The Rhode Island Department of Health (RIDOH) is advising consumers that Boar's Head Provisions Co. is recalling all liverwurst products currently available because they may be adulterated with Listeria monocytogenes. The company is also recalling additional deli meat products that were produced on the same line and on the same day as the liverwurst. The company is recalling approximately 207,528 pounds of products.
The ready-to-eat liverwurst products were produced between June 11, 2024, and July 17, 2024, and have a 44-day shelf life. The following liverwurst products are subject to recall:
- 3.5-lb. loaves in plastic casing, or various weight packages sliced in retail delis, containing "Boar's Head Strassburger Brand Liverwurst MADE IN VIRGINIA." The products shipped to retailers bear sell-by dates ranging from July 25, 2024 to August 30, 2024.
The other ready-to-eat deli meat products were produced on June 27, 2024. The following deli meat products are subject to recall:
- 9.5-lb. and 4.5-lb. full product, or various weight packages sliced in retail delis, containing "Boar's Head VIRGINIA HAM OLD FASHIONED HAM" with sell-by date "AUG 10" on the product packaging.
- 4-lb., or various weight packages sliced in retail delis, containing "Boar's Head ITALIAN CAPPY STYLE HAM" with sell-by date "AUG 10" on the product packaging.
- 6-lb., or various weight packages sliced in retail delis, containing "Boar's Head EXTRA HOT ITALIAN CAPPY STYLE HAM" with sell-by date "AUG 10" on the product packaging.
- 4-lb., or various weight packages sliced in retail delis, containing "Boar's Head BOLOGNA" with sell-by date "AUG 10" on the product packaging.
- 2.5-lb., or various weight packages sliced in retail delis, containing "Boar's Head BEEF SALAMI" with sell-by date "AUG 10" on the product packaging.
- 5.5-lb., or various weight packages sliced in retail delis, containing "Boar's Head STEAKHOUSE ROASTED BACON HEAT & EAT" with sell-by date "AUG 15" on the product packaging.
- 3-lb., or various weight packages sliced in retail delis, containing "Boar's Head GARLIC BOLOGNA" with sell-by date "AUG 10" on the product packaging.
- 3-lb., or various weight packages sliced in retail delis, containing "Boar's Head BEEF BOLOGNA" with sell-by date "AUG 10" on the product packaging.
The products subject to recall were distributed to retail deli locations nationwide. The products shipped to deli retailers bear the establishment number "EST. 12612" inside the USDA mark of inspection on the product labels.
The problem was discovered when the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) was notified that a sample collected by the Maryland Department of Health tested positive for L. monocytogenes. The Maryland Department of Health, in collaboration with the Baltimore City Health Department, collected an unopened liverwurst product from a retail store for testing as part of an outbreak investigation of L. monocytogenes infections. Further testing is ongoing to determine if the product sample is related to the outbreak. Anyone concerned about illness should contact a healthcare provider.
FSIS is working with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and state public health partners to investigate the multistate outbreak of L. monocytogenes infections linked to meats sliced at delis. As of July 25, 2024, 34 sick people have been identified in 13 states, including 33 hospitalizations and two deaths. Samples were collected from sick people from May 29, 2024, to July 12, 2024. Additional information may be found on the CDC investigation notice, Listeria Outbreak Linked to Meats Sliced at Delis. The investigation is ongoing, and FSIS continues to work with the CDC and state partners.
Consumption of food contaminated with L. monocytogenes can cause listeriosis, a serious infection that primarily affects people who are pregnant, aged 65 or older, or with weakened immune systems. Less commonly, persons outside these risk groups are affected.
Listeriosis can cause fever, muscle aches, headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance and convulsions sometimes preceded by diarrhea or other gastrointestinal symptoms. An invasive infection spreads beyond the gastrointestinal tract. In people who are pregnant, the infection can cause miscarriages, stillbirths, premature delivery or life-threatening infection of the newborn. In addition, serious and sometimes fatal infections can occur in older adults and persons with weakened immune systems. Listeriosis is treated with antibiotics. Persons in the higher-risk categories who experience flu-like symptoms within two months after eating contaminated food should seek medical care and tell the healthcare provider about eating the contaminated food.
Consumers who have purchased these products are urged not to consume them and retailers are urged not to sell these products with the referenced sell by dates. These products should be thrown away or returned to the place of purchase. Consumers who have purchased these products are also urged to clean refrigerators thoroughly to prevent the risk of cross-contamination.
Media with questions can contact Elizabeth Ward, Vice President of Communications, Boar's Head Provisions Co., Inc., at media@boarshead.com.
Consumers with food safety questions can call the toll-free USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline at 888-MPHotline (888-674-6854) or send a question via email to MPHotline@usda.gov. For consumers that need to report a problem with a meat, poultry, or egg product, the online Electronic Consumer Complaint Monitoring System can be accessed 24 hours a day at https://foodcomplaint.fsis.usda.gov/eCCF/.