Massive Deli Meat Recall Linked to Listeria Outbreak Just Got Bigger

Boar's Head has issued the recall of an additional 7 million pounds of deli meat products due to a deadly outbreak of listeria poisoning that was linked to a Jarratt, VA facility. The outbreak was first reported on Friday, July 26 with a recall of over 200,000 pounds of products, after a sample of liverwurst tested positive for the bacteria.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture said on Tuesday that the expansion includes 71 ready-to-eat products produced under both the Boar’s Head and Old Country brand names between May 10 and July 29, including liverwurst, ham, beef salami, and bologna; both prepackaged and for slicing at delis.

The outbreak has been tied to 34 people who have become ill across 13 states, including 33 hospitalizations and two deaths, between late May and mid-July. Listeria infections can cause flu-like symptoms including fever, muscle aches, headaches, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance, and convulsions, as well as diarrhea and other gastrointestinal symptoms. People who are pregnant, aged 65 or older, or with weakened immune systems are likewise at higher risk for serious infection.

USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service officials were first alerted to the problem when a liverwurst sample collected by the Maryland Department of Health tested positive for listeria. After further testing, it was determined that the bacteria found in the same was the same strain causing illnesses.

"Out of an abundance of caution, we decided to immediately and voluntarily expand our recall to include all items produced at the Jarratt facility," Boar's Head said in a statement on its website. "We have also decided to pause ready-to-eat operations at this facility until further notice. As a company that prioritizes safety and quality, we believe it is the right thing to do."

Consumers are being advised to discard any products included in the recall, or return them to the store where the products were purchased for a full refund. Health officials also recommend that anyone who has purchased contaminated products should thoroughly clean their refrigerators to prevent the risk of cross-contamination.