The deli chain Boar’s Head has recalled 200,000 pounds of meat over concerns about Listeria, federal health officials announced Friday. Suppliers began removing the meat from delis as early as last Wednesday, according to New York City health officials and the deli’s owners.
Still, officials advised people in vulnerable groups not to eat the deli meat until the recall is complete.
The recall has been implemented while authorities continue to investigate. Listeria outbreak linked to sliced deli meats The outbreak has been centered in New York, New Jersey and Maryland, with dozens of cases across the country and two deaths in New Jersey and Illinois.
Health officials say people over 65 and pregnant women are more susceptible to the effects of Listeria, which can include miscarriage, fever, muscle pain, fatigue and headaches.
“We are working hard to get this message out. [the Boars Head meat products are] “It can be removed, but it will take time,” Vasudha Reddy, deputy director of communicable diseases in the city health department, said in a phone interview.
“In the meantime, it would be wise for people in these high-risk groups to avoid eating deli meat,” she said. “If people in these risk groups want to eat deli meat, they should reheat the deli meat to 165 degrees Fahrenheit.”
John Dedovkay, owner of Beresha Cafe on Varick Street in Soho, said he was notified of the recall by the distributor on Wednesday.
“Boar’s Head came here and said, ‘This meat is subject to collection and we have to collect it,'” he said. “They collected it and took it away.”
Dedovkay said the distributor has promised to refund the product.
Managers of two other nearby delis said they were unaware of the recall.
Dedovkay said before he heard about the recall, he only had a few slices of the meat, called Virginia ham, for sale.
Neighborhood resident Matthew Katz canceled his lunch order when he heard about the recall because “I don’t want to get sick.”
The USDA said the Boar’s Head recall was issued after liver sausage harvested in Maryland was found to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. Boar’s Head is recalling all store-bought liver sausage, along with ham, bologna, bacon and salami with a sell-by date before August 30, as well as other meats processed on that date. A full list of recalled products can be found at: USDA website.
A spokesman for the New York State Department of Agriculture, which notifies delis of the recall, did not respond to questions after the outbreak notification last week or after the recall on Friday.
The city health department advised deli workers to keep their equipment clean and warned customers to be aware of possible cross-contamination from meat juices. People should also wash their hands frequently and avoid storing meat in the refrigerator for long periods of time.
“But the real message with Boar’s Head is that if you have any of the recalled products in your home, you should throw them out or return them to the place of purchase,” Reddy said.
