NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Big Y Supermarkets is closing its deli counters for deep cleaning after an outbreak of listeria in one of the meat brands it sells. 

 

Boar's Head Provisions Co. Inc. is recalling all liverwurst product produced by the establishment because it may be adulterated with Listeria monocytogenes, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced on Friday. The company is also recalling additional

deli meat products produced on the same line and day as the liverwurst as it may also

be impacted.

 

The USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) recommends retail delis clean and sanitize all food and non-food surfaces and discard any open meats and cheeses in the deli. As a result, Big Y will be closing delis temporally to destroy all potentially impacted products, deep clean and sanitize the departments. 

 

"We have stopped shipment into our stores on any products of concern at this time," said John Fraro, senior director of fresh foods at Big Y. "We are taking these steps out of an abundance of caution for our customers' safety. To make sure we are breaking the supply chain, we will also be disposing of all product that may have come in contact with the affected products. We will continue to be vigilant and take precautions to prevent future incidents."

 

FSIS is concerned that some products may be in consumers' refrigerators and in retail deli cases. Consumers who have purchased these products are urged not to consume them and retailers are urged not to sell these products with the referenced sell by dates.

 

These products should be thrown away or returned to the place of purchase. Consumers who have purchased these products are also urged to clean refrigerators thoroughly to prevent the risk of cross-contamination.

 

The ready-to-eat liverwurst products were produced between June 11, 2024, and July 17, 2024. The following liverwurst products are subject to recall:

 

• 3.5-lb. loaves in plastic casing, or various weight packages sliced in retail delis, containing "Boar's Head Strassburger Brand Liverwurst MADE IN VIRGINIA." The products shipped to retailers have sell by dates ranging July 25, 2024, to Aug. 30, 2024, printed on the side of the packaging.

 

The other ready-to-eat deli meat products were produced on June 27, 2024. The following deli meat products are subject to recall:

 

• 9.5-lb. and 4.5-lb. full product, or various weight packages sliced in retail delis, containing "Boar's Head VIRGINIA HAM OLD FASHIONED HAM" with sell by date "AUG 10" on the product packaging.

 

• 4-lb., or various weight packages sliced in retail delis, containing "Boar's Head ITALIAN CAPPY STYLE HAM" with sell by date "AUG 10" on the product packaging.

 

• 6-lb., or various weight packages sliced in retail delis, containing "Boar's Head EXTRA HOT ITALIAN CAPPY STYLE HAM" with sell by date "AUG 10" on the product packaging.

 

• 4-lb., or various weight packages sliced in retail delis, containing "Boar's Head BOLOGNA" with sell by date "AUG 10" on the product packaging.

 

• 2.5-lb., or various weight packages sliced in retail delis, containing "Boar's Head BEEF SALAMI" with sell by date "AUG 10" on the product packaging.

 

• 5.5-lb., or various weight packages sliced in retail delis, containing "Boar's Head STEAKHOUSE ROASTED BACON HEAT & EAT" with sell by date "AUG 15" on the product packaging.

 

• 3-lb., or various weight packages sliced in retail delis, containing "Boar's Head GARLIC BOLOGNA" with sell by date "AUG 10" on the product packaging.

 

• 3-lb., or various weight packages sliced in retail delis, containing "Boar's Head BEEF BOLOGNA" with sell by date "AUG 10" on the product packaging.

 

The products subject to recall were distributed to retail deli locations nationwide. The products shipped to deli retailers bear establishment number "EST. 12612" inside the USDA mark of inspection on the product labels.

 

Consumption of food contaminated with L. monocytogenes can cause listeriosis, a serious infection that primarily affects people who are pregnant, aged 65 or older, or with weakened immune systems. Less commonly, persons outside these risk groups are affected.

 

Listeriosis can cause fever, muscle aches, headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance and convulsions sometimes preceded by diarrhea or other gastrointestinal symptoms. An invasive infection spreads beyond the gastrointestinal tract. In people who are pregnant, the infection can cause miscarriages, stillbirths, premature delivery or life-threatening infection of the newborn. In addition, serious and sometimes fatal infections can occur in older adults and persons with weakened immune systems.

 

Listeriosis is treated with antibiotics. Persons in the higher-risk categories who experience flu-like symptoms within two months after eating contaminated food should seek medical care and tell the health-care provider about eating the contaminated food.

 

Consumers with questions regarding the recall can contact Boar's Head Provisions' Customer Service at 1-800-352-6277.