27 TONS of charcuterie meat recalled over fears they are contaminated with listeria

More than 50,000 pounds of deli meat is being recalled nationwide over potential listeria contamination.

The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) issued a recall of eight products on Sunday, including popular brands such as Boar’s Head and Meijer.

The goods were sold in stores across the US between December 23, 2022 and January 17, 2023.

No adverse events have yet been linked to the contaminated meats, but customers who bought the products with a USDA EST.54 inspection label are being advised to return them or throw them away.

Listeria is a bacterial infection often associated with dairy products – like ice cream – and deli meats. It can be deadly to pregnant women, newborns and the elderly.

Potentially contaminated products were manufactured between May 23 and November 25 of last year, the USDA says in a release.

In total, 52,914lbs of the meat were affected, the equivalent of around 26 tons.

During a routine inspection, the USDA’s food safety division discovered the presence of listeria on surfaces in Daniele International facilities in Rhode Island.

There have been no cases of listeria – or any other illnesses – yet linked to the contamination.

A DailyMail.com request for comment from three affected brands – Meijer, Boar’s Head and Del Duca – was not immediately replied to. 

Listeria can occur after a person eats food contaminated by the bacteria.

Cases are most common in foods such as raw vegetables, meat and unpasteurized milk. 

In rare cases, a person can even be infected after coming in contact with a contaminated animal. 

Patients who have Listeria in their intestines can suffer diarrhea and vomiting, with symptoms beginning within 24 hours of catching it.

But in cases where the bacteria spreads to the rest of the body it can trigger fever, muscle aches, fatigue and headaches.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that up to a third of people infected will die of the disease in any given year, with older people and those with a weakened immune system at higher risk.

About 1,600 Americans are diagnosed with the disease annually. It is responsible for 260 deaths.

Recalls caused by listeria contamination are not rare, with the USDA, CDC and Food and Drug Administration reporting multiple outbreaks yearly. 

While a majority of cases can be treated at home with limited medical intervention, a patient will be treated with antibiotics in more severe cases.

The infection can cause the development of meningitis, where the tissue around the spinal cord begins to swell. This is usually how the bacteria causes death.