Check Your Fridge: CDC Reports 9 Deaths and 57 Hospitalizations Linked to Deli Meat Recall

The recall of Boar's Head deli meat continues. On Aug. 28, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued an update on the ongoing recall, which has resulted in dozens of illnesses and some deaths due to the listeria outbreak linked to deli meats.

Since the last update on August 8, the total number of hospitalizations has gone up to 57, and nine deaths have been reported. Per the CDC, this is the largest listeriosis outbreak since the 2011 outbreak linked to cantaloupe.

To protect yourself from possible listeria contamination, check your refrigerator for any recalled Boar's Head products, which have a long shelf life. Look for "EST. 12612" or "P-12612" printed inside the USDA mark of inspection on the product labels. Some of the recalled products have sell by dates into October 2024.

If the deli meats are still in your possession, throw them away immediately or return them to the place of purchase. After discarding the products, thoroughly clean your refrigerator, containers, and any surfaces that may have touched sliced deli meats.

Listeria is a bacteria that can cause severe illness, known as listeriosis, when it spreads beyond the gut to other parts of the body. Symptoms include fever, muscle aches, diarrhea, and stomach pain. Per the CDC, symptoms of severe illness usually start one to four weeks after eating food contaminated with listeria, but may start earlier or later.