New Yorker among 6 new deaths linked to Boar’s Head deli meat listeria outbreak
NEW YORK - At least nine people have died, including one person from New York and one from New Jersey, after being infected with listeria from Boar’s Head deli meats tied to a massive recall last month, federal health officials said Wednesday.
The new toll includes two deaths in South Carolina, plus one each in Florida, New Mexico, Tennessee and New York, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said. Three deaths were previously confirmed in people who lived in Illinois, New Jersey and Virginia.
Listeria outbreak 2024
At least 57 people have been sickened and hospitalized in the outbreak. Illnesses were reported starting in late May and have continued into August, the agency said.
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Boar's Head recall: What to know about deadly listeria outbreak linked to deli meat
Boar’s Head has recalled more than 7 million pounds of deli products amid the largest listeria outbreak in the U.S. since 2011, the CDC said.
It's the largest listeria outbreak in the U.S. since 2011, and Boar’s Head has recalled more than seven million pounds of deli products.
What is listeria
Listeria infections are caused by a hardy type of bacteria that can survive and even thrive during refrigeration. An estimated 1,600 people get listeria food poisoning each year and about 260 die, according to the CDC. Infections can be hard to pinpoint because symptoms may occur quickly — or up to 10 weeks after eating contaminated food.
The infections are especially dangerous for older people, those who are pregnant or those with weakened immune systems.
Boar’s Head listeria outbreak
The problem was discovered when a Boar’s Head liverwurst sample collected by health officials in Maryland tested positive for listeria. Further testing showed that the type of bacteria was the same strain causing illnesses in people.
Boar's Head recall
Boar’s Head officials originally recalled liverwurst and other products meant to be sliced in retail delis with sell-by dates from July 25 to August 30. On July 29, the recall was expanded to include all foods produced at the firm’s plant in Jarratt, Virginia. The products included those sliced at deli counters as well as some prepackaged retail sausage, frankfurters and bacon.
All the recalled deli meats have been removed from stores and are no longer available, Boar’s Head officials said on the company’s website. The products were distributed to stores nationwide, U.S. Agriculture Department officials said.
CDC officials urged consumers to check their refrigerators for the recalled products. Look for EST. 12612 or P-12612 inside the USDA mark of inspection on the product labels, some of which have sell-by dates that extend into October. Discard recalled foods and thoroughly clean and sanitize the refrigerator and other surfaces they touched.
What are symptoms of listeria
Many illnesses caused by food poisoning are short-lived, but listeria infections can have devastating effects.
Signs and symptoms of listeriosis depend on the person infected, and the body part affected.
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The Associated Press wire services helped contribute to this report.