Recall of Boar's Head deli meats announced during investigation of listeria outbreak

Recall of Boar’s Head deli meats announced during investigation of listeria outbreak

U.S. health officials Friday announced a recall of some Boar’s Head liverwurst and deli meats as they investigate a listeria outbreak that has sickened nearly three dozen people and caused two deaths.

Boar’s Head Provisions Co. recalled liverwurst because it may be tainted with the listeria bacteria, the U.S. Agriculture Department said. The agency said a sample of Boar’s Head liverwurst from a Maryland store tested positive for listeria.

The recall is affecting North Carolina-based grocery chain Harris Teeter. The chain has closed their in-store Fresh Foods Markets temporarily and voluntarily out of an abundance of caution for the recall.

Food Lion stores are not impacted by the recall.

“The kinds of people who really get sick with listeria, usually it’s a little bit later than their gastro illness, and they then present with fevers,” Dr. Cameron Wolfe said.

Boar’s Head Provisions is also recalling deli-sliced meats made the same day on the same line as the contaminated liverwurst at a Virginia plant, the USDA said. The sample was from an unopened package, collected by health officials as part of an investigation into the listeria outbreak.

“It’s crazy that this is happening, I’m just trying to get lunch,” Justin Miller shopper said.

Testing is underway to determine if the liverwurst sample is connected to the outbreak, health officials said.

“We are cooperating fully with government authorities and conducting our own investigation into this incident,” the Sarasota, Florida-based company said in a statement.

The listeria outbreak was first reported last week. Since late May, 34 people were sickened across 13 states, with all but one hospitalized. Two people died — in Illinois and New Jersey. It can take weeks for symptoms to develop symptoms so there may be more cases, officials said.

People most commonly reported eating deli-sliced turkey, liverwurst and ham, officials said.

“It was a call telling me about the listeria outbreak and the recall from harris teeter and the boars head meats because i guess they had on file that it’s something that I buy,” Kristel Burton shopper said.

Listeria can contaminate food and sicken people who eat it. Symptoms include fever, muscle aches, nausea and diarrhea. It can be treated with antibiotics, but it is especially dangerous to pregnant women, newborns, the elderly and those with compromised immune systems.

An estimated 1,600 people get listeria food poisoning each year and about 260 die, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The Boar’s Head recall of over 200,000 pounds shipped nationwide applies to meats sliced at a deli counter, not prepackaged meats. It includes a number of multi-pound packages stamped with an Aug. 10 sell-by date, including bologna, garlic bologna, beef bologna, beef salami, Italian Cappy-style ham and Extra Hot Italian Cappy-style ham. Also included is Steakhouse Roasted Bacon Heat and Eat, with a sell-by date of Aug. 15.

The company said customers should throw away the recalled products, or return them to the store for a refund. Health officials said refrigerators should be thoroughly cleaned to prevent contamination of other foods.

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Doctors say that if it’s been more than 2 or 3 days since you consumed any of the recalled meats and you’re feeling fine, chances are you will remain well.