Sue Fleming, an 88-year-old from High Ridge, Missouri, who has always enjoyed Boar’s Head braunschweiger, is reconsidering her favorite snack after falling ill in a listeria food poisoning outbreak linked to a nationwide recall of 7 million pounds of Boar’s Head deli meats. She spent time in the hospital and rehabilitation due to a listeria infection after consuming the deli meat her husband purchased.

Fleming and her husband are suing Boar’s Head and Schnuck Markets Inc. as part of the outbreak, which has affected 43 people, resulting in three deaths in different states. Boar’s Head is facing a class-action lawsuit alleging improper marketing of contaminated products.

Health officials in Maryland and New York found listeria in Boar’s Head liverwurst products, triggering a recall of over 70 products made at the company’s plant in Virginia. The severity of listeria infections, especially in vulnerable individuals like older adults, pregnant women, and those with weakened immune systems, is highlighted in this outbreak.

Listeria infections can be particularly dangerous and even fatal for certain groups of people. Pregnant women are at higher risk of severe illness or miscarriage due to listeria. The outbreak also affected a pregnant woman in Minnesota who nearly lost her unborn child after consuming the contaminated deli meat.

The infection caused Sue Fleming serious health complications due to her age and weakened health. Listeria poses a threat to older adults who may have less diverse diets and keep foods for longer periods, as the bacteria can survive and grow in refrigerated conditions. The difficulty of identifying the source of a listeria infection due to the delayed onset of symptoms makes prevention crucial.

Boar’s Head has urged consumers to dispose of or return the recalled products. Heating deli meats to a high temperature can kill the bacteria, but it’s safer to discard any questionable products. Consumers are advised to verify that stores have removed affected deli meats from shelves and cleaned deli equipment to prevent further contamination.