Foodborne illness
Boar's Head Listeria Outbreak (2024): What Happened and Your Legal Rights
In 2024, a Listeria outbreak linked to meats sliced at deli counters, including Boar's Head brand liverwurst, sickened people in 19 states. The outbreak is over. Here is what federal health and food-safety officials reported, and how a claim works in New York.
By Michael A. Licatesi · Published · Updated
The short answer
- CDC reported 61 people sick in 19 states, 60 hospitalized and 10 deaths, including two in New York. CDC has declared the outbreak over; its last investigation update was November 21, 2024.
- Boar's Head recalled about 207,528 pounds of liverwurst and other deli meats on July 26, 2024, then expanded the recall on July 30, 2024, to about 7 million more pounds covering 71 products.
- A claim generally depends on a Listeria diagnosis and evidence linking the illness to the recalled food. Not everyone who ate deli meat in 2024 has a claim.
- In New York, most personal injury claims must be filed within three years, and wrongful death claims within two years of death. Some of these deadlines from 2024 may already be close or past.
This article describes a past outbreak using public CDC and USDA records. It is not medical advice and does not mean any particular person has a claim.
What happened: the official timeline
May 29 - Sept. 13, 2024
What happened Samples from sick people were collected during this period
Source CDC
July 19, 2024
What happened CDC investigation began
Source CDC
July 26, 2024
What happened Boar's Head recalled all liverwurst then in commerce, about 207,528 pounds of products, along with other deli meats made on the same line and day
Source USDA FSIS
July 30, 2024
What happened Recall expanded by about 7 million pounds: 71 products made between May 10 and July 29, 2024, under the Boar's Head and Old Country brands
Source USDA FSIS
Nov. 21, 2024
What happened CDC's latest investigation update: 61 cases, 60 hospitalizations, 10 deaths in 19 states; outbreak over
Source CDC
| Date | What happened | Source |
|---|---|---|
| May 29 - Sept. 13, 2024 | Samples from sick people were collected during this period | CDC |
| July 19, 2024 | CDC investigation began | CDC |
| July 26, 2024 | Boar's Head recalled all liverwurst then in commerce, about 207,528 pounds of products, along with other deli meats made on the same line and day | USDA FSIS |
| July 30, 2024 | Recall expanded by about 7 million pounds: 71 products made between May 10 and July 29, 2024, under the Boar's Head and Old Country brands | USDA FSIS |
| Nov. 21, 2024 | CDC's latest investigation update: 61 cases, 60 hospitalizations, 10 deaths in 19 states; outbreak over | CDC |
CDC said epidemiologic, laboratory and traceback data showed that meats sliced at deli counters, including Boar's Head brand liverwurst, were contaminated with Listeria and made people sick. CDC also noted that the true number of sick people was likely higher than reported, because some people recover without medical care and are not tested.
What was recalled
According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS):
- July 26, 2024 recall. All liverwurst produced by the company's Jarratt, Virginia establishment that was still in commerce, plus other deli meat products made on the same line and day. The liverwurst was produced between June 11 and July 17, 2024, and shipped to retailers with sell-by dates from July 25 to August 30, 2024.
- July 30, 2024 expansion. About 7 million additional pounds of ready-to-eat meat and poultry products: 71 products produced between May 10 and July 29, 2024, under the Boar's Head and Old Country brand names, including meat intended for slicing at retail delis and some packaged products, with sell-by dates from July 29 through October 17, 2024.
The recall covered specific products and production dates from one plant. It did not mean every product sold under those brands was unsafe. All of the recalled products have long since passed their sell-by dates.
Who is most at risk from Listeria
CDC explains that Listeria is especially harmful to people who are pregnant, aged 65 or older, or have a weakened immune system, because the infection is more likely to spread beyond the gut. In pregnancy, Listeria can cause pregnancy loss, premature birth or a life-threatening infection in a newborn, and older adults and people with weakened immune systems are often hospitalized.
CDC says symptoms usually start within two weeks after eating contaminated food but may start as early as the same day or as late as 10 weeks after. Even when there is no ongoing outbreak, CDC advises people in these higher-risk groups to avoid deli meat or reheat it to an internal temperature of 165°F or until steaming hot.
Legal options in New York
People made seriously ill by contaminated food may have a product liability claim against the companies that made or sold it. To pursue one, the injured person generally needs to show that they had a Listeria infection, that it came from the contaminated product and what losses resulted. Laboratory testing, medical records and proof of what was eaten and where it was bought are usually central.
Families who lost someone may have a wrongful death claim, which is brought by the personal representative of the estate. Because the public outbreak counts include confirmed cases only, a person's own medical records matter more than whether they appear in a public tally.
Step 1
Records to gather
- Medical records showing a Listeria diagnosis, including blood or other lab test results, hospitalization and treatment
- Receipts, store loyalty or card statements, photos or packaging showing what deli meat was bought, where and when
- Any notice from a health department or doctor connecting the illness to the outbreak
- Records of medical bills, lost income and, for a family, funeral expenses
Step 2
Check the deadline now
In New York, most personal injury lawsuits must be started within three years under CPLR 214. For injuries caused by the latent effects of exposure to a substance, CPLR 214-c can start the clock from when the injury was discovered or should have been discovered, with its own conditions. Wrongful death claims generally must be brought within two years of death under EPTL 5-4.1. Because this outbreak happened in 2024, some deadlines may be near, so get the timeline reviewed promptly.
Frequently asked questions
No. CDC has declared the outbreak over. Its latest investigation update, dated November 21, 2024, reported 61 cases, 60 hospitalizations and 10 deaths in 19 states.
CDC reported 10 deaths: one each in Illinois, New Jersey, Virginia, Florida, Tennessee and New Mexico, two in New York and two in South Carolina.
It is much harder. A claim usually depends on medical evidence of a Listeria infection and proof connecting it to the recalled food. A lawyer can review what records exist.
No. The recall covered liverwurst and specific products made at the Jarratt, Virginia plant within stated production dates, including 71 products under the Boar's Head and Old Country names in the July 30, 2024 expansion.
Generally three years for personal injury and two years from death for wrongful death, with some exceptions such as CPLR 214-c for certain latent exposure injuries. Since the outbreak was in 2024, check the deadline promptly.
Related guides
Sources
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