The listeria deli meat outbreak is expanding and leading to more recalls. July 31, 2024.
© Mike Schenk/The Daily Record / © Evert Nelson/The Capital-Journal / USA TODAY NETWORK
(Sarasota, FL) – Amid the ongoing listeria outbreak, Boar’s Head is recalling seven million more pounds of deli meat. There have been two deaths linked to listeria in deli meats recently — one in New Jersey, one in Illinois. Also, the CDC says at least 34 people across 13 states have been sickened.
Just last week Boar’s Head recalled 200,000 pounds. That came on the heels of similar moves from Aldi, Walmart, and Kroger. This most recent recall involves liverwurst, ham, bologna, and beef salami. Some patients reported being sickened by turkey in other cases. Apparently the Boar’s Head products in question were made at the company’s plant in Virginia. Over seventy products with sell-by dates spanning July 29th through October 17th have been listed in the recall.
The symptoms of listeria infection include fever, nausea, headache, and muscle aches. Health experts around the Tri-state are sounding off about the issue as well. Dr. Suraj Kumar Saggar of Holy Name Medical Center in Teaneck is an infection disease expert. He says most people are able to get over Listeria with minimal symptoms like vomiting or diarrhea and taking over the counter medications. But there are high risk groups — like young children, elderly adults, and pregnant women — who are ten times more likely to likely to be infected.
In addition to deli meats, unpasteurized milk and raw cheeses can also be linked to listeria. Medical experts urge people to wash fruits and vegetables since listeria can survive in refrigerated foods.