NEW YORK —
Tragedy has struck as a minimum of nine individuals have lost their lives due to listeria infections linked to Boar’s Head deli meats, which were part of a substantial recall last month, as reported by federal health authorities on Wednesday.
The updated count of food poisoning victims includes two fatalities in South Carolina and one each in Florida, New Mexico, Tennessee, and New York, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Earlier, three deaths were confirmed in Illinois, New Jersey, and Virginia.
The outbreak has resulted in at least 57 people falling ill and being hospitalized. The reported illnesses began in late May and have persisted into August, making it the largest listeria outbreak in the U.S. since 2011. In response, Boar’s Head has recalled over 7 million pounds of deli products.
Listeria infections are triggered by a resilient strain of bacteria that can withstand and even flourish in refrigerated conditions. The CDC estimates that around 1,600 people contract listeria food poisoning annually, with approximately 260 succumbing to the infection. The infections can be challenging to trace as symptoms can manifest rapidly or up to 10 weeks post-consumption of contaminated food.
The infections pose a significant risk to the elderly, pregnant individuals, and those with compromised immune systems.
The issue came to light when a sample of Boar’s Head liverwurst, collected by health officials in Maryland, tested positive for listeria. Subsequent testing revealed that the bacteria strain was identical to the one causing illnesses in people.
Initially, Boar’s Head recalled liverwurst and other products intended for slicing at retail delis with sell-by dates from July 25 to Aug. 30. On July 29, the recall was broadened to encompass all foods produced at the company’s plant in Jarratt, Virginia. The recall included products sliced at deli counters and some prepackaged retail sausage, frankfurters, and bacon.
Boar’s Head officials have confirmed on the company’s website that all the recalled deli meats have been withdrawn from stores and are no longer available. The products were distributed nationwide and also to the Cayman Islands, the Dominican Republic, Mexico, and Panama, as per U.S. Agriculture Department officials.
The CDC has urged consumers to inspect their refrigerators for the recalled products. They should look for EST. 12612 or P-12612 inside the USDA mark of inspection on the product labels, some of which have sell-by dates that extend into October. Any recalled foods should be discarded, and the refrigerator and any other surfaces they touched should be thoroughly cleaned and sanitized.
While many illnesses caused by food poisoning are short-lived, listeria infections can have catastrophic consequences.
In Virginia, Gunter “Garshon” Morgenstein, a resident of Newport News, passed away on July 18 due to a brain infection caused by listeria bacteria. His illness was confirmed to be linked to the contaminated Boar’s Head products.
Morgenstein, 88, was a German-born Holocaust survivor who migrated to Canada and then the U.S. as a young man. He later became a flamboyant hair stylist, as per his son, Garshon Morgenstein. During his 70-year career, he styled celebrities such as singer Tom Jones and was known for his humorous, outgoing personality.
Morgenstein was fond of liverwurst, usually spread on bagels, and bought it regularly, preferring the Boar’s Head brand due to its perceived superior quality. He fell ill in early July and was admitted to the hospital on July 8. His condition deteriorated to the point where doctors said he had suffered permanent brain damage and was unlikely to recover. His family decided to withdraw life support.
Post Morgenstein’s death, a review of receipts revealed that he had purchased the recalled deli meat linked to the outbreak on June 30. The family has since hired a lawyer, Houston-based Ron Simon.
“It’s really just a senseless accident and tragedy for something that just should not have ever happened,” his son said. “He still had many good years left.”
The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science and Educational Media Group. The AP is solely responsible for all content.
Agree terrible news, hope they find a solution soon.
Agree, this is concerning news.
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