Alabama Publix Locations Remove Boar’s Head Meats Amid Listeria Concerns
Several Publix stores in Alabama have taken Boar’s Head meats off their deli counters following a recall due to a listeria outbreak that has led to two fatalities.
The recall, announced last week, involves Boar’s Head liverwurst and various deli meats, linked to the outbreak. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) confirmed that liverwurst and other meats produced on the same line and day are affected.
At the Publix in Rainbow City, Boar’s Head products were removed as a temporary measure. Social media reports indicate similar actions at Publix stores in Clay and Montclair Place in Birmingham. A Publix spokesperson stated that "a significant amount of Boar’s Head product" from the implicated plant was pulled from delis.
The USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) advises retail delis to clean and sanitize all surfaces and discard any open meats and cheeses, as per Publix’s website announcement.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 34 people in 13 states have reported illnesses related to the listeria outbreak, with two resulting in death.
Products Recalled:
-
Liverwurst: Ready-to-eat products produced between June 11 and July 17 with a 44-day shelf life. The products, shipped to retailers, bear sell-by dates ranging from July 25 to August 30.
- 3.5-lb. loaves in plastic casing or sliced in retail delis, labeled “Boar’s Head Strassburger Brand Liverwurst MADE IN VIRGINIA.”
-
Deli Meats: Produced on June 27 with a sell-by date of “AUG 10.”
- 9.5-lb. and 4.5-lb. packages of “Boar’s Head VIRGINIA HAM OLD FASHIONED HAM”
- 4-lb. packages of “Boar’s Head ITALIAN CAPPY STYLE HAM”
- 6-lb. packages of “Boar’s Head EXTRA HOT ITALIAN CAPPY STYLE HAM”
- 4-lb. packages of “Boar’s Head BOLOGNA”
- 2.5-lb. packages of “Boar’s Head BEEF SALAMI”
- 5.5-lb. packages of “Boar’s Head STEAKHOUSE ROASTED BACON HEAT & EAT”
- 3-lb. packages of “Boar’s Head GARLIC BOLOGNA”
- 3-lb. packages of “Boar’s Head BEEF BOLOGNA”
These products were distributed to retail deli locations nationwide and bear the establishment number “EST. 12612” inside the USDA mark of inspection on their labels.
Listeriosis Symptoms and Risks:
Listeriosis can cause fever, muscle aches, headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance, and convulsions, sometimes preceded by diarrhea or other gastrointestinal symptoms. For pregnant women, the infection can result in miscarriages, stillbirths, premature delivery, or life-threatening infection of the newborn. Older adults and individuals with weakened immune systems are also at risk for serious and sometimes fatal infections.