Boar’s Head Expands Listeria Recall to 7 Million Pounds

Two listeria outbreaks in the United States over the past week have led to extensive product recalls by several brands, including Boar’s Head, Wiers Farm, and Freshire Farms. The recalls, affecting 23 states, involve a wide range of products such as deli meats, peppers, green beans, squash, parsley, and other produce. The elderly, very young children, and pregnant women are at the highest risk of severe illness or death from this foodborne pathogen.

The initial outbreak was linked to deli meats, with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) reporting that 34 individuals across more than a dozen states were affected. Of these, nearly all were hospitalized, and two deaths were confirmed, one in Illinois and the other in New Jersey. As the investigation progressed, Boar’s Head issued a recall of several deli meat products, and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) began testing these items to ascertain their connection to the outbreak.

On Tuesday, Boar’s Head expanded its recall to include an additional 7 million pounds of deli meats—an increase from the original 200,000 pounds. This new recall encompasses 71 products manufactured over six weeks, including pre-packaged meat and poultry items for the first time.

During the same week, the USDA announced a separate recall involving pre-packaged and bulk summer vegetables due to potential listeria contamination. However, this recall does not appear to be connected to the deli meat outbreak, as no illnesses have been reported related to these vegetable recalls.

Listeria is a foodborne illness typically contracted through improperly processed deli meats and unpasteurized dairy products. The bacteria, which can survive refrigeration and freezing, is particularly troublesome because it spreads easily among deli equipment, surfaces, and food items. While healthy individuals rarely suffer severe consequences, listeria disproportionately affects those over 65, newborns, and pregnant women. Infected pregnant women may experience mild symptoms, but the bacteria can be fatal to the fetus.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), nearly all listeria cases require hospitalization, and approximately one in six individuals with listeria infection die from the illness.

The FDA has identified over 30 cases of illness linked to listeria in deli meats across 13 states, including Minnesota, Missouri, Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Pennsylvania, Virginia, North Carolina, Georgia, New York, Massachusetts, New Jersey, and Maryland. The outbreak has resulted in two deaths.

Boar’s Head Provisions Co. has recalled liverwurst following a positive listeria test from a sample at a Maryland store. The recall also includes meats sliced on the same day and on the same line as the liverwurst at a Virginia plant. Affected products include Virginia old-fashioned ham, Italian Cappy style ham, extra hot Italian Cappy style ham, bologna, beef salami, steakhouse roasted bacon ham, and garlic bologna with an August 10 sell-by date. The expanded recall, announced on Tuesday, includes 71 additional products produced between May 10 and July 29, with details available on the USDA website. The outbreak is linked to meat sliced at deli counters rather than prepackaged meats.

Listeria bacteria are found in soil, water, animal feces, and raw materials. The CDC notes that cold cuts, cheeses, and other deli products are particularly susceptible to listeria due to the ease with which the bacteria can spread among deli equipment and surfaces. Refrigeration does not kill listeria, which can persist in facilities where it is present. This persistence allows the bacteria to spread on surfaces, hands, and within the food itself. Previous outbreaks in 2022 and 2020 also involved deli meats and cheeses, resulting in several illnesses and deaths.

The vegetable recall has affected bagged and bulk produce at Walmart and Aldi locations across multiple states, including Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia, and others. Stores like Save-a-Lot, Kroger, and Shop ‘n Save have also issued recalls in these states and additional ones such as Maine, Missouri, North Carolina, Rhode Island, and Tennessee.

Recalls have included bagged poblanos, cubanelle peppers, green beans, salad cucumbers, serranos, organic bell peppers, cucumbers, yellow squash, and zucchini from Wiers Farm, as well as bagged green beans and jalapenos from Freshire Farms. Bulk vegetables like Anaheim peppers, cilantro, cubanelle peppers, cucumbers, green beans, green bell peppers, habanero peppers, Hungarian wax peppers, jalapeno peppers, mustard greens, pickling cucumbers, parsley, poblanos, serranos, and tomatillos have also been recalled. The FDA website provides barcode details for these recalled products.

In an unexpected development, a Missouri couple has filed a lawsuit against Boar’s Head and Schnucks Markets after purchasing contaminated liverwurst in June. Sue Fleming, 88, fell seriously ill and was hospitalized with a listeria infection. Although she eventually recovered, the couple is seeking $25,000 in damages, alleging the illness caused “loss of enjoyment of life” and “damage to the marital relationship.”