What is listeria that has forced a US company to recall 7 million pounds of meat?

US is facing one of the worst listeria outbreaks since 2011. Nine people have died so far already while about 50 others have been hospitalised since May when the initial cases began registering. Now, popular food brand Boar’s Head has recalled more than seven million pounds of its deli meats as 18 states face symptoms from listeria monocytogenes infections.

The Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) had earlier asked Boar’s Head to recall liverwurst products but later extended it to all the products leading to recalling seven million pounds of meat over 71 different products. These include ready-to-eat meat, as well as meat sliced at deli counters, and poultry. According to the CDC, listeria poisoning is caused by a particularly resilient type of bacteria that can survive and grow even during refrigeration.

Here is all you need to know about the deadly outbreak. How is listeria found in deli meat? Listeria can be found in moist places like soil, decaying vegetation and even water which is carried by animals. When these animals are taken to food processing plant the bacteria spreads in the place and can be hard to eradicate.

These often spread food is harvested, processed, transported or stored. Many of the people in the outbreak reported eating meats sliced at grocery store deli counters. During the investigation, listeria was detected in an unopened loaf of Boar’s Head liverwurst at a Maryland store; the Agriculture Department said further testing showed the s.