On July 26th, Boar’s Head Provisions Company recalled three RTE cold meat products. This action followed trace back as a result of an outbreak of listeriosis to the Jarratt, VA. plant operated by the company. The Maryland Department of Health demonstrated Listeria monocytogenes in a sample of liverwurst that was identical on whole genome sequencing with isolates from patients.
As of July 30th, 34 patients were identified in 13 states requiring 33 hospitalizations but with two fatalities. Illnesses were reported from late May to mid-July resulting in CDC issuing a food safety alert. The original recall involved three products including liverwurst produced on a specific line. It is obvious that more detailed environmental sampling revealed more extensive contamination. Accordingly, the Company has now recalled a total of 3,500 tons of cold cuts. Predictably, lawsuits have been filed and apart from the cost of the recall, Boar’s Head Provision has experienced degradation of brand image and extensive costs for litigation and settlement.
The actual number of those infected has yet to be determined but this may be delayed given the prolonged incubation period for listeriosis extending to 70 days. Many of those exposed will not seek medical attention as listeriosis is a mild infection in healthy individuals but is especially serious in the elderly, the immune-suppressed and in pregnant women.
Listeria, for which there is a zero tolerance, can colonize a dairy, meat plant or a facility packing green produce. Prevention of outbreaks includes a program of surveillance coupled with decontamination of equipment including meat slicers and food contact services. A comprehensive and continuous monitoring program for Listeria in the environment of the plant and assay of retention samples of meat and dairy products should be a standard procedure to detect possible contamination.