A report was issued last week of multiple sicknesses and deaths arising from possibly contaminated deli meats across several states.
The Listeria outbreak has now been tied to several Boar’s Head Provisions products. The company has been forced to initiate a multi-state wide recall of its products.
Information on the Recall
Stacey Leasca with Food & Wine Magazine noted that “On Friday, Boar’s Head Products announced it’s recalling approximately 207,528 pounds of deli meat, including all liverwurst products currently available across the U.S., as they may be contaminated with Listeria.”
The recall has been issued jointly with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food and Safety Inspection Service.
Items Included in the Recall
The recall release states that Boar’s Head “is recalling all liverwurst product produced by the establishment that is currently available in commerce because it may be adulterated with Listeria monocytogenes.”
Also, “additional deli meat products that were produced on the same line and on the same day as the liverwurst, and, therefore may be adulterated with L. monocytogenes.” Items like liverwurst were recalled earlier this year and ham, bologna, salami and bacon are being recalled now.
What Is Listeria?
Listeria is a bacteria contracted by contaminated food. It can be fatal for pregnant women and people older than 65 as well as immunocompromised people.
The bacteria is commonly found in meat which is why it’s important to cook things like chicken and turkey to specific temperatures.
What Are the Symptoms?
Mild symptoms can begin to appear a few days after eating something contaminated with Listeria. The person who contracted the bacteria might begin to feel fever, muscle aches, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.
More serious symptoms that might require hospitalization include confusion, loss of balance, and convulsions.
Specific Danger for Pregnant Women
Part of the reason why pregnant need to be cautious about what they eat is because a listeria illness can cause a fatal infection in the womb.
The baby can either die in the womb or be born with a life threatening infection. There is no cure for the infection in pregnant women and the best course of action is to try and avoid deli meats and improperly handled or stored food.
When Was the Contamination Discovered?
According to the statement, the problem was discovered when the Food Safety and Inspection Service was notified that a sample collected y the Maryland Department of Health tested positive for listeria.
From there, the Maryland Department of Health and the Baltimore City Health Department collected an unopened liverwurst product from a local retail store and tested again for the presence of the bacteria.
Common Testing Practices
Food straight from a factory can have a skewed outcome as the company sending in the sample can be sure of safe packaging procedures.
The reason why the FSIS went straight to a retail store is because it’s exactly what the customer is eating on a regular day without extra scrutiny from the company.
Several Illnesses Reported
So far, 34 people have been identified with the illness throughout 13 states, according to the FDA.
Unfortunately, two deaths have been recorded because of the contaminated meats and 33 people in total have been hospitalized.
Can the Families Sue Boar’s Head?
USA Today has already reported that the family of the 88-year-old woman who fell “deathly ill” as a result of eating Boar’s Head deli meats plans on suing the company for unsafe food practices.
The couple purchased Boar’s Head liverwurst from their local Schnucks grocery store in June. The result was a “life threatening listeria infection” for Sue, who needed a lengthy hospital and rehab stay.
Prolonged Neurological Damage
Aside from the immediate illness and the lengthy recovery time, anyone who has knocked on death’s door as a result of listeria poisoning can experience long term “neurological symptoms, fatigue, and overall weakness.”
The illness can also result in loss of enjoyment of life and shortened life expectancy due to the damage caused to her body.
Listeria Is Common in Deli Meats
Unfortunately, deli meats are one of the leading causes of listeria outbreaks in the country.
Stable meats kept in coolers for long periods of time can easily become contaminated with moist air that allows people to get very sick and sometimes die.
