As of Tuesday, the recall of Boar’s Head products has escalated to encompass a staggering 7 million additional pounds of deli and poultry items in a fatal multistate epidemic of listeria. This outbreak has afflicted 34 individuals in 13 states, resulting in 33 hospitalizations and two deaths in Illinois and New Jersey. The deli meat company had previously recalled over 207,000 pounds of deli meat, including liverwurst and ham products, due to potential contamination with the Listeria monocytogenes bacteria. However, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) declared an expansion of this recall, now comprising 71 products produced between May 10 to July 29 under the Boar’s Head and Old Country Brand names.
The recall was initiated following a liverwurst sample detected by the Maryland Department of Health, which tested positive for listeria. An additional nine products produced on the same production line at the Jarratt, Virginia, facility were also included in the initial voluntary recall. The outbreak strain was identified in a liverwurst product collected from a retail store, prompting Boar’s Head to broaden the recall to encompass all items produced at the Jarratt facility. As a precautionary measure, the company elected to halt ready-to-eat operations at this facility until further notice to prioritize safety and quality standards.
In a statement on the company’s website, Boar’s Head expressed their sympathies for the impacted families and individuals affected by the outbreak. The company encouraged consumers who purchased the recalled products to dispose of them or return them to the store, in addition to cleaning out their refrigerators to prevent cross-contamination. Boar’s Head also emphasized the importance of food safety and quality assurance, acknowledging the severity of the situation and the need for decisive action to protect consumers.
Listeria infection, caused by the consumption of contaminated food items, poses significant health risks, particularly for vulnerable populations such as older adults, individuals with weakened immune systems, and pregnant women. Symptoms of listeriosis, the bacterial illness associated with Listeria monocytogenes, can include fever, muscle aches, tiredness, stiff neck, and confusion. In severe cases, the infection may lead to blood infections or meningitis. According to the CDC, around 1,600 people are affected by listeriosis annually, resulting in approximately 260 deaths. While most cases are sporadic and not linked to outbreaks, periodic outbreaks highlight the ongoing threat posed by foodborne pathogens.
The expansion of the Boar’s Head recall underscores the critical importance of food safety standards and the need for proactive measures to prevent foodborne illnesses. Heightened awareness, thorough sanitation practices, and swift responses to potential contamination incidents are crucial to safeguarding public health and minimizing the risk of outbreaks. As consumers, it is essential to stay informed, follow recommended guidelines for handling and storing food products, and promptly respond to recalls to protect ourselves and our families from foodborne hazards.