Death linked to nationwide deli meat outbreak

The death of an elderly Bernalillo County woman has been connected to a multistate outbreak of Listeria caused by Boar’s Head brand deli meats.

Dozens of the brand’s varieties were ordered pulled from public sale nationwide by federal health officials last month.

Listeria is a bacterial infection from contaminated foods that can cause intestinal illness.

“In most cases, people exposed may experience no more than mild gastrointestinal illness,” said Dr. Miranda Durham, chief medical officer of the New Mexico Department of Health. “However, people aged 65 or older, pregnant people or people with weakened immune systems are at higher risk for serious illness.”

The discovery of severe Listeria-related illnesses nationwide led to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to open an investigation in mid-July.

Boar’s Head brand deli meats have since been linked to 57 Listeria cases in 18 U.S. states. All 57 people were hospitalized with eight deaths reported, including the death in New Mexico.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture reports show that inspectors notified managers at the Boar’s Head plant in Virginia of one or more “noncompliances” on 57 separate days between Aug. 1, 2023, and July 27, 2024.

Among the issues cited were “dirty” machinery, flies in pickle containers, “heavy meat buildup” on walls, blood in puddles on the floor, and multiple instances of leaking pipes, clogged drains and heavy dust buildup in certain areas, reported the Washington Post.

The New Mexico Environment Department reports Boar’s Head deli meats have been removed from all New Mexican grocery stores on the manufacturer’s distribution list.

NMHealth asks residents to check their homes for any remaining recalled Boar’s Head products since they can have a long shelf-life. Look for “EST. 12612” or “P-12612” inside the USDA mark of inspection on the product labels. Some of the products have sell by dates into October 2024.

In addition:

— Do not eat the recalled deli products. Throw them away or contact stores about returns.

— Clean your refrigerator, containers, and surfaces that may have touched sliced deli meats.

— Call your healthcare provider if you have symptoms of Listeria and recently ate meats sliced at deli counters.

— Businesses that received recalled meats should take extra precautions like cleaning and sanitizing and throwing away opened sliced meats and cheeses at delis. Businesses should also follow United States Department of Agriculture Food Safety and Inspection Services’ best practices for controlling Listeria contamination in deli areas.

New Mexico residents with questions about the deli meat recall, Listeria or other health-related questions are encouraged to call the NMHealth Helpline at 833-SWNURSE (833-796-8773). The Helpline is staffed by nurses for health questions, healthcare connections and medical provider support daily, including holidays.