How many people have died from the Boar’s Head meat listeria outbreak?
The CDC warns the outbreak of listeria food poisoning continues to cause deaths. The latest cases are linked to deli meat contaminated with the bacteria.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has reported nine deaths that are linked to a listeria outbreak involving deli meat products from the supplier Boar’s Head.
There are at least 57 other cases of listeria infections, with all the affected people hospitalized. The outbreak occurred across the following states:
- Arizona
- Florida
- Georgia
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Minnesota
- Missouri
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- Pennsylvania
- South Carolina
- Tennessee
- Virginia
- Wisconsin
Boar’s Head Virginia plant found violating health standards
Public health officials inspected a Boar’s Head plant in Jarratt, Virginia linked to the mass recall of deli meats, and discovered the site violated dozens of regulations. Black mold, mildew, and insects could be found throughout the premises. Operations at the factory have been suspended.
According to information released by the USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service to CBS News, inspectors had already noted 69 incidents of “non-compliance” over the year at the plant in Virginia.
READ ALSO: FDA approves new COVID vaccine
Contaminated liverwurst spurs recall
The Florida-based company first issued a recall of products in July because a ready-to-eat liverwurst product tested positive for listeria. The recall was expanded to include dozens of other products, including bacon, smoked ham, bologna, and sausages.
The CDC warns some of these products have sell-by dates into October 2024.
The health agency reminds customers to refrain from eating recalled meats. Check your refrigerator to see if you have any of them, then throw them away, or return them to the stores where they were purchased to get a refund.
Clean your refrigerator, containers, utensils, and surfaces that may have touched the affected meat products, because listeria can grow on foods kept in the refrigerator and on surfaces.
READ ALSO: Meat could be causing your UTI
List of affected Boar’s Head products
Category | Product Name | Purchased-by Dates |
---|---|---|
Ham | All Natural Applewood Smoked Uncured Ham | All products purchased before 7/31/24 |
Ham | All Natural Traditional Uncured Ham | All products purchased before 7/31/24 |
Ham | BourbonRidge Uncured Smoked Ham | All products purchased before 7/31/24 |
Ham | Brown Sugar & Spice Off the Bone Ham | All products purchased before 7/31/24 |
Ham | Gourmet Pepper Brand Ham | All products purchased before 7/31/24 |
Ham | Hickory Smoked Roast Uncured Ham | All products purchased before 7/31/24 |
Ham | Italian Cappy Ham | All products purchased before 7/31/24 |
Ham | Hot Italian Cappy Style Ham | All products purchased before 7/31/24 |
Ham | Extra Hot Italian Cappy Style Ham | All products purchased before 7/31/24 |
Ham | Maple Glazed Roast Pork Loin | All products purchased before 7/31/24 |
Ham | Peppenero Garlic Ham | All products purchased before 7/31/24 |
Ham | Porchetta Roasted Seasoned Pork (Foodservice) | All products purchased before 7/31/24 |
Ham | Roasted Pork | All products purchased before 7/31/24 |
Ham | Rosemary & Sundried Tomato Ham | All products purchased before 7/31/24 |
Ham | SmokeMaster Beechwood Smoked Ham | All products purchased before 7/31/24 |
Ham | Sweet Slice Smoked Uncured Ham | All products purchased before 7/31/24 |
Ham | Tavern Ham | All products purchased before 7/31/24 |
Ham | Virginia Ham | All products purchased before 7/31/24 |
Bologna | Pork & Beef Bologna | All products purchased before 7/31/24 |
Bologna | 33% Lower Sodium Bologna | All products purchased before 7/31/24 |
Bologna | Beef Bologna | All products purchased before 7/31/24 |
Bologna | Beef Salami | All products purchased before 7/31/24 |
Bologna | Garlic Bologna | All products purchased before 7/31/24 |
Bologna | Head Cheese | All products purchased before 7/31/24 |
