Boar’s Head Expands Recall Amid Deadly Listeria Outbreak
In response to an ongoing multi-state listeria outbreak, Boar’s Head has expanded its recall to include an additional seven million pounds of ready-to-eat sliced deli meat products produced at its Virginia plant. The outbreak has resulted in the deaths of two people. The US Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced on Tuesday that the updated recall now covers 71 products made between May 10 and July 29, under the Boar’s Head and Old Country brand names.
Initial recall and expanded scope
Last Friday, Boar’s Head initially recalled more than 200,000 pounds of liverwurst and other deli meat products over listeria concerns. The expanded recall includes meats intended for slicing at retail delis, as well as some packaged meat and poultry products sold nationwide. These products range from liverwurst, ham, beef salami, and bologna to sausage, pork, and other poultry items, produced at the company’s Jarratt, Virginia plant, and distributed across the United States, with some exports to the Cayman Islands, Dominican Republic, Mexico, and Panama.
Impact of the listeria outbreak
The ongoing listeria outbreak has sickened 34 people across 13 states, with 33 hospitalizations, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Two deaths have been reported in Illinois and New Jersey. The CDC detailed illnesses in various states, including New York, Maryland, Georgia, Missouri, Virginia, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, North Carolina, and Pennsylvania.
Discovery and response
The issue was identified after a sample of an unopened liverwurst product from a Maryland store tested positive for listeria, linked to the multi-state outbreak. Boar’s Head, prioritizing safety and quality, decided to expand the recall and pause ready-to-eat operations at the Jarratt facility. “Out of an abundance of caution, we decided to immediately and voluntarily expand our recall to include all items produced at the Jarratt facility,” Boar’s Head stated on its website.
Consumer advisory and safety measures
The CDC advises consumers to avoid eating the recalled products and to either dispose of them or return them to stores for a refund. It is also recommended that customers clean refrigerators, containers, and surfaces that may have come into contact with the recalled products, as listeria can survive in the refrigerator and spread to other foods and surfaces.
Understanding listeria
Listeria, or listeriosis, is a serious foodborne illness caused by the bacterium Listeria monocytogenes. Symptoms can range from mild, such as fever, muscle aches, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea, to severe, including headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance, and convulsions. The infection poses significant risks to vulnerable groups, including pregnant women, young children, older adults, and individuals with weakened immune systems. Pregnant women are 10 times more likely to contract listeria, potentially leading to miscarriage, stillbirth, and premature delivery.
Symptoms typically manifest within two weeks after consuming contaminated food but can appear as early as 24 hours or as late as 10 weeks after exposure, depending on the infection’s severity.
Listeria in the United States
Listeria is the third leading cause of death from food poisoning in the United States, with an estimated 1,600 infections and about 260 deaths annually, according to the CDC. The Boar’s Head recall is a significant development in addressing this public health threat and underscores the importance of food safety measures.