A nationwide listeria outbreak tied to Boar’s Head deli meat has claimed its 10th victim, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced Wednesday.
A New York resident is the latest to die in what has become the largest US outbreak of the foodborne illness since 2011. The outbreak has sickened at least 59 people across 19 states, all of whom have been hospitalized.
The CDC also reported two additional hospitalizations, bringing the total number of those affected since late May to 59. The listeria cases are linked to contaminated liverwurst produced at Boar’s Head’s Jarratt, Virginia, plant, which has since been shut down. The plant was cited for serious health and safety violations, including mold, rusted equipment, and unsanitary conditions, in the two years leading up to the outbreak.
The outbreak has been responsible for deaths in eight states, including Illinois, New York, Virginia, and South Carolina. Boar’s Head, a Florida-based company, announced it would indefinitely close the Virginia plant and permanently discontinue its liverwurst production. In July, the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) suspended inspections at the facility after the company recalled more than 7 million pounds of deli meats due to potential contamination.
Food safety experts have criticized the plant’s prolonged operation despite repeated health violations, and Boar’s Head faces multiple lawsuits from families affected by the outbreak. The company issued an apology, stating it was implementing comprehensive measures to prevent future contamination.
Listeria infections are particularly dangerous for older adults, pregnant women, and immunocompromised individuals. The bacteria can thrive in refrigerated conditions, and symptoms can take up to 10 weeks to appear after consuming contaminated food. Federal health officials warned that additional cases may emerge, as some products with long shelf lives could still be in consumers’ homes.
The Associated Press, New York Post, and the Washington Post contributed to this report.
