What are Listeria? What you need to know
Learn about Listeria, its symptoms and important preventive measures to protect against foodborne illness.
The impact of a listeria outbreak that began on July 19 has escalated and now includes one death in Tennessee.
A total of 18 states have reported cases of listeria. The outbreak has resulted in 57 hospitalizations. The most recent update from the Centers for Disease Control included a single case and death in Tennessee, as well as six additional deaths.
The outbreak is linked to Boar's Head liver sausage products. 3.2 million kilograms of these products were recalled. A class action lawsuit was filed against the company in early August.
Here's what you should know about the outbreak.
Is Tennessee part of the listeria outbreak?
Tennessee is now officially part of the outbreak. The CDC announced that there were six new deaths and 14 new cases as a result of the outbreak. One of those deaths occurred in Tennessee.
South Carolina has the most deaths, with two deaths. There have been nine deaths in total in this outbreak. According to the CDC, this is the largest listeriosis outbreak since a 2011 outbreak linked to cantaloupes.
The countries affected by the outbreak are:
- Arizona: 1 case
- Florida: 3 cases, 1 death
- Georgia: 2 cases
- Illinois: 1 case, 1 death
- Indiana: 1 case
- Maryland: 8 cases
- Massachusetts: 3 cases
- Minnesota: 1 case
- Missouri: 3 cases
- New Jersey: 5 cases, 1 death
- New Mexico: 1 case, 1 death
- New York: 17 cases, 1 death
- North Carolina: 1 case
- Pennsylvania: 2 cases
- South Carolina: 2 cases, 2 deaths
- Tennessee: 1 case, 1 death
- Virginia: 4 cases, 1 death
- Wisconsin: 1 case
Which brands are affected by the listeria outbreak?
The recalled products are the Boar's Head and Old Country brands. The recall was expanded on July 30 to a total of 71 products manufactured between May 10 and July 29. The products' best-before dates range from July 29 to October 17, 2024.
The original list of recalled items included these Boar's Head products.
- Virginia Old Fashioned Ham with best before date August 10th.
- Cappy-style Italian ham with a best-before date of August 10th.
- Extra spicy Italian ham Cappy style with a best before date of August 10th.
- Bologna with best before date 10 August.
- Beef salami with best before date August 10th.
- Steakhouse roasted bacon, ready to heat and eat, with best before date August 15th.
- Garlic Bologna with best before date August 10th.
- Beef Bolognese with best before date August 10th.
An outbreak of insects, mold and mildew occurred at the Boar's Head facility
The Department of Agriculture found insects, mold and mildew at the Boar's Head plant in Virginia that are linked to the listeria outbreak. Inspectors from the Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service reported a total of 69 “violations” last year.
The “non-compliances” listed in the records obtained by CBS News from the USDA include:
- July 25, 2024: A flying insect was spotted near a rack containing 980 pounds of tavern ham.
- July 23, 2024: An inspector discovered “black-looking mold and mildew” and rust under the hand basins.
- July 17, 2024: Three dead insects were found in the Cure Cooler and several more, two of them live, were found in the facility.
- June 10, 2024: “Approximately 15 to 20 flies were observed flying in and out of the 4 tubs of cucumbers in the room” (on the “raw side” of the factory). In other parts of the factory, “small mosquito-like insects were also observed crawling along the walls and flying around the room,” “a steady line of ants… running along the wall-floor junction on the right side of the room,” and 7 ladybirds, 1 beetle-like insect, and 1 cockroach-like insect.
- February 21, 2024: “Large amounts of blood in puddles on the floor” in the cold storage room for raw materials. “There was also a rancid smell in the cold storage room.”
What are the symptoms of listeria infection?
Symptoms of a listeria infection typically appear one to four weeks after eating contaminated food. Those most at risk for listeria infection are pregnant women, people over 65, or people with weakened immune systems.
According to the USDA, symptoms include:
- Fever
- Muscle pain
- Headache
- Stiff neck
- confusion
- Loss of balance
- Cramps
- Diarrhea
- Other gastrointestinal symptoms
- Miscarriage, stillbirth, premature birth and/or life-threatening infection of the newborn
- Death
Which foods are most likely to contain listeria?
The foods most likely to contain listeria are:
- Unpasteurized soft cheese
- Unheated cheese sliced in a delicatessen
- Uncooked delicatessen meats such as cold cuts, hot dogs and fermented or dried sausages
- Ready-made delicatessen salads such as coleslaw and potato, tuna or chicken salad
- Chilled pate or meat spreads
- Chilled smoked fish
- Raw or lightly cooked sprouts
- Sliced melon left for more than two hours
- Store sliced melon in the refrigerator for more than a week
- Raw or unpasteurized milk, yogurt and ice cream
USA TODAY contributed to this report.
