CENTRAL VALLEY – The U.S. Department of Agriculture has announced a recall of certain deli meat products produced by Boar’s Head that were sold in Fresno and Visalia. The issue was first identified in late July when liverwurst samples tested positive for Listeria monocytogenes in Massachusetts. Affected products have a sell-by date ranging from July 30, 2024, to Oct. 17, 2024.
The products were distributed nationally and internationally to hundreds of stores and to deli’s serving prepared food products. According to the USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service, 71 products are known to be contaminated.
Boar’s Head products sold locally include those with production dates of June 11 to July 17 and sell-by dates of July 25 to Aug. 30, many of which are believed to have been distributed and may still be in storage. Other products include the Strassburger Liverwurst and products in plastic casings intended for retail distribution by delis.
Listeria monocytogenes, a pathogenic bacteria, can cause symptoms ranging from mild to severe, with an average of 260 deaths reported in the U.S. every year. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) reports the current outbreak has been identified in at least 33 states with two reported deaths.
Most affected people will experience symptoms of fever, muscle aches, headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance and convulsions sometimes preceded by diarrhea or other gastrointestinal symptoms. Symptoms can take up to two months to develop.
People most at risk include pregnant women and individuals who are 65 or older. The infection can cause miscarriages, stillbirths, premature birth and death of the fetus. Older people can experience severe infections that can be fatal. The bacteria is treated with antibiotics.
The FSIS recommends that consumers who identify products within the date range should discard the items or return them to the place of purchase. Refrigerators should be thoroughly cleaned and sanitized. Delis identifying the products should clean preparation surfaces.
Consumers with concerns can contact Boar’s Head Provisions, Inc., at 1-800-352-6277 or the USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline at 1-888-674-6854. Anyone experiencing symptoms should seek medical care and can report instances to the Electronic Consumer Complaint Monitoring System at foodcomplaint.fsis.usda.gov/eCCF 24 hours per day.
Locations believed to have received or distributed contaminated products in Fresno include:
- Market Deli, at 7088 N. West Ave. in Fresno
- Piemonte’s Italian Deli, at 616 E. Olive Ave. in Fresno
- Sam’s Italian Deli, at 2415 N. First St. in Fresno
- Sprouts, at 7477 N. Blackstone Ave. in Fresno
- Vons, at 5638 E. Kings Canyon Rd. in Fresno
- Vons, at 8949 N. Cedar Ave. in Fresno
The only location known in Visalia is Sprouts, at 3501 S. Mooney Blvd. There are additional locations in Merced and Clovis.
