Boar's Head expands recall to include 7 million more pounds of deli meats tied to listeria outbreak
The popular deli meat company Boar's Head is recalling an additional 7 million pounds of ready-to-eat products made at a Virginia plant as an investigation into a deadly outbreak of listeria food poisoning continues, U.S. Agriculture Department officials said Tuesday.
The new recall includes 71 products made between May 10 and July 29 under the Boar's Head and Old Country brand names. It follows an earlier recall of more than 200,000 pounds of sliced deli poultry and meat. The new items include meat intended to be sliced at delis as well as some packaged meat and poultry products sold in stores.
Related video above: What happens when you eat recalled meat? A doctor explains
They include liverwurst, ham, beef salami, bologna and other products made at the firm's Jarratt, Virginia, plant.
The recalls are tied to an ongoing outbreak of listeria poisoning that has killed two people and sickened nearly three dozen in 13 states, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Nearly all of those who fell ill have been hospitalized. Illnesses were reported between late May and mid-July.
The problem was discovered when a liverwurst sample collected by health officials in Maryland tested positive for listeria. Further testing showed that the type of bacteria was the same strain causing illnesses in people.
"Out of an abundance of caution, we decided to immediately and voluntarily expand our recall to include all items produced at the Jarratt facility," the company said on its website. It has also halted production of ready-to-eat foods at the plant.
The meat was distributed to stores nationwide, as well as to the Cayman Islands, the Dominican Republic, Mexico and Panama, Agriculture Department officials said.
Consumers who have the recalled products in their homes should not eat them and should discard them or return them to stores for a refund, company officials said. Health officials said refrigerators should be thoroughly cleaned and sanitized to prevent contamination of other foods.
Video below: What is listeria? And how to prevent illness
An estimated 1,600 people get listeria food poisoning each year and about 260 die, according to the CDC.
Listeria infections typically cause fever, muscle aches, and tiredness and may cause stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance, and convulsions. Symptoms can occur quickly or to up to 10 weeks after eating contaminated food. The infections are especially dangerous for people older than 65, those with weakened immune systems, and during pregnancy.
Here is the full list of recalled items:
Boar's Head Brand
- Virginia Ham Whole
- Fiber Cappy Ham Half
- Hot Butt Cappy Ham
- Gourmet Pepper Ham Half
- Sweet Slice Ham Whole
- Sweet Slice Ham Half
- Natural Casing Cappy Ham Half
- Tavern Ham
- Extra Hot Cappy Ham
- Rosemary Sundried Tomato Ham
- Sweet Slice Ham Baby Half
- Head Cheese
- Olive Loaf
- Pickle & Pepper Loaf
- Liverwurst Paté 8 oz.
- Bologna Thin Half
- Bologna Thick Half
- Beef Salami
- Natural Casing Pork & Beef Frankfurters Giant
- Steakhouse Slab Bacon
- Natural Casing Beef Franks 8/1
- Canadian Style Bacon
- All Natural Traditional Ham
- All Natural Applewood Smoked Ham
- Garlic Bologna
- Lower Sodium Bologna
- Beef Bologna
- Spiced Ham Square Half
- Hot Smoked Sausage 1 lb.
- Skinless Pork & Beef Franks 8/1 1 lb.
- Beek Knockwurst 1 lb.
- Skinless Beef Frankfurters 4/1 8"
- Cocktail Frankfurters 12 oz.
- Virginia Ham Half
- Skinless Pork & Beef Frankfurters 4/1 2.5 lb.
- SmokeMaster Beechwood Smoked Black Forest Ham Whole
- SmokeMaster Beechwood Smoked Black Forest Ham Half
- Sweet Slice Ham Service Case
- Peppenero Garlic Ham
- Roasted Pork
- BourbonRidge Ham
- FS Porchetta - Roasted Seasoned Pork
- Tavern Ham - Whole
- Mapple Rst Pork Loin Baby
- Hkry Smk Rst Uncured Ham
- FoodService Hickory Smoked Uncured Ham
- Brown Sugar & Spice Delight Off the Bone Ham
- Skinless Beef Frankfurters 6/1
- Skinless Beef Franks 12 oz.
- Kielbasa 16 oz.
- Natural Casing Beef Franks 8/1 14 oz.
- Natural Casing Pork & Beef Frankfurters 8/1 14 oz.
- Andouille Chicken Sausage
- Bratwurst 1 lb.
Old Country Brand
- OC Cappy Ham Fiber 1/2
- OC Hot Butt Cappy-Fiber
- OC Gourmet Pepper Ham
- OC Black Forest Ham 1/2
- OC Swt Slice Smk Ham 1/2
- OC Cappy Brand Ham NC 1/2
- OC Tavern Ham
- OC Rosemary/Tomato Ham
- OC Swt Slice Ham Baby 1/2
- OC All Natural UNC Ham
- OC Canadian Style Bacn Jr
- OC All Nat UNC Smkd Ham
- OC Habanero Ham
- OC Seasons Ckd Fresh Ham
- OC Beechwood Smokd Ham WH
- OC BourbonRidge Smkd Ham
- OC Brown Sugar & Spice Delight Off the Bone Ham