"Boar's Head Recalls Over 200,000 Pounds of Deli Meat Due to Listeria Outbreak"

The company Boar’s Head has recalled more than 200,000 pounds of meat sliced at delis that may be linked with an ongoing Listeria outbreak, according to the USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service. 

A sample from an unopened Boar’s Head liverwurst product—collected by the Maryland Health Department—tested positive for L. monocytogenes, bacteria that can cause a Listeria infection, the statement said.

Boar’s Head has issued a recall on all liverwurst products. It has also recalled deli meats that were produced on the same line and on the same day as the liverwurst. 

Authorities are still trying to determine whether Boar’s Head products have caused the current outbreak that has so far sickened 34 people, 33 of whom were hospitalized. Two have died.

The infected people said they had eaten deli meat sliced at grocery stores. Illnesses have been reported in Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Wisconsin.

The liverwurst products were produced between June 11 and July 17, per FSIS. They have sell-by dates that range between July 25 and August 30. 

The recalled liverwurst products are:

The other deli meat products were produced on June 27. They all have a sell-by date of August 10 with the exception of the bacon, which has a sell-by date of August 15.

The deli meat products being recalled are: 

The FSIS statement said it’s possible that some of the recalled products are still in stores as well as people’s homes. The agency is urging the public not to consume anything that has been recalled.

If you have recalled products in your home, you should throw them away or return them to the store where you bought them. You should thoroughly clean your refrigerator or any other spaces that came into contact with the recalled product.

Listeria causes about 260 deaths annually, and the infection is especially dangerous for people who are pregnant, 65 and older, or immunocompromised. 

Symptoms of Listeria include:

If you have questions about the recall, the FSIS statement said to contact Boar’s Head customer service at 1-800-352-6277. If you think you might be ill, reach out to a healthcare provider.

The FSIS, CDC, and other health authorities are partnering to continue investigating the current outbreak.