As the tally of those stricken in a nationwide listeria outbreak tied to recalled Boar's Head deli meat rises, federal health officials are urging Americans to check their refrigerators for the products, some with sell-by dates into October. The largest such outbreak since one linked to cantaloupes more than a decade ago has killed at least nine people and hospitalized 57 in 18 states, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said in an update on Wednesday. The Sarasota, Florida-based deli meat and cheese company last month expanded its recall to include more than 3,600 tons of ready-to-eat meat and poultry products sold under the Boar's Head and Old Country brands.
Records released by the U.S. Department of Agriculture disclosed unappetizing conditions at the Boar's Head plant in Jarratt, Virginia, where the implicated products were produced.
USDA inspectors found mold, mildew and insects throughout the facility, which has suspended operations for now. Here's a rundown of what happened and what people should know: A Boar's Head liverwurst sample tested positive for the outbreak strain of listeria in testing last month by the Maryland Department of Health, prompting the expanded recall . The 18 states where the 57 cases in the latest outbreak took place include Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Missouri, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia and Wisconsin.
The f.