Boar’s Head Recalls Deli Meat Over Listeria Concerns

In light of a concerning listeria outbreak, Boar’s Head Provisions Co. Inc., based in Jarratt, Virginia, has announced a comprehensive recall of its liverwurst products potentially contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. The recall extends to approximately 207,528 pounds of various deli meats produced on the same line.

The affected liverwurst products include 3.5-pound loaves and various-weight packages of Boar’s Head Strassburger Brand Liverwurst, marked with sell-by dates from July 25, 2024, to August 30, 2024. Other deli products produced on June 27 are also implicated, including Virginia Old Fashioned Ham, Bologna, and Beef Salami, all bearing a sell-by date of August 10, 2024.

The contamination risk surfaced when a sample from Maryland’s Department of Health tested positive for L. monocytogenes during a multistate outbreak investigation. As of July 25, the outbreak has led to 34 reported illnesses across 13 states, resulting in 33 hospitalizations and two fatalities. The United States Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is actively collaborating with the CDC and public health officials to trace the outbreak’s origins.

FSIS has issued guidance for retail delis to ensure thorough cleaning of surfaces and disposal of open products associated with the outbreak. Consumers are advised not to consume any recalled products and to return them to stores or dispose of them.

Additionally, legal action has commenced surrounding this outbreak; a lawsuit has been filed against Boar’s Head and Schnucks Markets after a plaintiff’s illness was linked to the liverwurst product.

For safety and compliance in food settings, it is crucial for manufacturers and retailers to prioritize food safety guidelines to prevent such incidents in the future.