Boar’s Head recalls 7 million pounds of meat linked to deadly Listeria outbreak
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Boar’s Head recalled about 7 million pounds of meat products on Tuesday because they may be linked to a Listeria outbreak that led to two deaths, extending a recall of its products last week.
Tuesday’s recall of millions of pounds of grocery products comes days after Boar’s Head recalled more than 207,000 pounds of ready-to-eat products made at its Jarratt, Virginia facility on Friday over Listeria contamination. On Tuesday, Boar’s Head added the first recall to include all meat and poultry products made at its Jarratt facility, after learning that its Strassburger Brand Liverwurst was linked to a multi-state outbreak.
“Based on this new information, we have taken steps to ensure we are doing everything possible to protect public health,” Boar’s Head wrote in a statement posted on its website.
As of July 25, the deadly Listeria outbreak has infected 34 people in 13 states, 33 of whom have been hospitalized, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The outbreak began after people ate contaminated meat that had been cut into edible containers, including Boar’s Head liverwurst, according to the CDC.
What meats can be contaminated?
The deli supplier’s most recent recall includes a broad list of 71 ready-to-eat products under the Boar’s Head and Old Country brands that were intended to be sliced and sold in deli stores or purchased as packaged goods in stores. The recalled products, which include Boar’s Head Tavern Ham, Beef Salami, and Andouille Chicken Sausage, were produced between May 10 and July 29. Their packages were sold from July 29 to October 17.
The items join more than 200,000 pounds of ready-to-eat products—including all of the retailer’s liverwurst products on the market—that Boar’s Head recalled Friday. The recalled liverwurst, whose packaging bears the name “Boar’s Head Strassburger Brand Liverwurst MADE IN VIRGINIA,” has a sell-by date of July 25 through August 30.
The other nine products returned in Friday’s collection have sell-by dates of August 10 or 15 printed on their packaging. Includes Boar’s Head Virginia Ham, Italian Cappy Style Ham, and Garlic Bologna.
The recalled goods were distributed to retailers across the US, as well as stores in the Dominican Republic, Cayman Islands, Mexico and Panama. Both batches of recalled products have the serial number “EST. 12612” or “P-12612” within the US Department of Agriculture inspection mark on their product labels.
How was Listeria contamination discovered?
The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced the first recall after discovering that an unopened sample of Boar’s Head liverwurst from a Maryland store tested positive for Listeria following an outbreak that reportedly began in May. Further testing revealed that the contaminated sample contained the same strain of Listeria involved in the outbreak, according to FSIS.
As a result, Boar’s Head has recalled all of its liverwurst products on the market on Friday, as well as any other processed meat products produced at its Jarratt facility on the same line and on the same day as the liverwurst. On Monday evening, Boar’s Head wrote that it “immediately and voluntarily” extended the recall of all goods produced at that facility “out of an abundance of caution” and “to protect public health.”
“As a company that prioritizes safety and quality, we believe it’s the right thing to do,” Boar’s Head wrote.
Where are the Listeria outbreaks?
As of July 25, the deadly Listeria outbreak linked to the recall has affected nearly three dozen people in 13 states, including Maryland, where an infected Boar’s Head sample was found. Maryland has six cases, second only to New York, which has the highest number of cases at 12, according to the CDC. Two people have died as a result of the outbreak of violence in Illinois and New Jersey.
Patients have also been affected by the outbreak in these nine states, according to the CDC:
- Minnesota
- Missouri
- In Wisconsin
- In Indiana
- Georgia
- North Carolina
- Virginia
- in Pennsylvania
- Massachusetts
FSIS and CDC continue to work with federal health partners to investigate the Listeria outbreak and identify which deli meats may be contaminated.
What should I do if I buy recalled meat?
FSIS wrote that it was “concerned” that contaminated Boar’s Head products had made it into retail and consumer refrigerators. The agency has instructed customers who have purchased the recalled products to discard or return the goods.
In addition, FSIS recommended that any customers who purchased the recalled products thoroughly clean their refrigerators with hot, soapy water to avoid contamination.
Consumers who want to ask questions about the recall can contact Boar’s Head customer service at 1-800-352-6277.
How do I know if I have Listeria?
Eating food contaminated with Listeria, including expired Boar’s Head products, can lead to listeriosis, an illness characterized by these symptoms:
- Fever
- Muscle pain
- Convulsions
- Loss of balance
- A headache
- Confusion
Before dealing with this, patients may experience diarrhea or other gastrointestinal symptoms after eating contaminated food.
Listeriosis can spread beyond the intestines, where symptoms become more severe. About one in six nonpregnant people who get listeriosis that spreads beyond the intestines dies, according to the CDC.
Listeriosis is more common among certain people, including pregnant women, the elderly, and those with weakened immune systems.
In pregnant people, the symptoms of listeriosis may be mild, but the infection can lead to miscarriage, stillbirth, premature birth, or life-threatening diseases in their newborns. Seniors 65 or older and people with weakened immune systems may be at risk of serious illness or death from listeriosis.
The CDC recommended that these high-risk groups avoid eating deli meat unless the food is reheated to an “internal temperature of 165ºF or hotter.”
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