A deadly food poisoning outbreak linked to Boar's Head deli meats has become America's largest since 2011, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). At least nine deaths have now been tied to the outbreak, and 57 people have been hospitalised.
Last month, Boar's Head recalled certain products made at its plant in Jarratt, Virginia.
Boar's Head pointed out that it was inspected by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), and that inspectors visited the plant every day.
"If at any time inspectors identify something that needs to be addressed, our team does so immediately, as was the case with each and every issue raised by USDA in this report," spokesperson Elizabeth Ward said in her statement.
The recall started with ready-to-eat liverwurst products and expanded to include all deli meats including sliced hams, sausages and meatloaves manufactured at the Virginia facility.
The 57 hospitalisations linked to the outbreak have occurred in 18 states, the CDC said in a statement of its own on Wednesday.
Those states are Arizona, New Mexico, Minnesota, Missouri, Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Tennessee, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York and Massachusetts.
"This is the largest listeriosis outbreak since the 2011 outbreak linked to cantaloupe (melons)," the CDC said in a statement on Wednesday.
Listeria Contamination
Listeria is a germ that can remain on surfaces like meat slicers and foods, even at refrigerated temperatures. The CDC says some infected people can take up to 10 weeks to experience symptoms, though most usually appear within two weeks of eating contaminated food.
What is Listeria?
Listeria is a bacteria that spreads easily on deli surfaces and through food that can cause serious infections.
Listeria Symptoms
Symptoms of listeria infections include headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance, convulsions, fever and muscle aches.
Listeria and Pregnancy
Listeria infections in pregnant people can also cause pregnancy loss and premature birth.
Listeria: Third Leading Cause of Death
According to the CDC, listeria is the third leading cause of foodborne illness death in the United States.
Listeria Outbreak: What You Need to Know
The CDC is reminding the public to avoid eating recalled deli meats amid a listeria outbreak that has expanded to become the nation’s largest since 2011. Boar’s Head issued a recall in late July for more than 7.2 million pounds of its ready-to-eat liverwurst and some other deli meat products due to concerns about potential listeria contamination, but the CDC says at least a dozen more listeriosis cases have been reported in recent weeks. A total of 57 people have been hospitalized in 18 states, and nine people have died. The recalled products include liverwurst, ham, bologna, sausage and roasted bacon. Most people who became sick reported eating turkey or liverwurst, and some reported eating ham.
Boar's Head Deli Meat Recall
The CDC said an investigation found Boar's Head meats sliced at delis were contaminated with listeria.
Boar's Head Deli Meat Recall in Massachusetts
As a result, Boar's Head recalled some of its deli products that were sold at more than 400 stores across Massachusetts.
Deaths in Listeria Outbreak
Nine deaths have been reported in the Boar's Head deli meat listeria outbreak so far, the CDC said Wednesday.
Listeria Outbreak: Where Were the Deaths Reported?
Here's where the deaths were reported:
- Illinois
- New Jersey
- Virginia
- South Carolina (2 deaths)
- Florida
- New Mexico
- Tennessee
- New York
Listeria Outbreak: Where Were the Illnesses Reported?
More than 50 people have gotten sick across 18 states from the deli meat listeria outbreak, including three in Massachusetts. All 57 people who have gotten sick have been hospitalized, the CDC said.
Listeria Outbreak: Avoiding Recalled Products
After announcing six more deaths in the deli meat listeria outbreak, the CDC is reminding people to avoid recalled products.
CDC Recommendations
The agency also recommends cleaning refrigerators, containers and surfaces that may have touched sliced deli meats.
High-Risk Individuals
Some people at higher risk for getting sick with listeria, including those who are pregnant, aged 64 or older or have a weakened immune system, should avoid eating deli meats unless heated to an internal temperature of 165°F, the CDC said.
Department of Agriculture Violations
Department of Agriculture officials found dozens of violations at the Boar's Head plant in Virginia.
Violations at Boar's Head Plant
Officials found dozens of "non-compliances" at the Boar's Head plant over the course of a year, according to Department of Agriculture records that were obtained by CBS News.
Boar's Head Plant Shutdown
The Virginia plant has ceased operations since the recall for disinfection work to take place.
Boar's Head Statement
A company spokesperson told BBC's US news partner CBS News that food safety was the "absolute priority", and that the team at the plant immediately addressed the issues they found.
Boar's Head Deli Meats: Recall Details
Boar's Head officials originally recalled liverwurst and other products meant to be sliced in retail delis with sell-by dates from July 25 to Aug. 30. On July 29, the recall was expanded to include all foods produced at the firm’s plant in Jarratt, Virginia. The products included those sliced at deli counters as well as some prepackaged retail sausage, frankfurters and bacon.
Boar's Head Deli Meats: Recall Location
All the recalled deli meats have been removed from stores and are no longer available, Boar’s Head officials said on the company’s website. The products were distributed to stores nationwide, as well as to the Cayman Islands, the Dominican Republic, Mexico and Panama, U.S. Agriculture Department officials said.
CDC Recommendations
CDC officials urged consumers to check their refrigerators for the recalled products. Look for EST. 12612 or P-12612 inside the USDA mark of inspection on the product labels, some of which have sell-by dates that extend into October. Discard recalled foods and thoroughly clean and sanitize refrigerator and other surfaces they touched.
Tragedy: A Holocaust Survivor's Death
Many illnesses caused by food poisoning are short-lived, but listeria infections can have devastating effects.
In Virginia, Gunter “Garshon” Morgenstein, of Newport News, died on July 18 from a brain infection caused by listeria bacteria, an illness that was confirmed to be linked to the contaminated Boar’s Head products.
Morgenstein's Story
Morgenstein, 88, was a German-born Holocaust survivor who moved to Canada and then the U.S. as a young man and later became a flamboyant hair stylist, according to his son, Garshon Morgenstein. During his 70-year career, his father styled celebrities such as the singer Tom Jones and was known for his funny, outgoing personality, Garshon Morgenstein said.
Gunter Morgenstein enjoyed liverwurst, usually spread on bagels, and bought it regularly, insisting on the Boar’s Head brand because he believed it was top quality, his son said.
He fell ill in early July and was hospitalized on July 8, eventually becoming so sick that doctors said he suffered permanent brain damage and was unlikely to recover. Family members withdrew life support, his son said.
After Morgenstein’s death, a review of receipts showed that he bought the recalled deli meat tied to the outbreak on June 30. The family has hired a lawyer, Houston-based Ron Simon.
“It’s really just a senseless accident and tragedy for something that just should not have ever happened,” his son said. “He still had many good years left.”
