A 10th person has died in the nationwide Listeria outbreak connected to Boar’s Head deli meats, which otherwise appears to be slowing, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports.
In an update about the outbreak on Wednesday, the CDC said that since its last update on August 28, only two new cases have been identified, bringing the outbreak’s current total to 59 cases in 19 states. All 59 cases were hospitalized. One new death was reported in New York, bringing the total deaths to 10.
In an alert to the media, the agency noted that “Illness reports have started to decrease, and CDC will update this notice less frequently.” However, the risk of more life-threatening infections is not yet over.
The outbreak, which began in late May, led to the discovery of the outbreak strain of Listeria monocytogenes in unopened packages of Boar’s Head liverwurst. That spurred a recall of more than 7 million pounds of Boar’s Head meats in July and the indefinite closure of the company’s Jarratt, Virginia plant, which had a shocking history of sanitation and manufacturing violations throughout the facility and its production lines. Violations included meat build-up on walls and equipment, filth and numerous water leaks throughout the building, mold, algae, insects, and even puddles of blood. In 2022, the plant was deemed an “imminent threat” to public health by US inspectors.
In a September 13 statement, Boar’s Head blamed the contamination and outbreak on a “specific production process that only existed at the Jarratt facility and was used only for liverwurst.” With this, the company announced it would never make liverwurst again. It also vowed to make safety and quality improvements in its other facilities.
With 59 cases linked to Boar’s Head meat, it is the largest Listeria outbreak the country has seen in over a decade. In 2011, unsanitary conditions at a facility that processed cantaloupes led to 147 Listeria infections in 28 states, killing 33.
Months into the outbreak, and with the Jarratt plant identified and shut down, the worst of this outbreak is likely over. But the CDC notes that some of the recalled meat products had a sell-by date in October 2024. Thus, recalled products may still be sitting in people’s refrigerators. Additionally, Listeria infections can develop up to 10 weeks after exposure.
The CDC warns consumers not to eat any of the recalled products. Instead, throw them away or contact stores about returns. If you have or had recalled products in your home, sanitize your refrigerator and any containers or surfaces that had contact with the product.
