July 26, 2024 -- Boar’s Head has recalled 207,528 pounds of liverwurst and other deli meat products because of worries the meat may be contaminated with listeria, the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced Friday.
This recall follows a warning from the CDC last week that meat from deli counters appeared to be linked to a listeria outbreak, though the agency did not issue a recall at that time. As of July 25, the outbreak had sickened 34 people in 13 states, the USDA said in a news release. Most of those people were hospitalized and two of them died.
The USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service was notified that a liverwurst sample collected by the Maryland Health Department as part of the investigation into the outbreak had tested positive for listeria. Testing has not determined if the sample is connected to the multistate outbreak, the USDA said.
The ready-to-eat liverwurst products being recalled were produced between June 11 and July 17 and have a 44-day shelf life. The products are:
- 3.5-lb. loaves in plastic casing, or various weight packages sliced in retail delis, containing “Boar’s Head Strassburger Brand Liverwurst MADE IN VIRGINIA.” The products shipped to retailers bear sell by dates ranging July 25 to Aug. 30 printed on the side of the packaging.
The other ready-to-eat deli meat products were produced on June 27. These deli meat products are being recalled are:
- 9.5-lb. and 4.5-lb. full product, or various weight packages sliced in retail delis, containing “Boar’s Head VIRGINIA HAM OLD FASHIONED HAM” with sell by date “AUG 10” on the product packaging.
- 4-lb., or various weight packages sliced in retail delis, containing “Boar’s Head ITALIAN CAPPY STYLE HAM” with sell by date “AUG 10” on the product packaging.
- 6-lb., or various weight packages sliced in retail delis, containing “Boar’s Head EXTRA HOT ITALIAN CAPPY STYLE HAM” with sell by date “AUG 10” on the product packaging.
- 4-lb., or various weight packages sliced in retail delis, containing “Boar’s Head BOLOGNA” with sell by date “AUG 10” on the product packaging.
- 2.5-lb., or various weight packages sliced in retail delis, containing “Boar’s Head BEEF SALAMI” with sell by date “AUG 10” on the product packaging.
- 5.5-lb., or various weight packages sliced in retail delis, containing “Boar’s Head STEAKHOUSE ROASTED BACON HEAT & EAT” with sell by date “AUG 15” on the product packaging.
- 3-lb., or various weight packages sliced in retail delis, containing “Boar’s Head GARLIC BOLOGNA” with sell by date “AUG 10” on the product packaging.
- 3-lb., or various weight packages sliced in retail delis, containing “Boar’s Head BEEF BOLOGNA” with sell by date “AUG 10” on the product packaging.
The USDA said the products were distributed to retail deli locations nationwide and bear establishment number “EST. 12612” inside the USDA mark of inspection on the labels.
Delis owners who purchased the products should not sell them and should discard all opened meat and cheese in the deli, in addition to cleaning surfaces. Consumers who bought the products should not use them and should clean the inside of their refrigerators, the USDA said.
Listeria is usually a mild intestinal illness, but sometimes the bacteria spread beyond the gut and cause a severe condition called invasive listeriosis. People ages 65 and older, pregnant people, and those with weakened immune systems are particularly at risk. Symptoms among pregnant people include fever, muscle aches, and tiredness. Other people may experience those symptoms, too, plus headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance, or seizures.
