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If you were planning to pack a sandwich for your weekend adventures, you may want to double-check what's in your fridge. Boar's Head Provisions has issued a recall of all liverwurst products. They say it may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes,
The company is also recalling additional deli meat products that were produced on the same line and on the same day as the liverwurst and, therefore, may also be contaminated.
In total, the company is recalling approximately 207,528 pounds of products.
As of July 26, 34 people have become ill from Listeria. Eight cases have been reported across the DMV.
To see a map of where all 34 people live, click here.
According to the Maryland Department of Health, they in collaboration with the Baltimore City Health Department, collected an unopened liverwurst product from a retail store for testing as part of an outbreak investigation.
That sample tested positive for L. monocytogenes, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service was notified
They say further testing is ongoing.
Boar's Head provided WUSA9 with a statement Friday night, saying:
“At Boar’s Head, the health and safety of our customers is our top priority. As soon as a Listeria adulteration was confirmed in our Strassburger Brand Liverwurst, we immediately and voluntarily recalled the product. Out of an abundance of caution, we also made the decision to voluntarily recall additional products (see below) that were produced on the same line and on the same day as the liverwurst product. Customers should discard these products, or return them to the store where purchased for a refund.
We are committed to upholding the highest safety and quality standards. We are cooperating fully with government authorities and conducting our own investigation into this incident.”
Products recalled
The CDC and Boar's Head have broken down which products are impacted by the recall. The ready-to-eat liverwurst products were produced between June 11 and July 17, and have a 44-day shelf life. The following liverwurst products are subject to recall [view labels]:
- 3.5-lb. loaves in plastic casing, or various weight packages sliced in retail delis, containing “Boar’s Head Strassburger Brand Liverwurst MADE IN VIRGINIA.” The products shipped to retailers bear sell-by dates ranging from July 25, 2024, to Aug. 30, 2024, printed on the side of the packaging.
The other ready-to-eat deli meat products were produced on June 27. The following deli meat products are subject to recall:
- 9.5-lb. and 4.5-lb. full product, or various weight packages sliced in retail delis, containing “Boar’s Head VIRGINIA HAM OLD FASHIONED HAM” with sell-by date “AUG 10” on the product packaging.
- 4-lb., or various weight packages sliced in retail delis, containing “Boar’s Head ITALIAN CAPPY STYLE HAM” with sell-by date “AUG 10” on the product packaging.
- 6-lb., or various weight packages sliced in retail delis, containing “Boar’s Head EXTRA HOT ITALIAN CAPPY STYLE HAM” with sell-by date “AUG 10” on the product packaging.
- 4-lb., or various weight packages sliced in retail delis, containing “Boar’s Head BOLOGNA” with sell-by date “AUG 10” on the product packaging.
- 2.5-lb., or various weight packages sliced in retail delis, containing “Boar’s Head BEEF SALAMI” with sell-by date “AUG 10” on the product packaging.
- 5.5-lb., or various weight packages sliced in retail delis, containing “Boar’s Head STEAKHOUSE ROASTED BACON HEAT & EAT” with sell-by date “AUG 15” on the product packaging.
- 3-lb., or various weight packages sliced in retail delis, containing “Boar’s Head GARLIC BOLOGNA” with sell-by date “AUG 10” on the product packaging.
- 3-lb., or various weight packages sliced in retail delis, containing “Boar’s Head BEEF BOLOGNA” with sell-by date “AUG 10” on the product packaging.
What are Listeria?
According to the CDC, Listeriosis is a serious infection usually caused by eating food contaminated with the bacterium Listeria monocytogenes. An estimated 1,600 people get listeriosis each year, and about 260 die.
Listeria bacteria can be found in soil, water, and animal feces, according to the Mayo Clinic.
People can get infected by eating the following:
- Raw vegetables that have been contaminated from the soil or from contaminated manure used as fertilizer
- Contaminated meat
- Unpasteurized milk or foods made with unpasteurized milk
- Certain processed foods — such as soft cheeses, hot dogs and deli meats that have been contaminated after processing
The CDC says Listeria is the third leading cause of death from foodborne illness in the United States.
People who are pregnant and their newborns, adults 65 or older, and people with weakened immune systems are most at risk.
Symptoms
Most listeria infections are so mild they can go unnoticed, according to the Mayo Clinic. However, they say in some cases, a listeria infection can lead to life-threatening complications.
According to the CDC, symptoms of invasive illness usually start within two weeks after eating food contaminated with Listeria.
Invasive means that the bacteria has spread beyond the intestines.
People who are pregnant:
- Fever
- Flu-like symptoms, such as muscle aches and fatigue
- Symptoms in pregnant people are usually mild. Some pregnant people never have symptoms.
- However, infection during pregnancy usually leads to miscarriage, stillbirth, premature delivery, or life-threatening infection of the newborn.
People who are not pregnant:
- Fever
- Flu-like symptoms, such as muscle aches and fatigue
- Headache
- Stiff neck
- Confusion
- Loss of balance
- Seizures
- Symptoms in non-pregnant people can be severe.
- Almost 1 in 6 non-pregnant people with invasive listeriosis die.
Symptoms in newborns
- Little interest in feeding
- Irritability
- Fever
- Vomiting
- Difficulty breathing
How to prevent a Listeria infection
To prevent a listeria infection, follow the Mayo Clinic recommendations:
- Keep things clean. Wash your hands thoroughly with warm, soapy water before and after handling or preparing food. After cooking, use hot, soapy water to wash the utensils, cutting boards, and other food preparation surfaces.
- Scrub raw vegetables. Clean raw vegetables with a scrub brush or vegetable brush under plenty of running water.
- Cook your food thoroughly. Use a food thermometer to make sure your meat, poultry and egg dishes are cooked to a safe temperature.
Anyone concerned about illness should contact a healthcare provider.
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