Patrick Oconnell
Boar's Head Provisions Co. recalled several of its meat and cheese products due to possible Listeria contamination. The recall was prompted after health officials reported a positive test for Listeria monocytogenes in Boar's Head's Strassburger Brand Liverwurst, which was linked to a deadly listeria outbreak that sickened 34 people, with two fatalities. The expanded recall includes all products produced at Boar's Head's Jarratt, Virginia facility, including meats sliced at the deli counter and packaged products sold in stores. The company urged consumers who purchased these products not to consume them and to throw them away or return them. Listeria can cause fever, muscle aches, headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance, convulsions, and diarrhea, and can be particularly dangerous for pregnant people, older adults, and those with weakened immune systems.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of Recall | July 26, 2024 |
| Company | Boar's Head Provisions Co., Inc. |
| Product | Deli meat products, including liverwurst, ham, bologna, beef, salami, sausages, bacon, poultry, and cheese |
| Reason for Recall | Possible Listeria monocytogenes contamination |
| Health Risks | Fever, muscle aches, headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance, convulsions, diarrhea, miscarriage, stillbirth, premature delivery, life-threatening infection in newborns, serious and fatal infections in older adults and those with weakened immune systems |
| Number of Products Recalled | 71 |
| Weight of Products Recalled | Approximately 7 million pounds |
| Production Dates | May 10, 2024 - July 29, 2024 |
| Sell-By Dates | July 29, 2024 - October 17, 2024 |
| Distribution | Nationwide in the US, and exported to the Cayman Islands, Dominican Republic, Mexico, and Panama |
| Customer Service Number | 1-800-352-6277 |
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What You'll Learn
What products were recalled?
Boar's Head Provisions Co. recalled several of its meat and poultry products due to possible Listeria contamination. The recall was initiated after a sample of liverwurst tested positive for Listeria monocytogenes, which can cause listeriosis, a serious infection. The affected products include:
- Deli meat products, including liverwurst, ham, bologna, beef, salami, and sausages.
- Packaged meat and poultry products sold at retail locations, such as Boar's Head Hot Unsmoked Sausage, Cooked Bratwurst, Uncured Beef Knockwurst, and Uncured Beef Frankfurters.
- Meat intended for slicing at retail delis, with brand names such as "'Boar's Head'" and "Old Country".
The recall includes approximately 7 million pounds of meat and poultry products, with "'sell by'" dates ranging from July 29, 2024, to October 17, 2024. The products were distributed to retail locations nationwide and also exported to several countries in the Caribbean and Central America.
In addition to the meat products, one cheese item was also recalled as part of the expanded recall. However, the specific type of cheese was not mentioned in the sources.
Symptoms of Listeria infection include fever, muscle aches, headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance, and convulsions, sometimes preceded by gastrointestinal symptoms. It can be particularly dangerous for pregnant people, older adults, and those with weakened immune systems.
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Why were they recalled?
Boar's Head cheese and meat products were recalled due to possible Listeria contamination. The recall was prompted after health officials in Maryland reported a positive test for Listeria monocytogenes in Boar's Head's Strassburger Brand Liverwurst. The product was matched to the same strain involved in an outbreak that sickened 34 people, two of whom died. The recall was initially limited to items produced on a single day on one manufacturing line at a Boar's Head facility in Jarratt, Virginia. However, the company later expanded the recall to include all products produced at this facility, including liverwurst and other deli meat products such as ham, bologna, beef, salami, sausages, and bacon.
Listeria monocytogenes can cause listeriosis, a serious infection that primarily affects pregnant people, individuals aged 65 or older, and those with weakened immune systems. Symptoms of listeriosis include fever, muscle aches, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance, and seizures. In pregnant people, listeriosis can lead to miscarriage, stillbirth, premature delivery, or life-threatening infections in newborns.
The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) recommended that consumers who had purchased the recalled products should not consume them and urged retailers to stop selling the affected items. FSIS also advised consumers to throw away or return the products to the place of purchase and to clean and sanitize all food and non-food surfaces, including refrigerators, to prevent cross-contamination.
