NEW YORK (1010 WINS/WCBS 880) -- Boar's Head has recalled more than 200,000 pounds of deli meat products as federal health officials investigate whether they're linked to a multi-state listeria outbreak that has left two people dead and dozens sickened, including in New York and New Jersey.
The liverwurst was recalled because it may be tainted with the listeria bacteria, and other deli meats were recalled because they were produced on the same line and on the same day as the liverwurst.
A total of 207,528 pounds of Boar's Head products have been recalled, the U.S. Department of Agriculture said, including the liverwurst, as well as types of ham, bologna, salami and bacon. A full list of the recalled deli meats is at the bottom of this story.
The recall is classified as High-Class I by the USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service—"a health hazard situation in which there is a reasonable probability that eating the food will cause health problems or death."
The products subject to recall were distributed to retail deli locations nationwide and bear establishment number “EST. 12612” inside the USDA mark of inspection on the product labels.
As of July 25, 34 people have fallen ill across 13 states—including New York and New Jersey—since late May. There have been 33 hospitalizations and two deaths linked to the outbreak. New York has reported seven illnesses, the most of any state.
According to the USA, the issue was discovered after a sample of Boar's Head liverwurst from a Maryland store tested positive for listeria. The sample was from an unopened package, collected by the Maryland Department of Health as part of an investigation into the ongoing outbreak.
The USDA is working with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and state public health partners to see if the recalled liverwurst is linked to the multi-state listeria outbreak, which was announced last week.
Consumption of food contaminated with the bacteria Listeria monocytogenes can cause listeriosis, a serious infection that primarily affects people who are pregnant, aged 65 or older, or with weakened immune systems.
Listeria can contaminate food and sicken people who eat it. Symptoms include fever, muscle aches, nausea and diarrhea. It can be treated with antibiotics, but it is especially dangerous to pregnant women, newborns, seniors and those with compromised immune systems.
According to the USDA, the Boar's Head recall includes ready-to-eat liverwurst products produced between June 11 and July 17, 2024, as well as other deli meats produced on June 27, 2024. See the USDA's full alert page.
Here's a list of the Boar's Head deli meats that were recalled:
• 3.5-pound loaves in plastic casing, or various weight packages sliced in retail delis, containing “Boar’s Head Strassburger Brand Liverwurst MADE IN VIRGINIA.” The products shipped to retailers bear sell by dates ranging July 25, 2024, to Aug. 30, 2024, printed on the side of the packaging.
• 9.5-pound and 4.5-pound full product, or various weight packages sliced in retail delis, containing “Boar’s Head VIRGINIA HAM OLD FASHIONED HAM” with sell by date “AUG 10” on the product packaging.
• 4-pound, or various weight packages sliced in retail delis, containing “Boar’s Head ITALIAN CAPPY STYLE HAM” with sell by date “AUG 10” on the product packaging.
• 6-pound, or various weight packages sliced in retail delis, containing “Boar’s Head EXTRA HOT ITALIAN CAPPY STYLE HAM” with sell by date “AUG 10” on the product packaging.
• 4-pound, or various weight packages sliced in retail delis, containing “Boar’s Head BOLOGNA” with sell by date “AUG 10” on the product packaging.
• 2.5-pound, or various weight packages sliced in retail delis, containing “Boar’s Head BEEF SALAMI” with sell by date “AUG 10” on the product packaging.
• 5.5-pound, or various weight packages sliced in retail delis, containing “Boar’s Head STEAKHOUSE ROASTED BACON HEAT & EAT” with sell by date “AUG 15” on the product packaging.
• 3-pound, or various weight packages sliced in retail delis, containing “Boar’s Head GARLIC BOLOGNA” with sell by date “AUG 10” on the product packaging.
• 3-pound, or various weight packages sliced in retail delis, containing “Boar’s Head BEEF BOLOGNA” with sell by date “AUG 10” on the product packaging.