Boar’s Head recall expands: 7 million more pounds of deli meats linked to listeria outbreak

Boar’s Head is recalling an additional 7 million pounds of ready-to-eat products as part of an ongoing investigation into a deadly outbreak of listeria food poisoning, the U.S. Agriculture Department’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) said Tuesday.

The new recall includes 71 products made between May 10 and July 29 under the Boar’s Head and Old Country brand names. 

This is in addition to the over 200,000 Boar’s Head products that were recalled on July 26. 

Some of the recalled Boar’s Head product labels are pictured in provided images. (Credit: USDA)

Which products are impacted by the recall? 

The newest recalled items include meat intended to be sliced at delis as well as some packaged meat and poultry products sold in stores. 

They include liverwurst, ham, beef salami, bologna and other products made at the firm's Jarratt, Virginia, plant. 

For a full list of affected products, click here. 

Where was the meat sold? 

The meat was distributed to stores nationwide, as well as to the Cayman Islands, the Dominican Republic, Mexico and Panama, Agriculture Department officials said.

How many people have gotten sick? 

The recalls are tied to an ongoing outbreak of listeria poisoning that has killed two people and sickened nearly three dozen in 13 states, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 

Nearly all of those who fell ill have been hospitalized. Illnesses were reported between late May and mid-July.

What should consumers do?

Consumers who have the recalled products in their homes should not eat them and should discard them or return them to stores for a refund, company officials said. 

Health officials advised that refrigerators should be thoroughly cleaned and sanitized to prevent contamination of other foods.

What are the symptoms of Listeria?

Listeria infections typically cause fever, muscle aches, and tiredness and may cause stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance, and convulsions. 

Symptoms can occur quickly or take up to 10 weeks after eating contaminated food. 

The infections are dangerous for people older than 65, those with weakened immune systems, and pregnant people, who can have miscarriages. 

This most recent outbreak includes people aged 32 to 94, with a median age of 75. One pregnant person got sick, but retained the pregnancy, officials said. 

The Associated Press and Kelly Hayes contributed to this report. This story was reported from Los Angeles.