Mass. delis closed again as Boar's Head expands meat recall (2024)

Numerous grocery store delis across Massachusetts were closed for the second time in less than a week as a nationwide recall of Boar's Head products that may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes expanded. The Food Safety and Inspection Service announced Tuesday that approximately 7 million additional pounds of ready-to-eat meat and poultry products manufactured by Boar's Head was being recalled. Federal authorities said the expansion includes 71 products produced between May 10, 2024, and July 29, 2024, under the Boar’s Head and Old Country brand names."These items include meat intended for slicing at retail delis as well as some packaged meat and poultry products sold at retail locations," the bulletin said. The problem was discovered when FSIS was notified that a liverwurst sample collected by the Maryland Department of Health tested positive for listeria.Photos from inside one Stop & Shop store showed that most products were removed from the deli cases on Tuesday. Signs on the glass said the deli was closed for a "deep cleaning out of an abundance of caution.""Stop & Shop proactively took action to help safeguard our customers by temporarily closing our delis again (Tuesday) for deep cleaning and sanitization," a written statement from the company said. "Stop & Shop has removed all impacted Boar's Head products from sale. We have also discarded all other open deli meats and cheeses that could have come into contact with the recalled items."Video: What happens when you eat recalled meat? Mass. doctor explainsStop & Shop said delis in the Boston-area had just reopened following deep cleaning and sanitization.Big Y also confirmed that their delis were closed for part of the day in response to the expanded Boar's Head recall. The company said in a statement that all cleaning was completed by 1 p.m. "The safety and well-being of our customers is our top priority," Big Y's statement said. "We have taken steps to break the supply chain including stopping shipments into our stores on any products of concern and sanitizing and deep cleaning all of our kitchen and deli departments again."Delis inside Stop & Shop and Big Y stores were also closed on Friday after the USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service recommended cleaning and sanitization of surfaces in the facilities.Stop & Shop reopened the delis later that evening, saying staff had "completed the process of deep cleaning equipment and removing all impacted products from the Boar's Head recall." Stop & Shop has 125 locations across Massachusetts. Big Y operates about 60 locations in the state.The listeria outbreak linked to the Boar's Head products was first reported two weeks ago. Dozens of people were sickened, with most requiring hospitalization. Two people died.Listeria can contaminate food and sicken people who eat it. Symptoms include fever, muscle aches, nausea and diarrhea. It can be treated with antibiotics, but it is especially dangerous to pregnant women, newborns, the elderly and those with compromised immune systems."Listeria can survive at lower temperatures," Dr. Todd Ellerin with South Shore Health, says. "It can survive in a refrigerators, which is one of the ways we think we keep our food safe."Ellerin says one way to eliminate listeria is through high heat. "If you heat up any of these deli meats to 165 degrees Fahrenheit, that kills the listeria," Ellerin said. Ellerin said customers who purchased other deli meats in stores that sold Boar's Head should also use caution. "There could be cross-contamination, so that equipment in the deli could be infected," Ellerin said. Ellerin said that federal investigators were continuing to investigate the source of the listeria. "It's possible that there's potentially another type of manufacturer or supplier that that has infected deli meat," Ellerin said. Video below: Doctor discusses Listeria contamination of deli meatAn estimated 1,600 people get listeria food poisoning each year and about 260 die, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Recalled product list:Virginia Ham - Whole Virginia Ham - HalfSweet Slice Smoked Uncured Ham - WholeSweet Slice Smoked Uncured Ham - HalfSweet Slice Smoked Uncured Ham - Baby HalfSweet Slice Smoked Uncured HamTavern Ham - HalfTavern Ham - WholeRosemary & Sundried Tomato HamAll Natural Traditional Uncured HamAll Natural Applewood Smoked Uncured HamSmokeMaster Beechwood Smoked Ham - WholeSmokeMaster Beechwood Smoked Ham - HalfBourbonRidge Uncured Smoked HamPeppenero Garlic HamItalian Cappy Ham Italian Cappy Ham - Half Extra Hot Italian Cappy Ham Hot Italian Cappy Style HamGourmet Pepper Brand HamHickory Smoked Roast Uncured HamHickory Smoked Roast Uncured Ham - FoodserviceBrown Sugar & Spice Off the Bone HamRoasted PorkPorchetta Roasted Seasoned Pork - FoodserviceMaple Glazed Roast Pork LoinCanadian Style Uncured Bacon Steakhouse Roasted Slab Bacon Boar’s Head Strassburger Brand LiverwurstPork & Beef Bologna Pork & Beef Bologna – Large Half33% Lower Sodium BolognaGarlic BolognaBeef BolognaSpiced HamHead CheeseOlive Terrine LoafPickle & Pepper Terrine LoafBeef Salami Liverwurst PateUncured Pork & Beef Frankfurters Natural Casing – 8/1Uncured Pork & Beef FrankfurtersUncured Pork & Beef Frankfurters - 14 ozUncured Pork & Beef Frankfurters - 2.5 lbUncured Beef Frankfurters Natural Casing - 8/1Uncured Beef Frankfurters - 4/1Uncured Beef Frankfurters Skinless - 6/1Uncured Beef Frankfurters - 12.5 ozUncured Beef Frankfurters - 14 ozUncured co*cktail FrankfurtersUncured Beef KnockwurstUncured KielbasaBratwurstHot Smoked Uncured SausageRobust Italian All Natural Chicken SausageBlazing Buffalo All Natural Chicken SausageBratwurst All Natural Chicken SausageHoneycrisp Apple All Natural Chicken SausageChorizo All Natural Chicken SausageSmoked Andouille All Natural Chicken Sausage