Big Y, Stop & Shop locations temporarily close delis due to listeria outbreak

SPRINGFIELD - Big Y and Stop & Shop supermarket locations, including in Massachusetts, temporarily closed their delis for several hours on Friday in the wake of a listeria outbreak linked to deli meat products.

Big Y and Stop & Shop clean and sanitize delis

All Stop & Shop delis reopened Friday night after they were deep cleaned, a spokesperson for the supermarket said. All impacted products from the Boar's Head recall have been removed.

"Out of an abundance of caution, Stop & Shop made the decision to temporarily close our delis today to conduct this cleaning and product removal," the company said in a statement. "Ensuring the safety of the products we sell is our highest priority, and our deli associates are ready to serve our communities.

All Big Y delis were reopened by 6 p.m.

"We are taking these steps out of an abundance of caution for our customers' safety," John Fraro, senior director of fresh foods at Big Y said in a statement. "To make sure we are breaking the supply chain, we will also be disposing of all product that may have come in contact with the affected products. We will continue to be vigilant and take precautions to prevent future incidents."

What products are being recalled?

Boar's Head is recalling ready-to-eat liverwurst produced between June 11 and July 17. That includes 3.5-pound loaves in plastic casing and "Board's Head Strassburger Brand Liverwurst" with sell by dates between July 25 and Aug. 30.

According to the USDA , Boar's Head products also impacted include:

• Virginia Ham Old-Fashioned Ham
• Italian Cappy Style Ham
• Extra Hot Italian Cappy Style Ham
• Bologna
• Beef Salami
• Steakhouse Roasted Bacon Heat & Eat
• Garlic Bologna
• Beef Bologna

According to the CDC , the listeria outbreak has sickened 34 people in 12 states, including two people in Massachusetts. Two people nationwide have also died.

Listeria can cause fever, muscle aches and tiredness. It's especially dangerous in pregnant women, people over 65 or those with a weakened immune system.

"GI symptoms, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea," said Dr. Shira Doron, the chief infection control officer at Tufts. "Or you may just skip right to fever, body aches that represents the fact that the organism is in your bloodstream. Some people can get meningitis and so that will manifest as headaches, stiff neck, confusion, even seizures. And then pregnant women can actually have a miscarriage, preterm labor or stillbirth."