Arizona linked to deli meat listeria outbreak; plant report reveals dirty conditions

PHOENIX (AZFamily/AP) — At least one person in Arizona has been sickened by the deadly listeria outbreak involving Boar’s Head deli meat, according to new data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

As of Thursday, at least 57 people have been sickened and hospitalized in the outbreak. The agency said that illnesses were reported starting in late May and have continued into August.

So far, nine people have died due to the outbreak. The new food poisoning toll includes two deaths in South Carolina plus one each in Florida, New Mexico, Tennessee and New York, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said. Three deaths were previously confirmed in people who lived in Illinois, New Jersey and Virginia.

It is the largest listeria outbreak in the U.S. since 2011, and Boar’s Head has recalled more than 7 million pounds of deli products.

Arizona is one of two Western states impacted by the outbreak. New Mexico health officials report at least one person who has fallen ill in connection to the outbreak.

Newly released federal records obtained by CBS News show that USDA inspectors found nearly 70 violations at the Boar’s Head plant in Jarrat, Virginia, over the past year. Those records found mildew, black mold, numerous insect sightings, and even bodily fluids.

“In February, an inspector found ‘ample amounts of blood in puddles on the floor’ and a ‘rancid smell,’” CBS News reported.

Sue Fleming, who spoke to CBS News, said she became violently ill after eating her usual liverwurst sandwich.

“I was concerned, literally, that my bones were going to fly out of my body. That’s how violent the shakes were,” said Fleming.

Fleming was hospitalized for nine days and spent 11 days in rehab. CBS News reported that the couple is now suing Boar’s Head.

Listeria infections are caused by a hardy type of bacteria that can survive and even thrive during refrigeration. According to the CDC, an estimated 1,600 people get listeria food poisoning each year, and about 260 die.

Infections can be hard to pinpoint because symptoms may occur quickly — or up to 10 weeks after eating contaminated food.

The infections are especially dangerous for older people, those who are pregnant or those with weakened immune systems.

The problem was discovered when a Boar’s Head liverwurst sample collected by health officials in Maryland tested positive for listeria. Further testing showed that the type of bacteria was the same strain causing illnesses in people.

Boar’s Head officials originally recalled liverwurst and other products meant to be sliced in retail delis with sell-by dates from July 25 to Aug. 30. On July 29, the recall was expanded to include all foods produced at the firm’s plant in Jarratt, Virginia. The products included those sliced at deli counters and some prepackaged retail sausage, frankfurters and bacon.

Boar’s Head officials said on the company’s website that all the recalled deli meats have been removed from stores and are no longer available. The products were distributed to stores nationwide, as well as to the Cayman Islands, the Dominican Republic, Mexico and Panama, U.S. Agriculture Department officials said.

CDC officials urged consumers to check their refrigerators for the recalled products. Look for EST. 12612 or P-12612 inside the USDA mark of inspection on the product labels, some of which have sell-by dates that extend into October. Discard recalled foods and thoroughly clean and sanitize refrigerator and other surfaces they touched.

Many illnesses caused by food poisoning are short-lived, but listeria infections can have devastating effects.

In Virginia, Gunter “Garshon” Morgenstein, of Newport News, died on July 18 from a brain infection caused by listeria bacteria, an illness that was confirmed to be linked to the contaminated Boar’s Head products.

Morgenstein, 88, was a German-born Holocaust survivor who moved to Canada and then the U.S. as a young man and later became a flamboyant hair stylist, according to his son, Garshon Morgenstein. During his 70-year career, his father styled celebrities such as the singer Tom Jones and was known for his funny, outgoing personality, Garshon Morgenstein said.

Gunter Morgenstein enjoyed liverwurst, usually spread on bagels, and bought it regularly, insisting on the Boar’s Head brand because he believed it was top quality, his son said.

He fell ill in early July and was hospitalized on July 8, eventually becoming so sick that doctors said he suffered permanent brain damage and was unlikely to recover. Family members withdrew life support, his son said.

After Morgenstein’s death, a review of receipts showed that he bought the recalled deli meat tied to the outbreak on June 30. The family has hired a lawyer, Houston-based Ron Simon.

“It’s really just a senseless accident and tragedy for something that just should not have ever happened,” his son said. “He still had many good years left.”

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The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science and Educational Media Group. The AP is solely responsible for all content.

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