Food safety alert
This outbreak is over. Even when there are no ongoing Listeria outbreaks, people who are pregnant, aged 65 or older, or have a weakened immune system should avoid deli meat or reheat it to an internal temperature of 165°F or until steaming hot to kill any germs.
Fast Facts
United States
- Cases: 61
- Hospitalizations: 60
- Deaths: 10
- States: 19
This outbreak is over. Even when there are no ongoing Listeria outbreaks, people who are pregnant, aged 65 or older, or have a weakened immune system should avoid deli meat or reheat it to an internal temperature of 165°F or until steaming hot to kill any germs.
What you should do
For people who are generally healthy and not at higher risk of serious infection
- Do not eat recalled meats. Throw them away or contact stores about returns.
- Check your refrigerator for any recalled deli meats and throw them away or return them to the store. Listeria can grow on foods kept in the refrigerator.
- Clean your refrigerator, containers, and surfaces that may have touched recalled meats.
What people at higher risk should do
Listeria is especially harmful if you are pregnant, are aged 65 or older, or have a weakened immune system due to certain medical conditions or treatments. Other people can be infected with Listeria, but they rarely become seriously ill.
If you are pregnant, aged 65 or older, or have a weakened immune system:
- Avoid eating deli meat or reheat it to an internal temperature of 165°F or until steaming hot to kill any germs. If you prefer, you can let it cool before eating it.
- Take steps to prevent getting sick from Listeria.
Learn which foods are more likely to have Listeria and choose safer food options.
What businesses should do
- Always follow USDA-FSIS best practices for controlling Listeria contamination in deli areas.
Symptoms of Listeria
- Listeria is especially harmful to people who are pregnant, aged 65 or older, or with weakened immune systems. This is because Listeria is more likely to spread beyond their gut to other parts of their body, resulting in a severe condition known as invasive listeriosis.
- For people who are pregnant, Listeria can cause pregnancy loss, premature birth, or a life-threatening infection in their newborn.
- For people who are 65 years or older or who have a weakened immune system, Listeria often results in hospitalization and sometimes death.
- For people who are pregnant, Listeria can cause pregnancy loss, premature birth, or a life-threatening infection in their newborn.
- Symptoms usually start within 2 weeks after eating food contaminated with Listeria but may start as early as the same day or as late as 10 weeks after.
- Pregnant people usually have fever, muscle aches, and tiredness.
- People who are not pregnant usually have fever, muscle aches, and tiredness. They may also get a headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance, or seizures.
- Pregnant people usually have fever, muscle aches, and tiredness.
- For more information about Listeria, see the About Listeria Infection page.