A nationwide listeria outbreak linked to Boar’s Head deli meat has taken the lives of nine people and hospitalized 57 others in what the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has deemed the largest outbreak in the United States since 2011.
The CDC reported Wednesday six new deaths in New York, Florida, Tennessee, New Mexico, and South Carolina. Earlier this month, three deaths were reported in Virginia, Illinois, and New Jersey.
Here's everything you need to know so far about the outbreak.
What happened?
In late July, Boar’s Head recalled more than 7.2 million pounds of deli meat after a liverwurst sample collected by the Maryland Department of Health tested positive for a listeria strain.
The recalled products include liverwurst, ham, bologna, sausage, and roasted bacon.
Recalled products should have the numbers “EST. 12612” or “P-12612” inside the USDA mark of inspection on the Boar’s Head label, and some of the products have sell-by dates into October 2024.
All of the recalled products come from the Boar’s Head plant in Jarratt, Virginia.
Records published by CBS News from the U.S. Department of Agriculture Food Safety and Inspection Service through a Freedom of Information Act request document 69 “non-compliance” violations within the past year.
So far, the USDA has not reported any “enforcement actions” taken against the company for these violations.
Boar’s Head did not respond to the Washington Examiner’s request for comment.
During the 2011 outbreak of listeria caused by contaminated cantaloupes, there were 147 confirmed cases and 33 total deaths, which made it the worst foodborne illness outbreak in the U.S. since the CDC began recording outbreaks in the 1970s.
The agency noted, however, that the true number of illnesses of the current outbreak is likely higher than the reported statistics, as many people with milder cases have probably not been tested. There is also a time lag between infection, symptom development, and identification of the source.
What are the symptoms, and what should you do?
Listeria symptoms usually start within one to four weeks after eating contaminated food, but they can occur as late as 70 days after exposure. Symptoms can include headache, confusion, loss of balance, and convulsions, in addition to fever and muscle aches.
Pregnant women infected with listeria are at a heightened risk for miscarriage, stillbirth, premature delivery, or life-threatening infection of the newborn, according to the CDC.
The agency recommends that people with weakened immune systems, pregnant women, and seniors over age 65 should avoid eating meats sliced at deli counters unless heated to an internal temperature of 165 degrees.
As a precaution, the CDC recommends cleaning refrigerators, containers, and other surfaces that may have touched sliced deli meats.
“Businesses that received recalled meats should take extra precautions like cleaning and sanitizing and throwing away opened sliced meats and cheeses at delis,” said the agency.
If you are sick, the CDC says antibiotic treatment is only necessary in severe cases of the disease or for those who are at risk of seriously becoming ill.
Approximately 260 people die from listeria in the U.S. each year, and 1,600 people are infected.
What has happened to the deli meat market?
Boar’s Head controls as much as 30% of the premium deli meat market, in part because the company has partnered with many retailers to prominently market and display its products. During massive recalls such as this, however, small delis that rely on Boar’s Head could face financial setbacks.
Deli meat sales dropped by almost 8% the week that the recall was announced, which marked a new low since they peaked during the COVID-19 pandemic.
But meat purveyors and grocers have reported that consumers are specifically avoiding Boar’s Head products.
Boar’s Head stock is down more than 8% in the past three months and has fallen nearly 20% in the past year-to-date. On Thursday, the company’s stock price dropped nearly 2% between market open and 10:00 AM.
How has Boar’s Head responded?
“We deeply regret the impact that this recall has had on affected families,” Boar’s Head said in a press release in mid-August. “No words can fully express our sympathies and the sincere and deep hurt we feel for those who have suffered losses or endured illness.”
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Boar’s Head’s statement also emphasizes that food safety is the company’s “absolute priority, and the health and well-being of our consumers are paramount.”
The company has provided a full list of products involved in the recall.
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