Publisher’s Platform: What You Need to Know About the Boar’s Head Listeria Outbreak

Before watching the video, review the past two years of FSIS inspection reports – https://www.foodsafetynews.com/files/2024/08/2024-08-27.pdf

I also received this email from a former employee: My work has Listeria in water and I work with the water every day. Lately I have been short of breath and have body aches. But don’t know. I work at Boars Head in Jarrett VA. Also, my immune system is not as strong due to my asthma and lung failure in 2008.

Public Health Warning: Products sold in the deli, especially those cut or prepared in the deli, may be contaminated with Listeria. Listeria spreads easily on deli equipment, surfaces, hands and food. Cooling doesn’t kill Listeriabut reheating it to a high enough temperature before eating will kill any germs on this meat. CDC advises people not to eat recalled processed meat products. CDC always advises people who are pregnant, age 65 or older, or have a weakened immune system, to avoid eating processed meats or to heat them before consuming them.

Number of sick: 57 people infected with the outbreak strain of Listeria have been reported from 18 states – Including: Arizona 1, Florida 3, Georgia 2, Illinois 1, Indiana 1, Maryland 8, Massachusetts 3, Minnesota 1, Missouri 3, New Jersey 5, New Mexico 1, New York 17, North Carolina 1 , Pennsylvania 2, South Carolina 2, Tennessee 1, Virginia 4, Wisconsin, 1.

Number of hospitalizations and deaths: Of the 57 people for whom information was available, all 57 have been hospitalized. One person became ill during pregnancy and remained pregnant after recovery. Nine deaths have been reported, including one in Illinois, one in New Jersey, one in Virginia, and as of this update, one in Florida, one in Tennessee, one in New Mexico, one in New York and two in South Carolina.

Product recall: Boar’s Head Provisions Co., Inc., based in Jarratt, Virginia, expanded its operations July 26, 2024, recall of meat products that may have been adulterated Listeria monocytogenes. The establishment is recalling approximately 7 million pounds of additional prepared meat and poultry products. This expansion includes 71 products manufactured between May 10, 2024 and July 29, 2024 under the Boar’s Head and Old Country brand names. These items include meat intended for cutting in delis, as well as some packaged meat and poultry products sold in stores. These products have a sell-by date ranging from July 29, 2024 to October 17, 2024. View the full product list. View labels. The products subject to recall were distributed to retail locations nationwide and some were exported to the Cayman Islands, Dominican Republic, Mexico and Panama. The products shipped to retailers are labeled with location number “EST. 12612” or “P-12612” within the USDA inspection mark on product labels.