Deli Meat Listeria Outbreak Results in 6 More Deaths — Here’s What the CDC Is Saying

57 people across 18 states have fallen ill in connection to the listeria outbreak

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More people have died in connection to a listeria outbreak linked to deli meats.

The CDC reported six new deaths in an update on Aug. 28, bringing the total to nine people dead. The update also noted 14 more illnesses since the last update on Aug. 8.

The new total of 57 reported cases of listeria have been in 18 states: Arizona, New Mexico, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Montana, Indiana, Tennessee, Georgia, Florida, South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York and Massachusetts. The actual number of people who became ill is likely higher and other states may be affected, as the CDC noted that not everyone would have sought medical treatment.

All 57 people were hospitalized, including one pregnant person, who recovered. The CDC interviewed 44 of the impacted people and they reported “eating a variety of meats sliced at deli counters.” A portion of those people reported eating Boar’s Head brand.

Boar’s Head, a nationwide supplier of deli meats based in Virginia, expanded their initial July 26 recall to include over 71 meats, including several of the brand’s liverwurst, bologna and “Cappy Style” ham deli meats. 

The larger recall, announced on July 30, includes meats produced between May 10 and July 29. The recalled meat and poultry products (which total over 3,500 tons) have sell-by dates ranging from July 29 to October 17, 2024. A full list of the affected products can be found here, and more information is available on the USDA website. 

The outbreak was originally traced back to Boar’s Head products after the USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) identified listeria in a liverwurst sample from a store in the Baltimore area. The agency later confirmed that the listeria found in the product matched the strain causing the outbreak. 

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An official statement from Boar’s Head calls for people who purchased recalled items to discard the product or return them at the store purchased for a refund. The recalled products have been removed from stores. 

The CDC also issued a warning on Aug. 28: “Listeria is a hardy germ that can remain on surfaces, like meat slicers, and foods, even at refrigerated temperatures. It can also take up to 10 weeks for some people to have symptoms of listeriosis.”

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Symptoms typically include fever and flu-like reactions, such as muscle aches and fatigue, according to the CDC. Young children and elderly people are at a higher risk of becoming severely sick if they contract listeria, as are immunocompromised and pregnant people.