Boar’s Head officials have recalled over 7 million pounds of deli-sliced and prepackaged meat products, following a massive listeria outbreak that has resulted in at least nine deaths across multiple states.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has confirmed two deaths in South Carolina, as well as one each in Florida, New Mexico, Tennessee, and New York. The outbreak has affected a total of 57 people, making it the largest listeria outbreak in the U.S. since 2011.
Listeria infections are caused by a bacteria that can survive in refrigerated conditions. The symptoms can appear quickly or up to 10 weeks after consuming contaminated food, with older adults, pregnant women, and individuals with weakened immune systems being particularly at risk.
The recall initially started with specific products such as liverwurst with sell-by dates from July 25 to August 30, but was later expanded to include all foods from Boar’s Head’s Virginia plant. The affected products were distributed nationwide and to several other countries.
CDC advises consumers to check their refrigerators for the recalled products and discard them immediately. It is essential to thoroughly clean and sanitize any surfaces that may have come in contact with the contaminated food.
The tragic consequences of listeria infections have been highlighted by the story of Gunter “Garshon” Morgenstein, an 88-year-old who passed away from a brain infection linked to the recalled Boar’s Head products. He was a renowned hair stylist who styled celebrities like Tom Jones and fell victim to the outbreak after regularly consuming the deli meat.
His family has expressed their grief over the incident, emphasizing the need for better food safety practices to prevent similar tragedies in the future.
