Deadly Listeria Outbreak Across 12 States Linked to Deli Meat — Here’s Everything to Know
If you recently purchased deli meat at the counter at your grocery store, please read carefully. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently announced an outbreak of listeria coming from deli meat that has been sliced and packaged at the counter at grocery stores. This particular outbreak has already caused 28 hospitalizations due to illness, and two deaths.
Cases of Listeria have so far been noted in the following 12 states:
- Georgia
- Illinois
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Minnesota
- Missouri
- New Jersey
- New York
- North Carolina
- Pennsylvania
- Virginia
- Wisconsin
According to the CDC, listeria can easily be spread among deli equipment through contaminated surfaces, hands, as well as the food itself. Refrigerating the deli meat will not kill listeria; only reheating deli meat at a high temperature will kill off the germs that are on your meat. The CDC says this disease is particularly harmful for those who are pregnant, are above the age of 65, or have a weakened immune system due to medical conditions or treatments.
If you recently purchased deli meat at the counter at your local grocery store, the CDC says it is best to heat up your sliced deli meat to an internal temperature of 165°F or until it is steaming hot; Listeria easily kills off when heated with food. They also recommend thoroughly cleaning your refrigerator, as well as your containers and surfaces where the meat could have potentially touched, or maybe take this as an opportunity to do a thorough step-by-step deep kitchen clean. Also safely discarding the meat and cleaning surfaces is also an option.
The CDC is constantly updating the public of the most recent hospitalizations and news about the outbreak, as well as how to safely remove these products from your home to avoid this particular disease spreading within your home. If someone you know is experiencing symptoms such as fever, muscle aches, tiredness, headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance, or seizures after consuming deli meat, contact a healthcare provider immediately.