Have you bought any Boar’s Head Deli in the past two months? The package needs to be checked. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) are advising people to assess their refrigerators because of the expanding listeria outbreak associated with recalled deli meats. Even though an official recall was made in July, it appears that more confirmed cases are being reported.
Since the outbreak started, 57 cases of listeriosis have been confirmed in 18 states, according to the CDC. Sadly, all these 57 persons were admitted to the hospital, with 9 dead as a result of some complications. In this context, the CDC indicates that 14 were diagnosed within the last two weeks, making it the worst listeria epidemic in the USA since cantaloupe-related events of 2011.
Understanding the Outbreak
Boar’s Head is in trouble because of terrible conditions in their plant, leading to the production of contaminated meats, according to documents from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). Between January 2022 and August 2024, some reports show that there were insects and molds inside the factory, which documented 84 “noncompliances” last year. It is alarming that most violations occurred in August 2023. Early inspections reported a “rancid smell in the cooler” earlier this year with a pool of blood all over the floor.
Boar’s Head has therefore promised to address these problems by involving experts in food safety, hence avoiding future incidents. The United States Department of Agriculture has suspended its inspection at the Boar’s Head facility, thus making it inactive until it meets safety standards.
A public apology was released by Boar’s Head as they expressed their sincere regrets over the impact this recall has had on families who were affected. According to them, “We feel sorry about what happened to those families that were affected by this recall; no words can fully express our sympathy or how much pain we feel for those who lost something important or got sick.”
How to Determine if Your Food is Contaminated
This incident was linked to Boar’s Head Strassburger Brand Liverwurst, which was made from July 11 to July 17, 2024. Besides, there are several varieties of ham, bologna, Frankfurter sausage, and bacon included in this recall for deli meats. They were all processed at the Boar’s Head plant located in Jarrett, Virginia.
Look for the establishment number “EST. 12612” or “P-12612” stamped on it to know if your deli meat is part of this issue. If you find any recalled items, just throw them away or return them to where you bought them (if possible). Some of the tainted meats might still have sell-by dates as late as October 2024, so it is crucial even to check out recently purchased products.
Furthermore, the CDC also recommends cleaning every part of your refrigerator that might have come into contact with the contaminated meats very thoroughly.
Also, make sure to remove from your fridge everything that could have been in contact with these recalled items before they make things worse by cross-contaminating other foods stored inside the unit itself.
The good news is that although refrigeration does not kill off listeria completely, cooking food at an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit will.
Symptoms and When to Seek Medical Attention
It takes them about 10 weeks to appear if you have eaten any food with listeria bacteria. Keep track of these signs:
- Fever
- muscle pains or aches
- Fatigue, headaches
- Stiffness around the neck area
- Disorientation or confusion followed by impaired coordination (loss of balance)
- Convulsions
This is one way through which you can further your examination and prove your point for testing by taking some blood samples. Just like other infections during pregnancy, the disease can lead to miscarriage, preterm labor, or severe health problems for the baby. Pregnant women need to pay more attention, as the above consequences can affect their pregnancy states.
If you have any symptoms at all, get help from one of your nearest medical facilities and notify health authorities so they can monitor the situation.
