Boar’s Head, a well-known deli meat company, is expanding its recall of ready-to-eat products by an additional 7 million pounds from its Virginia plant amid an investigation into a deadly listeria outbreak, as reported by U.S. Agriculture Department officials on Tuesday.
This new recall affects 71 products produced between May 10 and July 29 under the Boar’s Head and Old Country brands and includes items such as liverwurst, ham, beef salami, and bologna, both for deli slicing and packaged varieties.
The recall is linked to a listeria outbreak that has resulted in the deaths of two individuals and the illness of nearly 35 people across 13 states, primarily hospitalized between late May and mid-July.
The issue came to light when a sample of liverwurst from Maryland tested positive for listeria, matching the strain responsible for the illnesses. Following this discovery, Boar’s Head decided to expand the recall and cease production of ready-to-eat foods at the Jarratt facility as a precautionary measure.
The affected meat products were distributed nationwide and internationally to countries like the Cayman Islands, the Dominican Republic, Mexico, and Panama, in addition to stores across the U.S.
Consumers are advised not to consume the recalled products but instead to discard them or return them to the store for a refund. Officials recommend thoroughly cleaning and sanitizing refrigerators to prevent cross-contamination.
Listeria infections can cause fever, muscle aches, fatigue, and may lead to more severe symptoms like a stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance, and convulsions. The infections are particularly dangerous for certain demographics such as individuals over 65, those with weakened immune systems, and pregnant women.
On an annual basis, an estimated 1,600 individuals in the U.S. contract listeria food poisoning, resulting in around 260 fatalities, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
