Another person has died in connection with a listeria outbreak linked to a Boar’s Head plant in Virginia.
The U.S. Centers for Disease and Control Prevention (CDC) reported Wednesday that the death toll from the outbreak has risen to 10 people, with one death reported in New York since the department’s last update on the matter in August.
Two additional illnesses have also been reported since August, bringing the total to 59 people infected and hospitalized from the outbreak. The illnesses span 19 states, and deaths have been reported in Illinois, New Jersey, New York, Virginia, Florida, Tennessee, New Mexico and South Carolina.
The outbreak led Boar’s Head to indefinitely close the deli meat plant in Jarratt, Virginia, and discontinue its production of liverwurst, which the company said in a statement earlier this month was the root cause of the listeria contamination affecting millions of pounds of its products.
Shelves sit empty where Boar’s Head meats are usually displayed at a Safeway store in San Anselmo, California, on July 31. A 10th person has died in connection with a listeria outbreak stemming from Boar’s…
Shelves sit empty where Boar’s Head meats are usually displayed at a Safeway store in San Anselmo, California, on July 31. A 10th person has died in connection with a listeria outbreak stemming from Boar’s Head liverwurst produced at a plant in Virginia.
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Inspection records released in August showed that the Jarratt plant was plagued with “noncompliance” issues, with government inspectors reporting violations including mold and “heavy discolored meat buildup” on the walls, floors and equipment.
Listeria infections typically remain in the gut and lead to food poisoning symptoms, such as diarrhea and vomiting. The CDC said in its update on Wednesday that the “true number of sick people” is likely much higher than what has been reported, given that some people may recover from listeria without medical care.
Symptoms of listeria infections often take three to four weeks to present themselves after eating a contaminated item, the CDC said. Listeria is the third leading cause of death from foodborne illness in the United States, accounting for approximately 1,600 infections and 260 deaths annually.
Those who have been treated for listeria infections range in age from 32 to 95. The CDC said that state and local health officials are interviewing those who tested positive for listeria about the foods they ate in the month before showing symptoms. Of the 47 people officials interviewed, 94 percent said they ate meats sliced at a deli, and 19 people reported eating a Boar’s Head brand of liverwurst.
Listeria can easily spread among deli equipment and surfaces, meaning that products sliced at the same deli as the contaminated Boar’s Head products could also carry the bacteria.
In the company’s update on September 13, Boar’s Head said that the outbreak is “a dark moment in our company’s history, but we intend to use this as an opportunity to enhance food safety programs not just for our company, but for the entire industry.”
Newsweek reached out to Boar’s Head media team via email on Thursday for additional comment.
Several steps have been taken to “enhance food safety and quality measures” at Boar’s Head since the first recall notice was issued, in July. The measures include the company appointing a new chief food safety and quality assurance officer and establishing a food safety council that consists of independent food safety experts.
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Publish date : 2024-09-26 09:51:00
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