CDC warns: Boar's Head deli meat recall linked to 9 deaths

The Boar's Head deli meat recall continues. On August 28, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released an update on the ongoing recall that has resulted in dozens of illnesses and some deaths due to the listeria outbreak linked to deli meat.

Since the last update on August 8, the total number of hospitalizations has risen to 57 and nine deaths have been reported. According to the CDC, this is the largest listeriosis outbreak since the 2011 outbreak linked to cantaloupe.

To protect yourself from possible listeria contamination, check your refrigerator for recalled Boar's Head products that have a long shelf life. Look for “EST. 12612” or “P-12612” printed on the product labels inside the USDA inspection mark. Some of the recalled products have a best-before date of October 2024.

If you still have the sliced ​​sausage product, throw it away immediately or return it to where you purchased it. After disposing of the products, thoroughly clean your refrigerator, containers and all surfaces that may have come into contact with the sliced ​​sausage.

Listeria is a bacteria that can cause a serious illness called listeriosis if it spreads beyond the intestines to other parts of the body. Symptoms include fever, muscle aches, diarrhea, and stomach pain. According to the CDC, symptoms of serious illness usually begin one to four weeks after eating food contaminated with Listeria, but may appear sooner or later.