Durham Residents Should Beware Some Sliced Deli Meats [Updated July 31, 2024]

UPDATE: On July 30, the Boar’s Head recall expanded to include about 7 million more pounds of ready-to-eat meat and poultry products. The expansion includes 71 products produced between May 10 and July 29 under the Boar’s Head and Old Country brand names. Sell by dates range from July 29 to Oct. 17.

North Carolina is one of at least 13 states affected by a listeria outbreak linked to meats sliced at deli counters during the past month.

On Friday, Virginia-based Boar’s Head announced it was recalling all liverwurst products “because it may be adulterated with listeria monocytogenes,” according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service. The company’s also recalling other deli meat products produced on the same line and on the same day as the liverwurst. The recall involves about 207,528 pounds of meat.

The Recalled Products

The liverwurst products were produced between June 11 and July 17, with a 44-day shelf life. These were 3.5-pound loaves in plastic casing containing Boar’s Head Strassburger Brand Liverwurst MADE IN VIRGINIA.” Their sell-by dates ranged from July 25 to Aug. 30.

Other ready-to-eat deli meat products were made on June 27 and are subject to recall:

• 4.5-pound and 9.5-pound “Boar’s Head VIRGINIA HAM OLD FASHIONED HAM” with a sell by date of Aug. 10.
• 4-pound, or various weight packages sliced in delis, “Boar’s Head ITALIAN CAPPY STYLE HAM” with a sell by date of Aug. 10.
• 6-pound, or various weight packages sliced in delis, “Boar’s Head EXTRA HOT ITALIAN CAPPY STYLE HAM” with a sell by date of Aug. 10.
• 4-pound, or various weight packages sliced in delis, “Boar’s Head BOLOGNA” with a sell by date of Aug. 10.
• 2.5-pound, or various weight packages sliced in delis, “Boar’s Head BEEF SALAMI” with a sell by date of Aug. 10.
• 5.5-pound, or various weight packages sliced in delis, “Boar’s Head STEAKHOUSE ROASTED BACON HEAT & EAT” with a sell by date of Aug. 15.
• 3-pound, or various weight packages sliced in delis, “Boar’s Head GARLIC BOLOGNA” with a sell by date of Aug. 10.
• 3-pound, or various weight packages sliced in delis, “Boar’s Head BEEF BOLOGNA” with a sell by date of Aug. 10.

The product went to retail deli locations across the country with the establishment number “EST. 12612” inside the USDA mark of inspection on the product labels.

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. At least one of those illnesses was reported in North Carolina.

Samples were collected from sick people from May 29 to July 12. 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, people 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. An invasive infection spreads beyond the gastrointestinal tract. In people who are pregnant, the infection can cause miscarriages, stillbirths, premature delivery or life-threatening infection of the newborn. Serious and sometimes fatal infections can occur in older adults and persons with weakened immune systems. Listeriosis is treated with antibiotics. People 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.

Steps to Take

• Don’t eat recalled deli meats. Throw them away or contact stores about returns.
• Don’t eat other deli meats you get sliced at deli counters unless reheated to an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit.
• Clean your refrigerator, containers, and surfaces that may have touched sliced deli meats.
• Call your doctor immediately if you experience any of these symptoms: fever, muscle aches, and tiredness. Symptoms could also include headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance, or seizures.

Consumers with questions regarding the recall can contact Boar’s Head Provisions Co., Inc., Customer Service at 1-800-352-6277. 

Consumers with food safety questions can call the toll-free USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline at 888-MPHotline (888-674-6854) or send a question via email to MPHotline@usda.gov. For consumers that need to report a problem with a meat, poultry, or egg product, the online Electronic Consumer Complaint Monitoring System can be accessed 24 hours a day at https://foodcomplaint.fsis.usda.gov/eCCF/.