One New Mexican dead as listeria outbreak tied to popular deli meat brand

Nine people have tragically died following a listeria outbreak linked to Boar’s Head deli meats, federal health authorities reported on Wednesday. The outbreak, which has led to the largest recall of its kind since 2011, has also sickened at least 57 individuals, many of whom required hospitalization.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) confirmed that fatalities have occurred in South Carolina, Florida, New Mexico, Tennessee, New York, Illinois, New Jersey, and Virginia. The CDC also reported that cases began emerging in late May and have continued into August. The source of the outbreak was traced back to a sample of Boar’s Head liverwurst collected in Maryland, which tested positive for the strain of listeria responsible for the illnesses.

Listeria, a resilient bacterium capable of surviving in refrigerated environments, poses a significant risk, particularly to older adults, pregnant women, and those with compromised immune systems. According to the CDC, listeria infections affect approximately 1,600 people annually in the U.S., resulting in about 260 deaths. The symptoms of listeria poisoning can vary, appearing quickly after consumption or taking up to 10 weeks to manifest.

Boar’s Head responded to the outbreak by initiating a recall of over 7 million pounds of deli products, including liverwurst and other meats intended for slicing at deli counters. Initially, the recall targeted products with sell-by dates from late July to the end of August. However, it was soon expanded to include all items produced at the company’s Jarratt, Virginia, facility. These products, which were distributed nationwide and internationally, have since been removed from stores.

The CDC has urged consumers to check their refrigerators for the recalled products, identified by the USDA inspection mark EST. 12612 or P-12612. Affected items should be discarded immediately, and any surfaces they contacted should be thoroughly sanitized.

One of the victims, Gunter “Garshon” Morgenstein, an 88-year-old Holocaust survivor and former celebrity hairstylist, passed away from a listeria-induced brain infection after consuming Boar’s Head liverwurst. His son, Garshon Morgenstein, expressed his grief over the senselessness of the tragedy, emphasizing that his father had “many good years left.” The family has since engaged legal representation to seek justice.

As investigations continue, Boar’s Head remains committed to working with authorities to ensure the safety of its products. The CDC has highlighted the importance of awareness and caution when dealing with potentially contaminated foods.

The New Mexico Department of Health, in a press release, wrote, “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 – which were ordered to be pulled from public sale nationwide by federal health officials last month. Find the full recalled product list here.” 

“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,” it continued.