The deli provider Boar’s Head has recalled 200,000 pounds of meat over listeria concerns, federal health officials said Friday. Suppliers began removing meats from delis as early as this past Wednesday, according to New York city health officials and deli owners.
Still, officials advised those in vulnerable groups to avoid eating deli meats until the recall is complete.
The recall comes as authorities continue to investigate a listeria outbreak connected to deli-sliced meats and centered in New York, New Jersey and Maryland that has caused dozens of illnesses nationwide, and two deaths in New Jersey and Illinois.
People over 65 or pregnant are particularly vulnerable to the effects of listeria, which include pregnancy loss, fever, muscle aches, fatigue and headaches, according to health officials.
“We’re working really hard to get this message out and make sure that [the Boars Head meat products are] removed, but that does take some time,” Vasudha Reddy, deputy director in charge of communicable diseases at the city’s health department, said in a phone interview.
“In the meantime, if you’re in these higher-risk groups it’s a good practice to avoid eating any deli meat,” she said. “If someone in these risk groups wants to eat deli meat, then they should reheat the deli meats to 165 degrees Fahrenheit.”
John Dedvukaj, the owner of Beresha Cafe on Varick Street in SoHo, said that his distributor called on Wednesday to notify him of the recall.
“Boar’s Head came here and said, ‘We got to take back this particular meat because it’s recalled,” he said. “They took it back, they walked out with it.”
Dedvukaj said that the distributor promised repayment for the product.
The managers of two other delis in the neighborhood said they were unaware of the recall.
Dedvukaj said he sold only a few slices of the meat, Virginia ham, before hearing of the recall.
Matthew Katz, a neighborhood resident, canceled his lunch order when told of the recall — “because I don’t want to get sick.”
The U.S. Department of Agriculture said the Boar’s Head recall was issued after liverwurst sampled in Maryland was found to be contaminated with listeria. Boar’s Head recalled all liverwurst in stores along with other meats processed on the same day, which includes hams, bolognas, bacon and salami with sell-by dates earlier than Aug. 30. A full list of recalled products can be found on the USDA’s website.
A spokesperson for the New York state agriculture department, which notifies delis of recalls, did not respond to questions after last week’s outbreak notice nor after Friday’s recall.
The city’s Department of Health advised deli workers to clean deli equipment and consumers to be wary of potential cross-contamination through meat juices. It said people should wash their hands thoroughly and avoid keeping meats in the refrigerator for too long.
“But really the message about Boar’s Head is if you have any of the recalled products in your home, you should throw it out or return it to the place of purchase,” Reddy said.
