Boar’s Head recalled roughly 7 million more pounds of meat products on Tuesday because they may be tied to a Listeria outbreak that has resulted in two deaths, expanding last week’s nationwide recall of its goods.
Tuesday’s recall of millions of pounds of the deli supplier’s products came just days after Boar’s Head recalled over 207,000 pounds of ready-to-eat products made at its Jarratt, Virginia facility on Friday for potential Listeria contamination. On Tuesday, Boar’s Head expanded that initial recall to include all of the meat and poultry products made at its Jarratt facility, after learning that its Strassburger Brand Liverwurst was tied to the multistate outbreak.
“Based on this new information, we took 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 across 13 states, 33 of whom have been hospitalized, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The outbreak started after people ate contaminated meat that was sliced at delis, including Boar’s Head liverwurst, according to the CDC.
What meats may be contaminated?
The deli supplier’s most recent recall involves an extensive list of 71 ready-to-eat products under the Boar’s Head and Old country brands that were meant to be sliced and sold at delis or purchased as packaged goods at 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 packaging bears sell-by dates ranging from July 29 to October 17.
These goods join the over 200,000 pounds of ready-to-eat goods—including all of the deli supplier’s liverwurst products on the market—that Boar’s Head recalled on Friday. The recalled liverwurst, whose packaging bears the name “Boar’s Head Strassburger Brand Liverwurst MADE IN VIRGINIA,” has sell-by dates ranging from July 25 to August 30.
The nine other recalled products in Friday’s batch have sell-by dates of August 10 or 15 printed on their packaging. They include Boar’s Head Virginia Ham, Italian Cappy Style Ham, and Garlic Bologna.
The recalled goods were distributed to retailers across the U.S., as well as stores in the Dominican Republic, Cayman Islands, Mexico, and Panama. Both batches of recalled products bear the establishment number “EST. 12612” or “P-12612” on the inside of the U.S. Department of Agriculture mark of inspection on their product labels.
How was the Listeria contamination discovered?
The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced the first recall after it learned that a sample of unopened Boar’s Head liverwurst from a Maryland store had tested positive for Listeria following an outbreak that reportedly began in May. Further testing revealed that the contaminated sample contained the same Listeria strain involved in the outbreak, according to the FSIS.
As a result, Boar’s Head recalled all of its liverwurst products on the market on Friday, as well as any other deli meat products that were 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” expanded the recall to all of the 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 is the right thing to do,” Boar’s Head wrote.
Where is the Listeria outbreak?
As of July 25, the deadly Listeria outbreak to which the recalls are connected has affected nearly three dozen people in 13 states, including Maryland, where the contaminated Boar’s Head sample was discovered. 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 from the outbreak in Illinois and New Jersey.
Patients have also been affected by the outbreak in these nine states, according to the CDC:
- Minnesota
- Missouri
- Wisconsin
- Indiana
- Georgia
- North Carolina
- Virginia
- Pennsylvania
- Massachusetts
The FSIS and CDC are continuing to work with state public health partners to investigate the Listeria outbreak and identify which deli meats may be contaminated.
What should I do if I bought recalled meat?
The FSIS wrote that it was “concerned” contaminated Boar’s Head products had made it into retail delis and consumers’ refrigerators. The agency instructed customers who have discovered they purchased recalled products to dispose of or return the goods.
In addition, the FSIS recommended that any customers who bought recalled products thoroughly clean their refrigerators with hot, soapy water to prevent cross-contamination.
Consumers looking to ask questions about the recalls can contact Boar’s Head’s customer service department at 1-800-352-6277.
How do I know if I’ve been infected by the Listeria outbreak?
Consuming food that has been contaminated with Listeria, including the recalled Boar’s Head products, can lead to listeriosis, an infection characterized by these symptoms:
- Fever
- Muscle aches
- Convulsions
- Loss of balance
- Headaches
- Confusion
Before experiencing these, patients may have diarrhea or exhibit other gastrointestinal symptoms after eating contaminated food.
Listeriosis can spread beyond the intestines, at which point symptoms become more severe. Nearly one in six non-pregnant people who experience listeriosis that has spread beyond their intestines die, according to the CDC.
Listeriosis is more common among certain populations, including people who are pregnant, older adults, and those with weakened immune systems.
For people who are pregnant, listeriosis symptoms may be mild, but the infection can lead to miscarriages, stillbirths, premature delivery, or life-threatening infections in their newborns. Adults aged 65 or older and people with weakened immune systems may also be at risk of serious illness or death as a result of listeriosis.
The CDC recommended that these higher-risk groups avoid eating meats sliced at delis unless the food is reheated to “an internal temperature of 165ºF or until steaming hot.”