The deaths of nine people have been linked to a recall of Boar’s Head deli meats, according to government figures.
Figures released on Wednesday by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) saw the number of reported fatalities from listeria infections grow from three to nine.
The six new deaths include one each in Florida, Tennessee, New Mexico and New York, plus two from South Carolina. Some 57 people have been hospitalised, the CDC added.
Boar’s Head recalled seven million pounds of deli meats on 30 July, expanding an initial recall on 25 July when the US Department of Agriculture (USDA)’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) was notified that a liverwurst sample collected by the Maryland Department of Health tested positive for listeria monocytogenes.
The CDC said the listeriosis outbreak was the largest in the US since the 2011 outbreak linked to cantaloupe. When that outbreak was declared over, it was said to have killed 30 people.
Boar’s Head’s recall included 71 products produced between 10 May 2024 and 29 July 2024, under the Boar’s Head and Old Country brand names. They have “sell by” dates ranging from 29 July 2024 through 17 October 2024.
The deli meats were produced at its Jarratt, Virginia, facility on the same production line and on the same day as the liverwurst product which first “had the potential to be adulterated” with listeria.
Last month, Boar’s Head said in a statement: “Out of an abundance of caution, we decided to immediately and voluntarily expand our recall to include all items produced at the Jarratt facility. We have also decided to pause ready-to-eat operations at this facility until further notice. As a company that prioritises safety and quality, we believe it is the right thing to do.
“On behalf of all of us at Boar’s Head Brand, we want to let our customers and consumers know that we deeply regret that our liverwurst products were found to be adulterated with Listeria monocytogenes. No words can fully express our sympathies and the sincere and deep hurt we feel for the families that have suffered losses and others who endured illness.”
