It was only a few days ago when Boar's Head initially issued a recall over its lunch meat, citing a listeria outbreak. Unfortunately, the situation has gotten more serious since then. Per the Associated Press, Boar's Head is now expanding its original recall. An additional seven million pounds of deli meat have been potentially compromised following an investigation at a plant in Virginia.
The newest recall includes 71 products made between May 10 and July 29. Further, all the products reside under the Boar's Head and Old Country brand names. These items range from meat cut fresh from the deli, pre-packaged meats, and some poultry products. Specifically included are liverwurst, ham, beef salami, and bologna.
Boar's Head released the following statement on its website regarding the recall (where you can also see a full list of the affected products). "On Monday evening, July 29, 2024, we learned from the USDA that our Strassburger Brand Liverwurst has been linked to the national deli meat Listeria monocytogenes outbreak. Based on this new information, we took steps to ensure we are doing everything possible to protect public health," the statement clarifies.
"Out of an abundance of caution, we decided to immediately and voluntarily expand our recall to include all items produced at the Jarratt facility. 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."
Boar's Head Expands Its Original Recall On Deli Meats
So far, there have only been two deaths linked to the listeria outbreak. However, nearly everyone who has fallen ill has been hospitalized. It's important to stay vigilant and safe. To that end, here's a handy list of bullet points plucked from the CDC's website regarding the effects of listeria.
- Listeria can cause severe illness (known as invasive listeriosis) when the bacteria spread beyond the gut to other parts of the body.
- Pregnant people typically experience only fever, fatigue, and muscle aches. However, Listeria infection during pregnancy can lead to miscarriage, stillbirth, premature delivery, or [life-threatening] infection of the newborn.
- People who are not pregnant may experience [headaches], stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance, and convulsions. In addition to fever and muscle aches.
- Symptoms of severe illness usually start 1 to 4 weeks after eating contaminated food with Listeria. But may start as early as the same day or as late as 70 days after.
