On July 26, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced a recall of Boar’s Head Provisions Co. ready-to-eat liverwurst products after a sample collected by the Maryland Department of Health tested positive for listeria monocytogenes. All ready-to-eat liverwurst products, as well as any other deli meats that were produced on that same line, are being recalled. This adds up to over 207,500 pounds of deli meat products.
This particular recall is part of a larger listeria outbreak on deli meats from earlier this summer. As of July 25, a total of 34 people have been identified as sick across 13 states, with 33 hospitalizations and two deaths. Samples from these sick people state that the products were produced between May 29 and July 12, 2024.
Food contaminated with listeria monocytogenes can cause listeriosis, which can result in side effects including fever, muscle aches, headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance, and other gastrointestinal symptoms. The FDA warns that anyone who is pregnant, older than 65, or has a weakened immune system could have a serious infection. If you or someone you love is experiencing these symptoms after consuming deli meat, be sure to get medical attention immediately and safely discard the food. You can do so by throwing away these products or returning them to the place of purchase. Then be sure to clean out your fridge thoroughly to avoid cross contamination; listeria thrives and spreads in cold environments.
Recalled Deli Meats from the FDA
As for the Boar’s Head recall, here are the particular recalled deli meats to look out for.
First, the ready-to-eat liverwurst products produced between June 11 and July 17, 2024.
Other ready-to-eat deli meat products produced on June 27, 2024 were also recalled, which includes the following:
The FDA will continue updating the public on this listeria outbreak for deli meats, so be sure to keep a close eye on any updates posted on its website.