Topline
Deli giant Boar’s Head recalled over 200,000 pounds of packaged deli meats over possible listeria contamination, the USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service announced Friday morning, which could possibly be linked to a growing listeria outbreak that has led to reported illnesses in 13 states.
A pair of recalls tied to an outbreak of listeria include Boar’s Head deli meats.
Key Facts
The USDA said all Boar’s Head “ready-to-eat” liverwurst produced between June 11 and July 17 with a 44-day shelf life has been recalled, following the detection of the bacteria listeria monocytogenes in a sample from an unopened liverwurst product collected by Maryland’s Department of Health.
Friday’s recall comes as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports 34 cases of listeria resulting in 33 hospitalizations and two deaths as of Thursday, July 25, with the bulk of those cases coming in Maryland and New York.
While the USDA did not conclude whether the discovery of the bacteria in the liverwurst was related to the ongoing listeria outbreak, the agency said it is investigating whether it is related.
The USDA warns eating food contaminated with the bacteria can lead to listeriosis, an infection that can cause fever, headache, confusion and muscle ache, and can sometimes be fatal.
Earlier this week, the Food and Drug Administration announced Ohio-based manufacturer Wiers Farm Inc. recalled bags and trays of peppers, green beans, cucumbers, squash and cilantro sold at Walmart and Aldi—Listeria can affect vegetables and fruits, such as melons and sprouts, as well as spreadable cheeses, meat spreads, smoked fish and unpasteurized milk, according to the CDC.
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What Foods Are Affected By The Recall?
In addition to liverwurst, Friday’s recall applies to Boar’s Head Virginia ham, Italian cappy style ham, extra hot Italian cappy style ham, bologna, beef salami, steakhouse roasted bacon, garlic bologna and beef bologna, which are packaged in plastic casing and sliced at retail delis, were distributed to delis nationwide, the USDA said. Meanwhile, the Wiers Farm recall affects bagged poblano, cubanelle, serrano and organic bell peppers, as well as organic yellow squash, organic zucchini, organic cucumbers, bagged salad cucumbers and bagged green beans sold at Walmart locations in Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia. That recall also applies to Freshire Farms brand bagged jalapeno peppers and bagged green beans at Aldi stores in Kentucky, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania and West Virginia, as well as bulk Anaheim peppers, cubanelle peppers, cucumbers, green beans, green bell peppers, habanero peppers, Hungarian wax peppers, jalapeno peppers, poblano peppers, serrano peppers, tomatillos, parsley and mustard greens.
What Should Consumers Do If They Purchased Those Foods?
The USDA recommends people who already purchased affected Boar’s Head products should throw out those meats and thoroughly clean their refrigerators to prevent cross-contamination.
How Serious Is Listeria?
While some cases of listeria can be resolved without hospitalization, the vast majority of cases require hospital care, particularly among adults 65 and older, newborns, pregnant women and people with compromised immune systems who are most vulnerable to infection, according to the FDA. Each year, listeria affects roughly 1,600 people, the FDA estimates, with roughly 250 of those infections resulting in death. Symptoms typically include diarrhea, fatigue, fever, loss of balance, muscle ache and seizures. Among pregnant women, the infection can cause miscarriages, preterm labor, illness to the newborn and newborn death, according to the CDC.