A deadly food poisoning outbreak has resulted in the recall of over 7 million pounds of popular Boar’s Head deli meats produced at a plant in Virginia. The outbreak of the bacteria listeria began in May and has led to two deaths and nearly three dozen hospitalizations in 13 states.
Listeria bacteria are known to thrive in moist environments such as soil, water, and decaying vegetation, and are carried by some animals. These resilient germs are typically spread during the harvesting, processing, transportation, or storage of food in places contaminated with the bacteria. Once the bacteria enter a food processing plant, they can be challenging to eliminate.
During the investigation, it was found that many of the affected individuals had consumed deli meats sliced at grocery store deli counters. Listeria was even detected in an unopened loaf of Boar’s Head liverwurst at a Maryland store, leading to further testing that confirmed the same strain was causing illnesses in people.
People contract listeria poisoning by consuming foods contaminated with the bacteria. Symptoms can range from mild, such as fever, muscle aches, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea, to more serious conditions like headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance, and convulsions. The onset of symptoms can vary, appearing within hours or days after consuming contaminated food, or even weeks to months later.
Most at risk for falling ill from listeria are young children, adults over 65, individuals with weakened immune systems, or pregnant women. While listeria can survive in refrigerated food, it can be killed by heating foods to at least 165 degrees Fahrenheit.
The recalled Boar’s Head deli meats include liverwurst, ham, beef salami, bologna, and other products made at the company’s plant in Jarratt, Virginia. These products were distributed nationwide, as well as internationally to the Cayman Islands, the Dominican Republic, Mexico, and Panama. Consumers are advised not to consume the recalled meats and should either discard them or return them to the store for a refund.
In light of this outbreak, it is crucial to clean and sanitize any surfaces that may have come into contact with the recalled deli meats, including refrigerator drawers and shelves. Taking these precautions can help prevent the spread of listeria and protect against further illnesses related to contaminated food. Stay informed and stay safe.
