Three individuals have lost their lives in a recent listeria food poisoning outbreak associated with Boar’s Head deli meats, according to federal food safety officials, who revealed on Thursday that the total number of affected individuals has risen to 43.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced that the latest fatality occurred in Virginia, while the previous two deaths were reported in New Jersey and Illinois. Since a July 31 update on the outbreak that began in late May, nine additional cases have been recorded.
Boar’s Head initiated a recall of 7 million pounds of deli meats on July 30, expanding from an initial recall on July 25 following a positive listeria test on a liverwurst sample collected in Maryland. The CDC confirmed on Thursday that a liverwurst sample tested by New York health officials showed the same listeria strain.
The recall affects more than 70 products manufactured at the company’s plant in Jarratt, Virginia, including liverwurst, ham, beef salami, and bologna.
Legal action has already been taken against Boar’s Head, with two lawsuits filed – one in a Missouri court and the other as a class-action suit in federal court in New York.
The contaminated meat was distributed nationwide and in regions such as the Cayman Islands, the Dominican Republic, Mexico, and Panama. Consumers are advised not to consume the recalled products and should either dispose of them or return them to the store for a refund. Listeria can persist and multiply in the refrigerator, so individuals who have handled the recalled items should thoroughly clean and sanitize their fridge to prevent cross-contamination.
The CDC approximates that 1,600 individuals contract listeria food poisoning annually, resulting in approximately 260 deaths. Common symptoms include fever, muscle aches, and fatigue, with more severe cases potentially leading to confusion and convulsions. Vulnerable populations include individuals over 65, those with weakened immune systems, and pregnant individuals. Symptoms may not manifest until weeks after consuming contaminated food.
