Lawmakers push for accountability after 10th death linked to Boar’s Head listeria outbreak

A death in New York has been linked with a listeria outbreak connected to recalled Boar’s Head deli meat, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Wednesday. A total of 59 people have been hospitalized with the outbreak strain of bacteria in 19 states, and 10 of them have died.

A death in New York has been linked with a listeria outbreak connected to recalled Boar’s Head deli meat, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Wednesday. A total of 59 people have been hospitalized with the outbreak strain of bacteria in 19 states, and 10 of them have died. However, the actual number of cases is most likely higher because it can take up to 10 weeks for symptoms of listeria infection to begin, the agency noted. Some people who get ill recover without being tested for listeria and it usually takes weeks to link an illness with an outbreak. In a letter sent Thursday to the US Department of Agriculture and Department of Justice, Sen. Richard Blumenthal and Rep. Rosa DeLauro asked the agencies to work together to determine whether Boar’s Head should face criminal charges related to the outbreak. “It is unacceptable that Boar’s Head did not take sufficient action to rectify these conditions that resulted in repeated violations for similar issues,” the Connecticut Democrats wrote in their letter to Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and Attorney General Merrick Garland. “The time for action is long overdue, and we urge your agencies to work together to seek immediate justice for impacted consumers and to prevent this from happening again.” Boar’s Head announced this month it would discontinue sales of liverwurst after an investigation found that its production process was the root of the listeria contamination. The company said it is closing the Virginia plant that produced meat tied to the outbreak and implementing a companywide food safety program. USDA Food Safety Inspection Service reports from the facility described dozens of violations, including insects, mold, “blood in puddles on the floor” and a “rancid smell in the cooler” at various points since 2022. Another report from 2022 cited “major deficiencies” with the plant’s physical conditions — rusty equipment, peeling and flaking paint, loose caulk, holes in walls, product residue on surfaces and dripping condensation — that posed an “imminent threat.” The reports said plant management was notified and directed to take corrective action.