Update on Listeria Outbreak Tied to Boar's Head Deli Meats

By Denise Rivette

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is reminding the public to avoid eating recalled deli meats due to a Listeria outbreak reported at the end of July that has expanded to become the nation's largest since the one linked to cantaloupe back in 2011.

There haven’t been any reports of Listeria infection in Montana, but since Boar’s Head meats are ubiquitous throughout the state and country and the effects of Listeria infections can be severe, especially for the unborn, Montana Independent News is providing the following information.

Boar's Head Provisions Co. issued a recall in late July for more than 7.2 million pounds of its deli meat products due to concerns about potential Listeria contamination. The recalled products are liverwurst, ham, baloney, sausage and roasted bacon.

As of August 28, the CDC reported a total of 57 people who've been hospitalized across 18 states (none in Montana at this time). Nine people have died in connection with this outbreak. The CDC states that the true number of illnesses is probably much higher because people who have milder cases aren't necessarily tested for Listeria. There is also a lag time between when an illness happened and when scientists can connect it with an ongoing investigation.

The CDC advises consumers to look for EST. 12612 or P-12612 inside the USDA mark of inspection on labels. Some of these products could have a shelf life and sell-by dates into October of 2024.

According to a September 6 American Medical Association (AMA) podcast, “Boar's Head has said that any new products now available at deli counters are not subject to the recall. However, Listeria bacteria is hardy. It can stay on surfaces like countertops and meat slicers, so you don't even have to eat a contaminated product to get sick.” It can spread at delis and at home, easily transferring from equipment to surfaces to hands and food. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) reports that the Listeria bacteria can live and multiply on surfaces, even refrigerated surfaces, for months, with one reported contamination case in a processing plant lasting 10 years.

And while refrigeration does not kill the bacteria, heat can. Pregnant people, those who are 65 and older, and those with weakened immune systems are advised to avoid eating any deli meat unless it's been heated until it steams or reaches an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit.

Pregnant people are more susceptible to Listeria infection than the rest of the population, although they often experience no or very mild symptoms. According to the FDA, “While listeriosis in the mother is mild, infection in the fetus and newborn can be severe. Listeriosis can develop at any time during pregnancy, and the disease causes miscarriage, stillbirth, premature birth, and life-threatening infection of the newborn, such as a blood infection, respiratory distress or pneumonia, and meningitis (inflammation of the membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord). Listeriosis is one of the most common causes of meningitis in newborns. With a mortality rate of 20 to 30%, newborns suffer the most serious consequences of listeriosis.”

If you have had deli meat at home, clean the refrigerator and any surfaces that may have come in contact with it with a solution of 1 teaspoon of chlorine bleach per 1 quart of water. According to Colorado State University, two other household products that can be effective against Listeria on solid surfaces are hydrogen peroxide (available in 3% concentration) and distilled white vinegar (available in 5% concentration).

Consumers are advised to watch out for symptoms of listeriosis, which include fever, muscle aches and fatigue. It can take up to 10 weeks for listeriosis symptoms to develop.

The current outbreak has been linked to a Boar's Head facility in Virginia that the AMA reports had repeated violations of federal food safety regulations. There are documents from the USDA showing 84 noncompliaces in that facility from January of 2022 to August of 2024. Sixty-nine (69) of those were reported since August of 2023. They further report that Boar's Head has paused production at this facility, and it will remain closed until it can produce safe products.

According to the CDC Listeria infection is the third leading cause of death from foodborne illness in the United States. The CDC estimates that each year in the United States approximately 1,600 people are infected with Listeria, and approximately 260 people die from the infection.

The CDC provides more information on Listeria HERE. The FDA provides more information on Listeria HERE.