Deli meat being slicedShare on Pinterest
Deli meats sliced at the counter have been linked to a Listeria outbreak that led to two deaths and 33 hospitalizations. GMVozd/Getty Images
  • The U.S. Department of Agriculture Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced a recall of over 7 million pounds of Boar’s Head products on July 30 amid a Listeria outbreak.
  • Deli meats sliced at the counter have been linked to the outbreak, which led to two deaths and 33 hospitalizations, according to the CDC.
  • You should avoid unheated deli meat if you are pregnant, age 65 or older, or have a weakened immune system.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced a nationwide recall on July 30 for more than 7 million pounds of Boar’s Head products that may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes.

The new recall includes 71 deli meats and some packaged meat and poultry products manufactured between May 10 and July 29 by Boar’s Head and Old Country. It is an expansion of a recent recall of more than 200,000 pounds of Boar’s Head liverwurst and other deli meat products.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)Trusted Source, a Listeria outbreak in the United States has resulted in two deaths, 34 reported illnesses, and 33 hospitalizations across 13 states. The number of Listeria infections may be higher than reported.

The CDC warns that Listeria is a bacteria that causes a foodborne illness called listeriosis, which is particularly dangerous for pregnant people and other high risk groups.

The affected individuals span from the Midwest to the East Coast, with lab samples collected between May 29 and July 12. In interviews, most people reported eating deli-sliced meats, particularly turkey, liverwurst, and ham.

Dr. Brian Labus, PhD, MPH, an assistant professor in the Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, University of Nevada Las Vegas, cautioned that certain individuals face a higher risk of severe illness from Listeria.