According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), another person has died in a listeria outbreak linked to contaminated Boar's Head deli meat that was recalled last month.
In total, nine deaths and 57 hospitalizations have been reported in 18 states in connection with this outbreak since the CDC began its investigation on July 19, but the actual number may be higher.
Last month, Listeria bacteria were found in Boar's Head ready-to-eat liver sausage products produced between June 11 and July 17, 2024. According to the CDC, Boar's Head has recalled all of its sausage products and they should be thrown away or returned to the place of purchase.
Listeria can cause listeriosis, a disease that can have serious consequences, especially in pregnant women, the elderly and people with weakened immune systems.
Symptoms may vary but are usually similar to those of typical food poisoning. They begin 24 hours after eating contaminated food and last for one to three days.
However, symptoms may also include fever, muscle aches, fatigue, headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance, or seizures, according to the CDC. In pregnant women, Listeria can cause miscarriage or premature birth, or illness or death in newborns.
The outbreak so far appears to have been concentrated on the east coast of the USA. Most cases have been in the state of New York: 17 people were hospitalized there with listeriosis, according to the CDC.
Deaths have occurred in Illinois, New Jersey, Virginia, Tennessee, New Mexico and New York. Two people died in South Carolina. The most recent death occurred in Florida.
Other states where listeria cases have been reported include Arizona, Minnesota, Missouri, Wisconsin, Indiana, Georgia, North Carolina, Maryland, Pennsylvania and Massachusetts.
Newsweek sent an email to the CDC requesting comment.
The CDC has stated that the recalled Boar's Head sausages should not be eaten. The recalled products can be identified by the USDA inspection mark on the product labels. Products marked “EST. 12612” or “P-12612” may be contaminated with listeria.
The shelf life of the products is 44 days, so for some products the best before date may not be until October 2024.
The CDC recommends checking your refrigerator and throwing away or returning any recalled products. Then clean your refrigerator, containers, and any surfaces that may have come into contact with the recalled meat.
Listeria spreads easily through surfaces, equipment, surfaces, hands and food and is not killed by refrigeration. The bacteria may have contaminated other meat in refrigerators and at deli counters.
However, because the bacteria can be killed by sufficiently high temperatures, people at risk for severe listeriosis—such as pregnant women, the elderly, or people with weakened immune systems—should avoid eating sausages sliced at the deli counter unless the sausage has been first reheated to an internal temperature of 74°C (165°F) or until steaming hot.
It can take up to ten weeks for symptoms of listeriosis to appear, so people who have previously consumed sausage products should remain alert in case they later develop symptoms of listeriosis.
According to the CDC, listeria is the third leading cause of death from foodborne illness in the United States, responsible for about 1,600 cases of food poisoning and about 260 deaths each year.
This outbreak was traced to Boar's Head after a sample of liver sausage collected by health officials in Maryland tested positive for listeria in July.
Health officials issued a warning to the public and Boar's Head ordered a recall on July 25, which was expanded on July 29 to include all products from its Jarratt, Virginia plant.
More than 7 million pounds of deli meat are affected, including items sliced at the deli counter as well as packaged sausages, frankfurters, bacon and other types of meat.
According to the Boar's Head website, the affected products are no longer available on store shelves.
Boar's Head said in a statement on its website: “Food safety is our top priority and the health and wellbeing of our consumers is paramount.”
“We deeply regret the impact this recall has had on the families affected. No words can express our sympathy and the sincere and deep pain we feel for those who have suffered loss or endured illness.”
The company added that it is “conducting a thorough investigation to determine the root cause of this incident” and “implementing comprehensive remedial actions to ensure that all of our delicatessen products meet the highest safety and quality standards.”
The CDC continues to collect health data on people affected by the outbreak, reporting that those hospitalized for listeriosis are on average 77 years old—the age range is 32 to 95—and 75 percent of them are white.
The CDC also surveyed 44 people with listeriosis. 95 percent of them said they had eaten meat that had been sliced at the deli counter in a supermarket or grocery store.
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