NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. health officials announced Friday a recall of some pig’s head liver and deli meats. Listeria outbreak It sickened nearly three dozen people and caused two deaths.
Pig Head Provisions Co. because it may be contaminated with Listeria bacteria. US Department of Agriculture said. A sample of boar’s head liverwurst from a Maryland store tested positive for listeria, the company said.
The company is also recalling deli-sliced meats made the same day as the contaminated liverwurst at the Virginia plant, the USDA said. The sample was taken from an unopened package collected by health officials as part of an investigation into a Listeria outbreak.
Health officials said testing is underway to determine if a liverwurst sample is linked to the outbreak.
“We are fully cooperating with government authorities and conducting our own investigation into this incident,” the Sarasota, Florida-based company said in a statement.
The listeria outbreak was first reported last week. Since late May, 34 people in 13 states have been sickened, with all but one hospitalized. Two people died – in Illinois and New Jersey. It can take weeks to develop symptoms, so more cases are likely, officials said.
Officials said people commonly eat deli-sliced turkey, liverwurst and ham.
Listeria can contaminate food and patients who eat it. Symptoms include fever, muscle aches, nausea and diarrhea. It can be treated with antibiotics, but it is especially dangerous for pregnant women, newborns, the elderly, and people with compromised immune systems.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1,600 people get sick with listeria food poisoning each year and about 260 die.
The recall of more than 200,000 pounds of hog’s head shipped nationwide applies to meats cut at the deli counter, not prepackaged meats. Several multi-pound packages, including Bologna, Garlic Bologna, Beef Bologna, Beef Salami, Italian Cappy-Style Ham and Extra Hot Italian Cappy-Style Ham, are stamped with the August 10 sell-by date. Steakhouse Fried Bacon Heat and Eat, on sale August 15th.
The company said customers should throw away the recalled products or return them to the store for a refund. Health officials said refrigerators should be thoroughly cleaned to prevent contamination of other foods.
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