At least nine fatalities have been linked to listeria-contaminated Boar's Head deli meats, according to federal health officials. Deaths have been reported in South Carolina, Florida, New Mexico, Tennessee, New York, Illinois, New Jersey, and Virginia. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) noted that the outbreak, which began in late May and continued through August, has resulted in 57 hospitalizations. This incident marks the largest listeria outbreak in the US since 2011, with Boar's Head recalling over 7 million pounds of deli products.
Listeria is a resilient bacterium that can thrive even when refrigerated, making these infections difficult to track. Annually, approximately 1,600 people suffer from listeria infections in the US, resulting in around 260 deaths. Vulnerable groups include the elderly, pregnant women, and those with weakened immune systems. The outbreak surfaced when Maryland health officials found listeria in a Boar's Head liverwurst sample. Subsequent testing confirmed it was the same strain causing the illnesses.
Boar's Head initially recalled liverwurst and other slicable deli products with sell-by dates from July 25 to August 30. The recall expanded on July 29 to include all items from their Jarratt, Virginia plant, encompassing prepackaged sausages, frankfurters, and bacon. Consumers are urged to check for the recall marker, EST. 12612 or P-12612, on product labels and discard affected items. The CDC advises thorough cleaning and sanitizing of any surfaces these products might have touched. (This story was generated by Newser's AI chatbot. Source: the AP)
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