Source of the outbreak

Epidemiological, laboratory and trace data show that meat sliced ​​in delicatessens, including Boar’s Head brand liverwurst, is contaminated with Listeria and make people sick.

Products sold in the delicatessen, especially those sliced ​​or prepared in the delicatessen, may be contaminated with Listeria. Listeria spreads easily between deli equipment, surfaces, hands and food. Refrigeration does not kill Listeriabut heating the meat to a high temperature before eating will kill any bacteria that may be on the meat.

What you need to do

For people who are generally healthy and not at increased risk of serious infection:

• Do not eat recalled meat. Please throw them away or contact the store about returns.
• Check your refrigerator for recalled meats and throw them out or return them to the store. Listeria can grow on food stored in the refrigerator.
• Beautiful your refrigerator, containers and surfaces that may have come into contact with recalled meat.

What people at higher risk should do

Listeria is especially harmful if you are pregnant, 65 or older, or have a weakened immune system due to certain medical conditions or treatments. Other people can become infected with Listeria disease, but they rarely become seriously ill.

Are you pregnant, 65 years of age or older, or do you have a weakened immune system:

• Do not eat recalled meats. Please throw them away or contact the store about returns.
• Additionally, do not eat other deli meats that you slice unless you reheat them to an internal temperature of 165°F or until piping hot. Let it cool before eating.
  • Listeria can grow on food stored in the refrigerator, but can be easily killed by heating the food to a high temperature.
• Beautiful your refrigerator, containers and surfaces that may have come into contact with sliced ​​meats.
  • This is especially important if you have purchased any of the recalled deli products.
• Contact your healthcare provider immediately if you have any of these symptoms:
  • People who are not pregnant usually have fever, muscle aches, and fatigue. They may also have headaches, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance, or seizures.
  • Pregnant people usually have fever, muscle aches and fatigue. However, Listeria can lead to pregnancy loss or premature birth. It can also cause serious illness or death in newborns.

What companies need to do

• For delicatessens that received recalled meat:
  • Thoroughly clean and sanitize all food and non-food surfaces, including deli slicers.
  • Throw away any open pieces of meat and cheese in the deli.
  • USDA-FSIS advises delis to stop handling opened products because recalled products could cause cross-contamination with other meats and cheeses.
• Always follow USDA-FSIS best practices for controlling Listeria contamination in delicatessens.