Boar’s Head’s Listeria Outbreak Leads to Recall of 7 Million Pounds of Meat – Hollywood Life
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced an expanded recall of deli meat potentially contaminated with listeria on Monday. In addition to the 200,000 pounds of ready-to-eat products recalled on Monday due to a listeria outbreak, Boar’s Head had to recall an additional 7 million pounds of meat on Tuesday.
Last week, the agency’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) issued an initial recall of 100 tons of Boar’s Head products after two deaths and 34 hospitalizations in 13 states linked to potentially tainted meat.
The expanded recall includes 71 products intended for deli slicing, as well as some packaged meat produced between May 10 and July 29 under the Boar’s Head and Old Country brand names. These products, such as Virginia ham, beef salami, and bologna, were processed at a Boar’s Head facility in Jarratt, Va.
The contamination was discovered when a liverwurst sample collected in Maryland tested positive for listeria. Subsequent testing confirmed that the bacteria strain matched those causing illnesses in the nationwide outbreak reported between late May and July.
In response to the new information, Boar’s Head stated on its website that they are taking all necessary steps to protect public health. The company has also stopped production of ready-to-eat foods at the affected plant.
The recalled meat was distributed to stores across the U.S. and to several other countries, including the Cayman Islands, the Dominican Republic, Mexico, and Panama, according to Agriculture Department officials.
Consumers with the recalled products at home should not consume them and should either dispose of them or return them to the store for a refund, advised company officials. Health authorities recommend thoroughly cleaning and sanitizing refrigerators to avoid contaminating other foods.
The CDC estimates that around 1,600 people suffer from listeria food poisoning each year, with approximately 260 resulting in death.
Listeria infections typically present with fever, muscle aches, and fatigue, and can progress to symptoms like a stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance, and convulsions. Symptoms may appear soon after consumption or up to 10 weeks later. The risks are higher for individuals over 65, those with weakened immune systems, and pregnant women.