Listeria is once again turning the American food industry upside down. In recent weeks, there have been several outbreaks of listeriosis that have so far left 34 people sick in 13 states, including 33 hospitalizations and two deaths. The fatalities were one patient in Illinois and another in New Jersey.
The outbreaks are linked to Boar’s Head brand cold cuts and poultry products. According to a press release issued by the Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS), the problem was detected when a sample of liver sausage, collected by the Maryland Department of Health, tested positive for Listeria monocytogenesThe Maryland Department of Health, in collaboration with the Baltimore City Health Department, subsequently tested an unopened sample of liverwurst taken from a retail store. Testing confirmed that this product was also contaminated with the strain associated with the outbreak.
As a result, Boar’s Head, a well-known processed food company, has decided to recall seven million pounds (3.1 million kilograms) of sausages and poultry. This recall follows the one carried out on July 26, when the company withdrew its Strassburger Brand Liverwurst and nine additional products manufactured at its Jarratt, Virginia facility. In total, more than 200,000 pounds (90,718 kilograms) of products have been recalled due to potential contamination with Listeria monocytogenes.
The new expansion covers 71 products produced between May 10, 2024, and July 29, 2024, under the Boar’s Head and Old Country brands. These items include various deli meats and poultry products distributed to retailers in the United States, the Cayman Islands, the Dominican Republic, Mexico, and Panama. The expiration dates for these products range from July 29, 2024, to October 17, 2024. The full list of Affected products are available for consultation.
U.S. officials have expressed serious concern that these products may still be in consumers’ refrigerators or in retailers’ display cases. Those who have purchased products with the affected expiration dates are urged not to consume them and retailers are urged to remove these products from sale. The items should be thrown away or returned to the place of purchase, as the bacteria can grow at low temperatures and contaminate other foods.
Why is this bacteria so worrying?
According to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), listeriosis is a serious infection caused by the bacteria Listeria monocytogeneswhich is usually transmitted through contaminated food. Each year, an estimated 1,600 people contract listeriosis, of whom approximately 260 die.
Symptoms caused by this bacteria usually appear about two weeks after consuming food that has been contaminated and include fever, muscle aches, fatigue, stiff neck and confusion. In severe cases, the infection can cause sepsis or meningitis. Listeriosis is especially dangerous for pregnant people, newborn babies, Adults aged 65 years or older y People with a weakened immune system.
