Recall of Boar’s Head Meats at Safeway Store in San Rafael, California

On July 31, 2024, a recall notice was posted at a Safeway store in San Rafael, California next to Boar’s Head meats. The recall was prompted by a listeria outbreak, leading to an expanded recall of nearly 7 million additional pounds of ready-to-eat meat and poultry products. This was in addition to the 200,000 pounds of products removed earlier in the week linked to the same listeria outbreak. The initial recall of 100 tons of Boar’s Head products was issued by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) after at least two deaths and 34 hospitalizations in 13 states due to potentially tainted meat.

The expanded recall included 71 products intended to be sliced at delis, as well as some packaged meat made between May 10 and July 29 under the Boar’s Head and Old Country brand names. This included various meat products such as Virginia ham, beef salami, and bologna processed at a Boar’s Head facility in Jarratt, Va. The problem was discovered when a liverwurst sample collected by the U.S. Department of Agriculture in Maryland tested positive for listeria. Further testing confirmed that the bacteria matched the strain causing illnesses in the nationwide outbreak.

As a response, Boar’s Head announced that it has taken steps to protect public health, including halting production of ready-to-eat foods at their plant. The recalled meat was distributed to stores nationwide, as well as to the Cayman Islands, the Dominican Republic, Mexico, and Panama. Consumers were advised not to eat the recalled products and to discard them or return them to stores for a refund. Health officials also recommended thoroughly cleaning and sanitizing refrigerators to prevent the contamination of other foods.

Listeria food poisoning is a serious concern, with an estimated 1,600 people affected each year and about 260 deaths. The symptoms typically include fever, muscle aches, and tiredness and may lead to severe complications, particularly for older individuals, those with weakened immune systems, and pregnant women. Symptoms can occur quickly or up to 10 weeks after consuming contaminated food.