Boar's Head Provisions recalls all liverwurst products due to risk of Listeria Monocytogenes

Boar's Head Provisions Co., Inc., from Jarratt, Va., is recalling all liverwurst product produced by the establishment that is currently available because it may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes (L. monocytogenes), the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced today. The company is also recalling additional deli meat products that were produced on the same line and on the same day as the liverwurst and, therefore, may be contaminated with L. monocytogenes. The company is recalling approximately 207,528 pounds of products. The products subject to recall were distributed to retail deli locations nationwide.

The problem was discovered when FSIS was notified that a sample collected by the Maryland Department of Health tested positive for L. monocytogenes. The Maryland Department of Health, in collaboration with the Baltimore City Health Department, collected an unopened liverwurst product from a retail store for testing as part of an outbreak investigation of L. monocytogenes infections. Further testing is ongoing to determine if the product sample is related to the outbreak. Anyone concerned about illness should contact a healthcare provider.

FSIS is working with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and state public health partners to investigate the multistate outbreak of L. monocytogenes infections linked to meats sliced at delis. As of July 25, 34 sick people have been identified in 13 states, including 33 hospitalizations and two deaths. Samples were collected from sick people from May 29 to July 12. Additional information may be found on the CDC investigation notice, Listeria Outbreak Linked to Meats Sliced at Delis. The investigation is ongoing, and FSIS continues to work with the CDC and state partners.

Consumption of food contaminated with L. monocytogenes can cause listeriosis, a serious infection that primarily affects people who are pregnant, aged 65 or older, or with weakened immune systems. Less commonly, persons outside these risk groups are affected.

Listeriosis can cause fever, muscle aches, headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance and convulsions sometimes preceded by diarrhea or other gastrointestinal symptoms. Also, an invasive infection can spread beyond the gastrointestinal tract. In people who are pregnant, the infection can cause miscarriages, stillbirths, premature delivery or life-threatening infection of the newborn.

In addition, serious and sometimes fatal infections can occur in older adults and persons with weakened immune systems. Listeriosis is treated with antibiotics. Persons in the higher-risk categories who experience flu-like symptoms within two months after eating contaminated food should seek medical care and tell the health care provider about eating the contaminated food.

FSIS is concerned that some product may be in consumers' refrigerators and in retail deli cases. Consumers who have purchased these products are urged not to consume them and retailers are urged not to sell these products with the referenced sell by dates. These products should be thrown away or returned to the place of purchase. Consumers who have purchased these products are also urged to clean refrigerators thoroughly to prevent the risk of cross-contamination.

The Defense Commissary Agency (DeCA) has publicized this recall to all its stores, said Richard Stith, Chief, Public Health Division, DeCA headquarters at Fort Gregg-Adams, Virginia. Whenever a commissary has recalled or withdrawn products in its inventory, they are immediately removed from store shelves.

The following product is affected by this recall:

The products shipped to deli retailers bear establishment number "EST. 12612" inside the USDA mark of inspection on the product labels.

The ready-to-eat liverwurst products were produced between June 11 and July 17 and have a 44-day shelf life. The following liverwurst products are subject to recall:

• Boar's Head Strassburger Brand Liverwurst Made in Virginia: 3.5-lb. loaves in plastic casing, or various weight packages sliced in retail delis. The products shipped to retailers' bear sell by dates ranging from July 25 to Aug. 30 printed on the side of the packaging.

The other ready-to-eat deli meat products were produced on June 27. The following deli meat products are subject to recall:

• Boar's Head Virginia Ham Old Fashioned Ham: 9.5-lb. and 4.5-lb. full product, or various weight packages sliced in retail delis, with the sell by date Aug. 10 on the product packaging.
• Boar's Head Italian Cappy Style Ham: 4-lb. or various weight packages sliced in retail delis, with the sell by date "Aug. 10" on the product packaging.
• Boar's Head Extra Hot Italian Cappy Style Ham: 6-lb. or various weight packages sliced in retail delis, with the sell by date Aug. 10 on the product packaging.
• Boar's Head Bologna: 4-lb. or various weight packages sliced in retail delis, with the sell by date Aug. 10 on the product packaging.
• Boar's Head Beef Salami: 2.5-lb. or various weight packages sliced in retail delis, with sell by date Aug. 10 on the product packaging.
• Boar's Head Steakhouse Roasted Bacon Heat & Eat: 5.5-lb. or various weight packages sliced in retail delis, with the sell by date Aug. 15 on the product packaging.
• Boar's Head Garlic Bologna: 3-lb. or various weight packages sliced in retail delis, with the sell by date Aug. 10 on the product packaging.
• Boar's Head Beef Bologna: 3-lb. or various weight packages sliced in retail delis, with the sell by date Aug. 10 on the product packaging.

To date, no illnesses related to the consumption of this product have been reported. As a precautionary measure, consumers who have purchased the Boar's Head Provisions' liverwurst products are urged to return it to the place of purchase for a full refund.

Consumers with questions regarding the recall can contact Boar's Head Provisions Co., Inc., Customer Service at 1-800-352-6277. Media with questions can contact Elizabeth Ward, Vice President of Communications, Boar's Head Provisions Co., Inc., at [email protected]

For the latest food safety alerts and products recalls affecting military commissaries, visit the Food Recalls page on commissaries.com. For general food safety, go to the Food Safety page.

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