Bologna | Strassburger Brand Liverwurst | All products purchased before 7/31/24 |
Bologna | Liverwurst Pate | All products purchased before 7/31/24 |
Bologna | Olive Terrine Loaf | All products purchased before 7/31/24 |
Bologna | Pickle & Pepper Terrine Loaf | All products purchased before 7/31/24 |
Bologna | Spiced Ham | All products purchased before 7/31/24 |
Bacon | Canadian Style Uncured Bacon | All products purchased before 7/31/24 |
Bacon | Steakhouse Roasted Slab Bacon | All products purchased before 7/31/24 |
Frankfurters | Uncured Pork & Beef Frankfurters | All products purchased before 7/31/24 |
Frankfurters | Uncured Pork & Beef Frankfurters - Natural Casing | All products purchased before 7/31/24 |
Frankfurters | Uncured Beef Frankfurters | All products purchased before 7/31/24 |
Frankfurters | Uncured Beef Frankfurters- Natural Casing | All products purchased before 7/31/24 |
Frankfurters | Uncured Cocktail Frankfurters | All products purchased before 7/31/24 |
Frankfurters | Uncured Beef Knockwurst | All products purchased before 7/31/24 |
Sausage | Bratwurst | All products purchased before 7/31/24 |
Sausage | Hot Smoked Uncured Sausage | All products purchased before 7/31/24 |
Sausage | Uncured Kielbasa | All products purchased before 7/31/24 |
Sausage | All Natural Chicken Sausage - Smoked Andouille | All products purchased before 7/31/24 |
Old Country | Old Country Brand All Nat Uncured Smoked Ham | All products purchased before 7/31/24 |
Old Country | Old Country Brand All Natural Uncured Ham | All products purchased before 7/31/24 |
Old Country | Old Country Brand Beechwood Smoked Ham | All products purchased before 7/31/24 |
Old Country | Old Country Brand BourbonRidge Smoked Ham | All products purchased before 7/31/24 |
Old Country | Old Country Brand Brown Sugar & Spice Delight Off the Bone Ham | All products purchased before 7/31/24 |
Old Country | Old Country Brand Cappy Brand Ham | All products purchased before 7/31/24 |
Old Country | Old Country Brand Gourmet Pepper Ham | All products purchased before 7/31/24 |
Old Country | Old Country Brand Habanero Ham | All products purchased before 7/31/24 |
Old Country | Old Country Brand Rosemary Tomato Ham | All products purchased before 7/31/24 |
Old Country | Old Country Brand Black Forest Ham | All products purchased before 7/31/24 |
Old Country | Old Country Brand Canadian Style Bacon | All products purchased before 7/31/24 |
Old Country | Old Country Brand Cappy Ham | All products purchased before 7/31/24 |
Old Country | Old Country Brand Hot Butt Cappy Ham | All products purchased before 7/31/24 |
Old Country | Old Country Brand Seasoned Fresh Ham | All products purchased before 7/31/24 |
Old Country | Old Country Brand Sweet Slice Smoked Ham | All products purchased before 7/31/24 |
Old Country | Old Country Brand Tavern Ham | All products purchased before 7/31/24 |
What is Listeria and how is it dangerous?
Listeria monocytogenes is a bacterium that can cause severe infections which can be fatal in young children and frail or elderly people as well as others with weakened immune systems. It can also lead to pregnant women having miscarriages and stillbirths.
According to the CDC, Listeria is a hardy germ that can remain on surfaces like meat slicers and foods, even at refrigerated temperatures. It can also take up to 10 weeks for some people to exhibit symptoms of listeriosis.
Infection may result in short-term illness in healthy individuals that can last for days to several weeks. Basic symptoms are similar to what can be experienced with usual afflictions from food, and include the following:
- a high temperature of 100F/38C or higher
- aches and pains
- chills
- feeling or being sick
- diarrhea
The dangers of Listeria
The serious symptoms for listeria manifest themselves if the bacteria infects beyond your gut. If it reaches the bloodstream, the bacteria can damage your central nervous system. This can result in symptoms such as confusion, loss of balance and convulsions. Clearly, these are serious symptoms and medical assistance is necessary. At this stage of the illness, there is a 20 to 30% chance of death.