The CDC has posted notice of a Listeria outbreak linked to deli meat and cheese. The investigation is ongoing, and no specific product(s) have been identified. Therefore, there is no recall at this time.
It may be difficult to identify a single food as the source of the outbreak because Listeria can cross-contaminate other foods and the deli environment, and it can persist in the environment for a long time. The first case linked to this outbreak was identified in April 2021, and the most recent was September 29, 2022.
Following is a summary of the outbreak as of November 9, 2022.
Statistics:
- Sixteen people have been identified in this outbreak, residing in 6 states: California (1); Illinois (2); Maryland (3); Massachusetts (2); New Jersey (1); New York (7).
- One death (Maryland resident) and one miscarriage are linked to this outbreak.
- To date, all ill persons are adults over 38 years of age.
- At least 11 of the 16 people affected are of Eastern European background or are Russian speaking.
Investigation details:
- The first case in this outbreak was sampled April 17, 2021.
- Eleven of the 16 cases occurred in 2021.
- Five of the people involved in the outbreak bought deli meat/cheese from the same NetCost Market in Brooklyn.
- In 2021, NY health officials found this outbreak strain of Lm in both environmental and food samples collected from NetCost Markets in Brooklyn and Staten Island.
- In Sep 2022, the same outbreak strain was found at the Brooklyn NetCost Market.
- Because some of the sick people never shopped at a NetCost Market, and the cases are separated by distance, it is likely that a contaminated food product introduced the Listeria outbreak strain into delis in multiple states.
CDC Recommendation to the Public:
- You are at higher risk for severe Listeria illnessif you are pregnant, aged 65 or older, or have a weakened immune system due to certain medical conditions or treatments. If you are in any of these groups, do not eat meat or cheese from any deli counter, unless it is reheated to an internal temperature of 165°F or until steaming hot.
- If you are not in these higher risk groups, you are unlikely to get very sick from Listeria.
Note to retailers:
Full details on this investigation can be found at CDC Listeria Outbreak Deli
- Remember to review your Listeria control protocols and ensure all cleaning and sanitization procedures are being properly followed.
For Your Information:
At this time, there is another Listeria outbreak linked to Brie and Camembert cheese sold at 80 stores in 8 states. This product has been identified by brand(s) and has been recalled. Be aware there has been some media confusion regarding these 2 outbreaks. Full details regarding this outbreak and the list of recalled products and locations where they were sold can be found at:
