The recall of Boar’s Head deli meats has significantly broadened due to concerns about a possible connection to a deadly listeria outbreak in the United States, federal authorities announced on Tuesday.
An additional 3,500 tons of ready-to-eat meat and poultry items, sold under both the Boar’s Head and Old Country brands, have been included in the recall, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). This expansion follows an earlier recall of approximately 103 tons of Boar’s Head products.
The recall now encompasses 71 different products that were produced between May 10 and July 29, with sell-by dates extending from July 29 to October 17, as stated by the USDA.
The issue came to light when the U.S. Food and Safety Inspection Service was informed by the Maryland Department of Health that a liverwurst sample collected from a Baltimore-area store tested positive for the same strain of listeria linked to the outbreak, according to USDA reports.
As of Tuesday, health officials reported that the listeria outbreak had affected at least 34 individuals across 13 states, resulting in two deaths.
The recalled products were distributed nationwide and exported to Mexico, the Cayman Islands, the Dominican Republic, and Panama. They can be identified by the establishment number “EST. 12612” or “P-12612” located within the USDA inspection mark on their labels.
Some of the products included in the recall are:
- Virginia Ham
- Olive Loaf
- All Natural Traditional Ham
- SmokeMaster Beechwood Smoked Black Forest Ham
- Skinless Beef Franks
- Natural Casing Pork & Beef Frankfurters
- Rosemary Sundried Tomato Ham
- Liverwurst Paté
- Canadian Style Bacon
- Garlic Bologna
- Old Country Habanero Ham
- Old Country Black Forest Ham
A complete list of the recalled products is available online.
The USDA has expressed concerns that some of these products may still be in consumer refrigerators or retail deli cases. The initial recall last week led several supermarket chains to shut down their deli counters.
Listeria infection symptoms can include fever, muscle aches, vomiting, and diarrhea. It poses serious risks, especially to pregnant women, seniors, and individuals with weakened immune systems, with potential symptoms such as headaches, stiff neck, loss of balance, confusion, and convulsions.
For pregnant women, a listeria infection can have severe consequences, potentially causing miscarriage, stillbirth, premature delivery, or life-threatening infection in newborns, as warned by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Symptoms generally appear two weeks after consuming contaminated food but can range from the same day to 10 weeks later. Listeria infections are treated with antibiotics.
Dr. Nidhi Kumar, a cardiovascular disease specialist, emphasized to CBS New York that listeria is a resilient bacterium, capable of surviving in both freezer and refrigerator conditions.
“If you have purchased deli meat, it’s important to remember that this bacteria can contaminate entire surfaces. Thoroughly clean your refrigerator with a bleach-based cleaner,” Dr. Kumar advised.
For further details on the outbreak and recall, visit the USDA’s website or contact the USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline at 888-MPHotline.
