A listeria outbreak spreading across the United States has now reached Indiana, with five new hospitalizations in the last week, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said.
In total, the outbreak has now affected 34 people across the country, with 33 hospitalizations and two fatalities, across 13 states, the CDC said on July 26.
Boar's Head recently issued a recall of over 207,000 pounds of packaged deli meats due to potential listeria contamination. The recall comes after days of uncertainty, with health inspectors initially unsure which products to recall.
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An investigation by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) discovered traces of listeria on Boar's Head liverwurst at a Maryland store, where it was processed with other meats, raising concerns about potential cross-contamination.
This discovery prompted a recall of Boar's Head ready-to-eat liverwurst, as well as several other deli meats produced on the same equipment, including ham, beef salami, and bologna.
In a statement given to the Associated Press, Boar's Head said: "We are cooperating fully with government authorities and conducting our own investigation into this incident."
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Deli meats and cold cuts are generally at a higher risk of carrying listeria compared to other foods, according to the CDC. Consuming foods contaminated with the bacteria can cause an infection called listeriosis, which is most likely to sicken pregnant women, newborns, the elderly, and individuals with compromised immune systems.
The CDC website lists symptoms of listeriosis as fever, muscle aches and fatigue, headache, gastrointestinal illness, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance, and seizures. In some cases, the infection can be fatal.
Map: Which States Have Been Affected?
The outbreak strain has affected 34 individuals across 13 states: Georgia, Illinois, Massachusetts, Maryland, Minnesota, Missouri, New York, New Jersey, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Indiana and Wisconsin.
Of those infected, all but one were hospitalized. The outbreak has also resulted in two fatalities: one in Illinois and another in New Jersey.
However, the CDC noted that the actual number of people affected is likely higher than reported, and it may extend beyond the currently affected states.
This is partly because many people recover without seeking medical care and may not be tested for listeria. In addition, recent cases may not yet be included in the tally, as it usually takes 3 to 4 weeks to confirm whether a case is linked to the outbreak.
State and local public health officials are interviewing affected patients about the foods they ate in the month before they became ill.
Of the 24 people able to be interviewed, 23 reported eating meats sliced at a deli. Of the 23 people who answered if they ate liverwurst, 13 reported deli-sliced liverwurst before getting sick, and seven reported Boar's Head brand. These deli meats were sliced at a variety of supermarket and grocery store delis.
The CDC has advised people who purchased the recalled Boar's Head products to either discard them or return them to the store. Additionally, they recommend avoiding deli meats from deli counters unless these meats are reheated to an internal temperature of 165°F or until they are steaming hot.
It is also important to clean refrigerators, containers, or surfaces that may have been exposed to sliced deli meats.
Full List of Recalled Products
- 3.5-lb. loaves in plastic casing, or various weight packages sliced in retail delis, containing "Boar's Head Strassburger Brand Liverwurst MADE IN VIRGINIA." The products shipped to retailers bear sell by dates ranging July 25, 2024, to Aug. 30, 2024, printed on the side of the packaging.
- 9.5-lb. and 4.5-lb. full product, or various weight packages sliced in retail delis, containing "Boar's Head VIRGINIA HAM OLD FASHIONED HAM" with sell by date "AUG 10" on the product packaging.
- 4-lb., or various weight packages sliced in retail delis, containing "Boar's Head ITALIAN CAPPY STYLE HAM" with sell by date "AUG 10" on the product packaging.
- 6-lb., or various weight packages sliced in retail delis, containing "Boar's Head EXTRA HOT ITALIAN CAPPY STYLE HAM" with sell by date "AUG 10" on the product packaging.
- 4-lb., or various weight packages sliced in retail delis, containing "Boar's Head BOLOGNA" with sell by date "AUG 10" on the product packaging.
- 2.5-lb., or various weight packages sliced in retail delis, containing "Boar's Head BEEF SALAMI" with sell by date "AUG 10" on the product packaging.
- 5.5-lb., or various weight packages sliced in retail delis, containing "Boar's Head STEAKHOUSE ROASTED BACON HEAT & EAT" with sell by date "AUG 15" on the product packaging.
- 3-lb., or various weight packages sliced in retail delis, containing "Boar's Head GARLIC BOLOGNA" with sell by date "AUG 10" on the product packaging.
- 3-lb., or various weight packages sliced in retail delis, containing "Boar's Head BEEF BOLOGNA" with sell by date "AUG 10" on the product packaging.
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