The deli meat company Boar’s Head is recalling an additional 7 million pounds of ready-to-eat products made at a Virginia plant in connection with an investigation into a deadly listeria food poisoning outbreak, according to U.S. Agriculture Department officials on Tuesday.
The new recall includes 71 products made between May 10 and July 29 under the Boar’s Head and Old Country brand names. This comes after an earlier recall of over 200,000 pounds of sliced deli meat. The newly recalled items include products like liverwurst, ham, salami, bologna, and others made at the Jarratt, Virginia plant.
These recalls are linked to an ongoing listeria outbreak that has resulted in two deaths and dozens of illnesses in 13 states. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that most of those affected were hospitalized. Illnesses were reported between late May and mid-July.
The issue came to light when a sample of liverwurst collected in Maryland tested positive for listeria. Subsequent testing revealed that the bacteria strain matched the one causing illnesses in people.
As a precautionary measure, the company has decided to expand the recall to include all items produced at the Jarratt facility and has stopped production of ready-to-eat foods at the plant. The recalled meat was distributed nationwide and to several other countries.
Consumers are advised not to consume the recalled products and to either dispose of them or return them for a refund. Health officials recommend cleaning and sanitizing refrigerators to prevent cross-contamination.
Each year, an estimated 1,600 people in the U.S. contract listeria food poisoning, resulting in about 260 deaths, according to the CDC.
Listeria infections can cause symptoms like fever, muscle aches, fatigue, and more severe symptoms like stiff neck, confusion, and convulsions. Those at higher risk include individuals over 65, those with weakened immune systems, and pregnant women.
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