A recent outbreak of the deadly virus listeria in Boar’s Head cold-cut meats has spread throughout the country and at Fordham University. While the official list from Boar’s Head is consistently under revision, the vast majority of Boar’s Head’s ham, bologna, frankfurter, sausage and Old Country line products have been placed on recall, and all customers who purchased these goods prior to July 31, 2024, have been urged to dispose of them, as they pose a risk of carrying the harmful bacteria.
While the outbreak was initially detected in May, the majority of Americans were only made aware of the phenomenon in early July, when the company finally named “listeria” as an official cause for the recall of Boar’s Head products. The listeria outbreak has been traced to a Boar’s Head factory in Jarratt, Va., which now holds several noncompliance reports and violations from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food Safety & Inspection Service.
“The Jarratt, Virginia meat plant linked to the deadly outbreak had 69 recorded instances of noncompliance over the last 12 months, including mold, insects, blood puddles on the floor, discolored meat and fat buildup on the walls, floors and equipment, and a ‘rancid smell’ coming from a cooler,” said Mary Kekatos of ABC News in her recent article. As August came to a close, 57 total cases of listeria were reported throughout the United States, nine of which were fatal. All 57 of these cases ended in hospitalization. Most notably, New York currently holds the highest number of cases, with 17 total, which has raised concern among members of the Fordham community, particularly first-year students who have just arrived on campus.
Several members of the Fordham community voiced their opinions on the issue. Ethan Michel, GSB ’28, initially discovered information about the outbreak through an article he stumbled upon. Considering how sought-after Boar’s Head products are in most Americans’ homes, Michel was surprised such noteworthy violations of health and safety code would be underway at the Virginia factory.
“I was shocked to find out that Boar’s Head factory had such terrible conditions,” said Michel when asked about his opinion on the outbreak. He has yet to return to Rose Hill’s The Grotto previously known as “Boar’s Head Deli,” which was known for selling a plethora of Boar’s Head’s most popular products since the day he found out about the rampant listeria among these meats.
While Michel expressed some heavy concern with the issue, other members of the Fordham community who were not necessarily regulars of these products were less worried about possible negative side effects. Aarav Trehan, GSB ’28, also described how he felt about the outbreak from the perspective of someone who does not eat cold cuts: “Personally, I feel safe eating from Boars Head because I don’t get cold cuts… For a person who does, I’d just avoid it for a while. Any Boar’s Head meat from July was tainted.”
As of this past week, the Boar’s Head Deli in Queen’s Court has suspended the majority of its menu on GrubHub and is offering similar sandwiches to Cosi. Additionally, Super Best Deli, a local establishment, has put up signs that warn customers of the potential threat. The signs appear to be directly from Boar’s Head; no signs have been spotted on Fordham’s campus. The University hasn’t released a statement regarding the outbreak.
Fordham’s food safety specialist, Toyin Akinfeleye, and food service director, Quamine Graham both declined to comment on the issue.
