Three people have now died in a listeria food poisoning outbreak linked to Boar’s Head deli meats, federal food safety officials announced Thursday. The total number of people sickened has risen to 43.
The most recent death occurred in Virginia, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in a news release on Thursday. The other two deaths were in New Jersey and Illinois. The CDC also reported nine new cases since their July 31 update about the outbreak, which began in late May.
Boar’s Head recalled 7 million pounds of deli meats on July 30, expanding an initial recall from July 25 after a listeria-positive liverwurst sample was collected by health officials in Maryland. On Thursday, the CDC confirmed that a liverwurst sample from New York health officials contained the same strain of listeria.
The recall includes more than 70 products such as liverwurst, ham, beef salami, and bologna produced at the company’s plant in Jarratt, Virginia.
Boar’s Head is already facing two lawsuits due to the outbreak: one in a Missouri court and another class-action suit in federal court in New York.
The contaminated meats were distributed to stores nationwide and to the Cayman Islands, the Dominican Republic, Mexico, and Panama. Consumers are advised not to consume the recalled meats and to discard them or return them to the store for a refund. The CDC emphasized that listeria bacteria can survive and grow in refrigerated environments, so it is crucial for consumers to thoroughly clean and sanitize their refrigerators to prevent cross-contamination.
The CDC estimates that 1,600 people in the United States contract listeria food poisoning each year, with about 260 resulting in death. The most common symptoms include fever, muscle aches, and fatigue, though infections can also cause confusion and convulsions. People at the highest risk include those over 65, individuals with weakened immune systems, and pregnant women, who may experience severe outcomes after consuming contaminated food.
