The company announced Friday that the Boar’s Head plant in Virginia, linked to the largest listeria outbreak in more than a decade, will be closed indefinitely. That likely was because black mould, mildew, bugs, and unsanitary conditions were all found during the facilities’ inspections, which were linked to a number of hospitalizations and nine deaths.
Listeria: What Is It?
According to the CDC, listeria is a foodborne infection usually contracted by consuming under-processed deli meats and unpasteurized milk products. The virulent bacteria can survive refrigeration and even freezing. Infections with listeria are rare in most healthy individuals, though they do occur among persons over 65, infants, and pregnant mothers, many of whom themselves may experience only mild symptoms.
How can listeria be transmitted to meats from the delicatessen?
Listeria bacteria reside in animal excreta, raw materials, water, and soil. Due to its ability to quickly spread and contaminate delicatessen surfaces and equipment, the CDC has particularly stated that it is dangerous for cold cuts, cheeses, and other deli goods. Although refrigeration kills listeria, it can be an extremely stubborn pathogen even when the meat is kept chilled.
In this process of meat processing within a contaminated facility, food, hands, and surfaces are likely ways through which the pathogen will spread. In 2022, an outbreak of listeria related to contaminated meats and cheeses in delis resulted in one death and sixteen people sick across six states, while in 2020, another outbreak across four states resulted in one death and twelve others being sick.
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Which cold cuts are recalled for listeria?
Besides the meat sliced on the same day and on the same line as liverwurst at a Virginia plant, Boar’s Head Provisions Co. is also recalling liverwurst after it was discovered a product sample at a Maryland retailer tested positive for listeria. They include very spicy Italian Cappy-style ham, Virginia old-fashioned ham, garlic bologna, sell-by date August 10, beef salami, bologna, and steakhouse roasted bacon ham.
The second Boar’s Head recall, made public last week, includes 71 unique products made between May 10 and July 29. For the complete list, go to the USDA website. This outbreak involves meat cut at deli counters, not pre-packaged meats.
Where Has Listeria in Deli Meat Made People Sick?
Below are the 18 states where the CDC reports cases in Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Missouri, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, and Wisconsin have had cases. New York has had the most, 17; Maryland has reported 8.
