Boar's Head deli meats recalled amid listeria outbreak. What to know in Tennessee

Jordan Green and Rin Velasco, USA TODAY NETWORK

A recent listeria outbreak took the Eastern part of the country by storm, but what caused the infection?

Over the past month, 34 people have been infected with listeria. While it was not named as the specific cause of the outbreak, there is has been a recall for Boar's Head deli meats.

The United States Department of Agriculture's food safety service announced last Friday that deli meat supplier Boar's Head is recalling liverwurst products due to possible degradation.

"The company is also recalling additional deli meat products that were produced on the same line and on the same day as the liverwurst and, therefore, may be adulterated with L. monocytogenes," the announcement said. "The company is recalling approximately 207,528 pounds of products."

What brands are involved in the listeria outbreak?

This image shows the label of the Boar's Head liverwurst products being recalled after some of them tested positive for listeria. The liverwurst is among 207,000 pounds of deli meats processed at a Boar's Head facility in Virginia that the USDA has ordered recalled.
This image shows the label of the Boar's Head liverwurst products being recalled after some of them tested positive for listeria. The liverwurst is among 207,000 pounds of deli meats processed at a Boar's Head facility in Virginia that the USDA has ordered recalled.

Boar's Head is recalling over 200,000 pounds of product because of possible degradation by the infection causing bacteria, listeria monocytes.

There will be a recall of liverwurst products as well as:

  • Virginia Old Fashioned Ham with sell by date of Aug. 10.

  • Italian Cappy Style Ham with sell by date of Aug. 10.

  • Extra Hot Italian Cappy Style Ham with sell by date of Aug. 10.

  • Bologna with sell by date of Aug. 10.

  • Beef Salami with sell by date of Aug. 10.

  • Steakhouse Roasted Bacon Heat and Eat with sell by date of Aug. 15.

  • Garlic Bologna with sell by date of Aug. 10.

  • Beef Bologna with sell by date of Aug. 10.

Is Tennessee part of the listeria outbreak?

Tennessee is not part of the most recent listeria outbreak. There are 12 states that have been affected, but most are between the Northeast and the Midwest. According to the CDC, the last reported case of Listeria was on July 12.

States affected by the outbreak are:

  • Georgia: two cases

  • Illinois: one case, one death

  • Indiana: one case

  • Massachusetts: two cases

  • Maryland: six cases

  • Minnesota: one case

  • Missouri: two cases

  • New Jersey: two cases, one death

  • New York: twelve cases

  • North Carolina: one case

  • Pennsylvania: one case

  • Wisconsin: one case

  • Virginia: two cases

Symptoms of listeria

Symptoms of listeria typically start one to four weeks after eating contaminated foods. The people at most risk from listeria are those who are pregnant, over 65 or have a compromised immune system.

The most common symptoms for listeria are:

  • Headaches

  • Stiff neck

  • Confusion

  • Loss of balance and convulsions

  • Fever

  • Muscle aches

What foods are most likely to be contaminated with listeria?

The foods most likely to develop listeria are:

  • Unpasteurized soft cheeses

  • Unheated cheeses sliced at a deli

  • Unheated deli meat such as cold cuts, hot dogs and fermented or dried sausages

  • Premade deli salads such as coleslaw and potato, tuna or chicken salad

  • Refrigerated pate or meat spreads

  • Refrigerated smoked fish

  • Raw or lightly cooked sprouts

  • Cut melon left out for more than two hours

  • Cut melon in the refrigerator for more than a week

  • Raw or unpasteurized milk, yogurt and ice cream

This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Listeria outbreak: Boar's Head deli meats recalled. What to know

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