the USDA. The two deaths were reported in Illinois and New Jersey.
Sicknesses by state:
- New York: 12
- Maryland: 6
- Massachusetts: 2
- Georgia: 2
- Missouri: 2
- Virginia: 2
- New Jersey: 2
- Minnesota: 1
- Illinois: 1
- Indiana: 1
- North Carolina: 1
- Pennsylvania: 1
- Wisconsin: 1
Has anyone in California gotten sick from the Boar's Head listeria outbreak?
No illnesses have been reported inCalifornia, according to the Centers for Disease Control.
Missouri couple file lawsuit over 'life-threatening listeria infection'
Patrick and Sue Flemingof High Ridge, Missouri, filed a complaint July 26 alleging that Sue Flemingendured a "life-threatening listeria infection" after they bought Boar's Head liverwurst in June. Sue, 88, required a long hospital stay and rehab as she experienced nausea, diarrhea, stomach cramping, and, "most disturbingly, intense whole-body aches, shaking, and muscle weakness," the complaint says.
The complaint says that she continues to suffer "neurological symptoms, fatigue, and overall weakness.”
Lawsuit filed over listeria:Boar's Head recall expands to 7 million pounds of deli meat
What should you do if you purchased any of the recalled meat?
The FSIS urges consumers who have purchased the recalled products to not consume them, and retailers are urged not to sell these products with the referenced sell-by dates.
"These products should be thrown away or returned to the place of purchase. Consumers who have purchased these products are also urged toclean refrigerators thoroughlyto prevent the risk of cross-contamination," the FSIS said.
Contact Boar's Head with questions about recall
Consumers with questions regarding the recall can contact Boar’s Head Provisions Co., Inc., Customer Service at 1-800-352-6277.
Founded in 1905in the New York City area,Boar's Headhas been headquartered in Sarasota since 2001. The company is located at 1819 Main St. Suite 800.
What are listeria?
Listeriaare bacteria that can contaminate many foods, according to the CDC.
What are symptoms of a listeria infection?
Symptoms typically start a week to four weeks after eating contaminated food. Symptoms typically include:
- Fever
- Flu-like symptoms, such as muscle aches and fatigue
- Headache
- Stiff neck
- Confusion
- Loss of balance
- Seizures
Who is most at risk from listeria?
The bacteria are most likely to sickenpeople who are pregnant and their newborns,adults aged 65 or older, andpeople with weakened immune systems, according to the CDC. Other people can be infected withlisteria, but they rarely become seriously ill.
Listeriosis mostly affects pregnant women. About1 in 6 cases of listeriosis are associated with pregnancy, according to the Florida Department of Health.
How can you avoid listeria?
Especially for those in high-risk groups, the CDC offers the following suggestions toavoid the listeria bacteriafound in food. Do not eat:
- Unpasteurized soft cheeses, such as queso fresco and brie
- Unheated cheeses sliced at a deli
- Unheated deli meat, cold cuts, hot dogs, and fermented or dry sausages
- Premade deli salads, such as coleslaw and potato, tuna, or chicken salad
- Refrigerated pâté or meat spreads
- Refrigerated smoked fish
- Raw or lightly cooked sprouts
- Cut melon left out for more than two hours. One hour if it’s exposed to temperatures hotter than 90 degrees
- Cut melon in refrigerator for more than a week
- Raw (unpasteurized) milk, yogurt, and ice cream
Can listeria on food be killed?
Listeriais easilykilled by heating foodto a high enough temperature, the CDC said.Do not eatmeats that have been sliced at any deli counter unless it is reheated to an internaltemperature of 165 degreesor until steaming hot. Let it cool before you eat it.
Contributors: Anthony Robledo, Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA Today, Ema Sasic