The Boar's Head recall impacted approximately 7 million pounds of ready-to-eat meat and poultry products sold under the Boar's Head and Old Country brand names. The company also indefinitely closed its Jarratt, Virginia plant where the contaminated liverwurst was produced.
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What are the symptoms of listeria infection?
Boar's Head Provisions Co. recalled its meat and poultry products due to possible Listeria contamination. Now, let's take a look at the symptoms of a listeria infection.
Listeria infection, or listeriosis, is caused by eating food contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes, a type of disease-causing bacteria that can be found in many places, including soil, water, sewage, rotting vegetation, and animals. The symptoms of a listeria infection vary depending on the person infected and the body part affected.
During pregnancy, a listeria infection may cause only mild symptoms such as fever, muscle aches, and fatigue. However, it can have devastating effects on the unborn baby, including miscarriage, stillbirth, premature birth, or a life-threatening infection for the newborn.
In people who are not pregnant, symptoms of a listeria infection may include fever, muscle aches, headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance, convulsions, and gastrointestinal issues such as diarrhea and upset stomach.
In some cases, a listeria infection can lead to more serious complications, such as sepsis, organ damage, or nerve problems. It can be particularly dangerous for older adults and individuals with weakened immune systems, who are at a higher risk of developing serious and potentially fatal infections.
If you suspect you have consumed contaminated food and are experiencing any of these symptoms, it is important to seek medical care and inform your healthcare provider.
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What should consumers do?
Consumers who have purchased the recalled products should not consume them and should throw them away or return them to the place of purchase. They should also clean their refrigerators to prevent cross-contamination since the bacteria spread very easily. Listeria bacteria can cause an infection called listeriosis, which is particularly dangerous for very young children, older adults, and anyone who is pregnant or has a weakened immune system. Symptoms include fever, muscle aches, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance, or seizures. In people who are pregnant, the infection can cause miscarriages, stillbirths, premature delivery, or life-threatening infections in newborns. Listeriosis is treated with antibiotics. Persons in the higher-risk categories who experience flu-like symptoms within two months after eating contaminated food should seek medical care and inform their healthcare provider about consuming the contaminated food.
Retail delis should clean and sanitize all food and non-food surfaces and discard any open meats and cheeses in the deli. Retailers may refer to the FSIS guideline, 'Best Practices Guidance for Controlling Listeria Monocytogenes in Retail Delicatessens', for information on preventing contamination of ready-to-eat foods prepared or sliced in retail delis and consumed at home, such as deli meats and salads.
Consumers with questions regarding the recall can contact Boar's Head Provisions Co., Inc., Customer Service at 1-800-352-6277.
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What should retailers do?
Retailers should immediately stop selling any of the recalled products and should refer to the FSIS guideline, Best Practices Guidance for Controlling Listeria Monocytogenes in Retail Delicatessens, to prevent food contamination. They should also clean and sanitize all food and non-food surfaces, including refrigerators, and discard any open meats and cheeses to prevent the risk of cross-contamination.
Retailers should also notify their customers of the recall and ensure that the recalled products are no longer available to consumers. They should also be transparent about the recall and inform their customers about the health risks associated with the consumption of the contaminated products. Retailers can refer to the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) website for further information and guidelines.
Retailers should also be aware of the symptoms of listeriosis, the infection caused by listeria bacteria, which include fever, muscle aches, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance, and seizures. Listeriosis can be particularly dangerous for pregnant people, older adults, young children, and those with weakened immune systems.
Retailers should also advise their customers to seek medical attention if they experience any of the symptoms of listeriosis and to report any cases to their local health department. They should also provide customers with information on how to prevent food contamination and the safe handling of recalled products.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, one cheese item was recalled along with 7 million pounds of deli sliced and packaged meat.
The recall was expanded because a liverwurst sample collected by the Maryland Department of Health tested positive for Listeria monocytogenes.
Symptoms of Listeria infection, also known as Listeriosis, include fever, muscle aches, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance, and seizures. Listeria infection can be particularly dangerous for pregnant people, older adults, and those with weakened immune systems.
