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Boar’s Head Meats Recall Announced Amid Listeria Outbreak Investigation
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Boar’s Head Meats Recall Announced Amid Listeria Outbreak Investigation

NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. health authorities on Friday announced a recall of Boar’s Head liverwurst and deli meats as they investigate a listeria outbreak that has sickened nearly three dozen people and killed two.

Boar’s Head Provisions Co. has recalled liverwurst because it may be contaminated with listeria bacteria, the U.S. Department of Agriculture said. The agency said a sample of Boar’s Head liverwurst from a Maryland store tested positive for listeria.

The company is also recalling deli meats that were made on the same line as the contaminated liverwurst at a Virginia plant on the same day, the USDA said. The sample came from an unopened package collected by health officials as part of an investigation into the listeria outbreak.

Health officials say an investigation is underway to determine whether the liverwurst sample is related to the outbreak.

“We are fully cooperating with government authorities and are 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 have been sickened in 13 states, and all but one have been hospitalized. Two people have died — in Illinois and New Jersey. It can take weeks for symptoms to develop, so there could be more cases, officials said.

According to officials, people most often ate turkey, liverwurst and ham from the deli.

Listeria can contaminate food and make people who eat it sick. 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 weakened immune systems.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 1,600 people each year contract listeria food poisoning and about 260 die.

The Boar’s Head recall of more than 200,000 pounds shipped nationwide applies to meat that was sliced ​​at a deli, not pre-packaged meat. It includes several multi-pound packages with a best-by date of Aug. 10, including bologna, garlic bologna, beef bologna, beef salami, Cappy Italian-style ham and Extra Hot Cappy Italian-style ham. Also included is Steakhouse Roasted Bacon Heat and Eat, with a best-by date of Aug. 15.

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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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.