Map shows 13 states with listeria cases linked to Boar's Head recall
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Monday announced an expanded recall of deli meat potentially contaminated with listeria.
The recall comes as investigators look into a food-borne illness outbreak that caused at least two deaths across the nation − one in Illinois and one in New Jersey. The outbreak has also left 33 people hospitalized across 13 states, federal health officials revealed earlier this month.
It also comes as Virginia-based company Boar's Head is recalling more than 7 million pounds of meat and poultry products including beef, bologna, ham, liverwurst and salami. The U.S. Department of Agriculture reported the recall includes 71 Boar’s Head and Old Country items made between May 10 and July 29 .
More than 200,000 pounds of Boar's Head products were already included in a recall last week which included packaged meat and poultry products.
According to the Centers for Disease Control, data shows meats sliced at delis may be contaminated with listeria and may be making people sick. The agency's testing found listeria in an unopened packing of Boar's Head liverwurst as part of the investigation that led to a recall.
"Boar’s Head products are the only products implicated at this point," Melissa Dibble, a CDC spokesperson told USA TODAY Wednesday.
The CDC reported researchers are doing further testing to determine what is making people sick and if other deli meat products are affected.
Map shows which states are affected by listeria outbreak
According to the CDC, 34 people have been sickened across 13 states by a listeria outbreak linked to sliced deli meat.
The map shows where the 34 people in the listeria outbreak lived. The deaths occurred in Illinois and New Jersey, the CDC said. New York has reported the most cases.
Which states were listeria was reported in?
- Georgia
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Missouri
- Minnesota
- New Jersey
- New York
- North Carolina
- Pennsylvania
- Virginia
- Wisconsin
What Boar's Head meat is being recalled?
The Boar's Head products establishment numbers are “EST. 12612” or “P-12612” and are inside the USDA mark of inspection on the product labels.
The products sell-by dates are between July 29 and Oct. 17.
In addition to the U.S., the meat was exported to: the Cayman Islands, Dominican Republic, Mexico, and Panama.
See the full product list and view labels.
Tainted deli meat kills at least 2:Boar's Head recall expands to 7 million pounds of deli meat
Multi-state listeria outbreak expands to 13 states
As of this week, the outbreak had sickened at least 34 in 13 states, causing 33 hospitalizations and two deaths, according to an ongoing investigation by the USDA and Centers for Disease Control (CDC).
The ages of those sickened range from 32 to 94, the CDC is reporting.
What are listeria poisoning symptoms?
Listeria is an organism which can cause serious or fatal infections in children, the elderly, and others with weakened immune systems, according to the FDA.
Healthy people can also suffer symptoms including fever, headaches, nausea, stiffness, abdominal pain and diarrhea, and the infection can also cause miscarriages and stillbirths among pregnant women.
Contributing:Anthony Robledo and Mary Walrath-Holdridge
Natalie Neysa Alund is a senior reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at [email protected] and follow her on X @nataliealund.