Boar’s Head Deli Meat Linked to Deadly Listeria Outbreak: CDC

A nationwide Boar’s Head recall has been issued for more than 200,000 pounds of deli meats, after Maryland health officials discovered listeria contamination in an unopened package of liverwurst.

More than 200,000 pounds of Boar’s Head deli meats are being recalled after federal officials discovered they may be linked to a multistate outbreak of listeria poisoning, which has sickened dozens of people and killed at least two so far.

The U.S. Centers for Disease and Prevention (CDC) issued a listeria food poisoning warning on July 26, following the Maryland Department of Health’s discovery of Listeria monocytogenes in an unopened sample of liverwurst.

Listeria monocytogenes infections can cause serious and sometimes fatal food poisoning in young children, frail or elderly people, posing a serious risk for persons with weakened immune systems. However, even healthy individuals can suffer side effects, including short-term symptoms such as high fever, severe headache, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea. Among pregnant women, listeria monocytogenes infections can cause miscarriages and stillbirths.

CDC officials report that the latest listeria outbreak has sickened 34 individuals across 13 states, resulting in 33 hospitalizations and two fatalities, one in Illinois and one in New Jersey. The CDC, together with the FSIS, is actively collaborating with state public health partners to investigate the outbreak further.

Boar’s Head Deli Meat Recall

The Boar’s Head recall includes ready-to-eat liverwurst products manufactured between June 11, 2024, and July 17, 2024. These products, which have a 44-day shelf life, are labeled as “Boar’s Head Strassburger Brand Liverwurst MADE IN VIRGINIA”.

These include 3.5-lb. loaves in plastic casings and various weight packages sliced at retail delis, with sell-by dates ranging from July 25, 2024, to August 30, 2024.

In addition, Boar’s Head deli meats produced on June 27, 2024, that sell-by dates of “AUG 10” or “AUG 15.” are also being recalled. These include;

• 9.5-lb. and 4.5-lb. Virginia Ham with sell-by date “AUG 10”;
• 4-lb. Italian Cappy Style Ham,
• 6-lb.; Extra Hot Italian Cappy Style Ham;
• 4-lb. Bologna; 2.5-lb. Beef Salami;
• 5.5-lb. Steakhouse Roasted Bacon Heat & Eat;
• 3-lb. Garlic Bologna; and
• 3-lb. Beef Bologna.

A total of 207,528 pounds of Boar’s Head deli meat are believed to be affected.

The FSIS warns that some recalled products may still be in consumers’ homes or retail delis. Consumers should not eat these products and should either throw them away or return them. Individuals should also clean their refrigerators to avoid cross-contamination. Retailers should clean and sanitize all surfaces and discard any open deli meats and cheeses. For further guidance, retailers can refer to FSIS’s Best Practices for controlling Listeria monocytogenes in delis.

Consumers with questions about the recall can contact Boar’s Head Provisions Co., Inc. Customer Service at 1-800-352-6277. For food safety questions, consumers can call the USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline at 888-674-6854 or email MPHotline@usda.gov. To report issues with meat, poultry, or egg products, use the online Electronic Consumer Complaint Monitoring System at https://foodcomplaint.fsis.usda.gov/eCCF/.