Boar’s Head has recalled another 7 million pounds of deli meat due to a listeria outbreak linked to two deaths and nearly three dozen illnesses in 13 states.
The popular deli company has expanded its recall to include millions of pounds of ready-to-eat products made at its Virginia facility. The move comes as health authorities investigate a deadly listeria outbreak linked to the company’s products.
The latest recall involves 71 Boar’s Head and Old Country brand products manufactured between May 10 and July 29.
This expansion comes after an earlier recall of more than 200,000 pounds of sliced meat and poultry.
The recalled items include both prepackaged products sold in stores and bulk meat intended for deli slicing. including liverwurst, ham, beef salami, bologna and other products made at the company’s plant in Jarratt, Virginia.
Boar’s Head has recalled another 7 million pounds of deli meat due to a listeria outbreak linked to two deaths and nearly three dozen illnesses in 13 states.
The move comes as health officials investigate a deadly listeria outbreak linked to the company’s products.
They are also linked to an ongoing listeria outbreak that has caused two deaths and sickened nearly three dozen people in 13 states, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
The outbreak, which began in late May and continued into mid-July, has hospitalized nearly all of those affected.
The investigation began when a sample of liver pate collected in Maryland tested positive for listeria. Subsequent tests confirmed that the bacteria matched the strain responsible for the ongoing outbreak.
“Out of an abundance of caution, we have decided to immediately and voluntarily expand our recall to include all items produced at the Jarratt plant,” Boar’s Head said on its website. It has also halted production of ready-to-eat foods at the plant.
The recalled meat was distributed nationally and internationally to stores in the Cayman Islands, Dominican Republic, Mexico and Panama.
Consumers should not consume any recalled products and are advised to throw them away or return them to the point of purchase for a refund, according to company officials.
This expansion comes after an earlier recall of more than 200,000 pounds of sliced meat and poultry.
To prevent cross-contamination, health officials recommend thoroughly cleaning and disinfecting refrigerators.
Listeria infection is a serious illness that affects about 1,600 people a year and causes about 260 deaths, according to the CDC.
Symptoms include fever, muscle aches, fatigue, and potentially more serious complications such as neck stiffness, confusion, loss of balance, and seizures.
These symptoms can appear within days or up to ten weeks after consuming contaminated food. Pregnant women, the elderly and people with weakened immune systems are especially vulnerable.
