Boar’s Head meat removed from shelves in New York as listeria investigation continues

Delicatessen supplier Boar’s Head has recalled 200,000 pounds of meat over listeria concerns, federal health officials said Friday. Suppliers already began removing meat from delis last Wednesday, according to New York health officials and deli owners.

Nevertheless, the authorities advised vulnerable groups of people to refrain from consuming sausage products until the recall was completed.

The recall comes as authorities continue to investigate a listeria outbreak linked to cold cuts centered in New York, New Jersey and Maryland. That outbreak has caused dozens of illnesses nationwide and two deaths in New Jersey and Illinois.

According to health authorities, people over 65 and pregnant women are particularly vulnerable to the effects of listeria, which include miscarriages, fever, muscle aches, fatigue and headaches.

“We are working really hard to get that message out and make sure (Boars Head’s meat products) are removed, but that will take some time,” Vasudha Reddy, deputy director of communicable diseases at the city’s health department, said in a phone interview.

“In the meantime, it is advisable for people who belong to these risk groups to avoid eating sausages,” she said. “If someone from these risk groups wants to eat sausages, they should heat them to 74 degrees Celsius.”

John Dedvukaj, owner of Beresha Cafe on Varick Street in SoHo, said his dealer called him Wednesday to inform him of the recall.

“Boar’s Head came here and said, ‘We have to take back this particular meat because it’s been recalled,'” he said. “They took it back and walked out with it.”

Dedvukaj said the dealer promised a refund for the product.

Managers of two other neighborhood delis said they were unaware of the recall.

Dedvukaj said he had sold only a few slices of the meat, Virginia ham, before he heard about the recall.

Matthew Katz, a resident of the neighborhood, canceled his lunch order when he learned of the recall – “because I don’t want to get sick.”

The U.S. Department of Agriculture said the Boar’s Head recall came after a sample of liver sausage in Maryland was found to be contaminated with listeria. Boar’s Head recalled all liver sausage from stores, as well as other same-day processed meats, including ham, deli meats, bacon and salami with a best-before date before August 30. A full list of recalled products can be found on the USDA website.

A spokesman for the New York State Department of Agriculture, which notifies delicatessens of recalls, did not respond to questions following the outbreak announcement last week or the recall on Friday.

The city’s health department advised deli vendors to clean their equipment and consumers to be aware of possible cross-contamination from meat juices. It said people should wash their hands thoroughly and avoid keeping meat in the refrigerator for too long.

“The real message about Boar’s Head, however, is: If you have any of the recalled products at home, throw it away or return it to where you purchased it,” Reddy said.