Death Toll Rises to 9 in Listeria Outbreak Linked to Boar's Head, CDC Reports
Death Toll Rises to 9 in Listeria Outbreak Linked to Boar's Head, CDC Reports
Nine people have died and 57 have been hospitalized due to a nationwide listeria outbreak linked to recalled Boar’s Head deli meats, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). This outbreak is the largest of its kind in the U.S. since 2011.
The CDC reported six new deaths across Florida, Tennessee, New Mexico, New York, and South Carolina. Earlier this month, three deaths were confirmed in Illinois, New Jersey, and Virginia.
The outbreak was traced back to a Boar’s Head liverwurst sample collected by the Maryland Department of Health, which tested positive for the listeria strain responsible for the outbreak. This led to a recall of all products from a facility in Jarratt, Virginia, and a suspension of operations there.
The recall includes at least 7 million pounds of over 70 products such as ham, bologna, bacon, and frankfurters. These items were produced between May 10 and July 29 under the Boar’s Head and Old Country brands. They were distributed nationwide and exported to the Cayman Islands, the Dominican Republic, Mexico, and Panama.
The CDC advises the public to avoid consuming the recalled products and to check for the numbers “EST. 12612” or “P-12612” on Boar’s Head product labels.
Boar’s Head expressed deep regret for the impact of the recall, stating, “No words can fully express our sympathies and the sincere and deep hurt we feel for those who have suffered losses or endured illness.”
This outbreak is the largest listeria outbreak since the 2011 cantaloupe outbreak, which affected 147 people and resulted in 33 deaths across 28 states. Recent listeria outbreaks have been linked to cheese, dairy products, packaged salads, and enoki mushrooms.
Listeria, caused by the Listeria monocytogenes bacterium, results in an estimated 1,600 infections and 260 deaths annually in the U.S. It is the third leading cause of death from foodborne illness. Pregnant individuals, newborns, those over 65, and people with weakened immune systems are particularly at risk. Symptoms can include fever, muscle aches, loss of balance, convulsions, and gastrointestinal issues, with symptoms sometimes taking up to 10 weeks to appear.
Some consumers are suing Boar’s Head after becoming seriously ill from the contaminated products. Reports include Sue Fleming, 88, who spent nine days in the hospital with a listeria infection, and Ashley Solberg, who claimed in her lawsuit that she “nearly lost her unborn child” due to the illness.
Recent inspections of Boar’s Head’s Jarratt facility revealed issues such as mold, mildew, and insects. Boar’s Head has not yet commented on these findings.
