Food

Mass. grocery store deli departments close again due to Listeria outbreak

Stop & Shop and Big Y grocery stores temporarily shut down their deli counters on Tuesday to remove all potentially contaminated products.

Big Y and Stop & Shop locations in Massachusetts shut down their deli counters to combat the outbreak.

July 30, 2024

Grocery stores across Massachusetts temporarily closed down their deli counters for a second time in less than a week amid a nationwide recall of certain Boar’s Head products.

Boar’s Head originally recalled their liverwurst product for Listeria contamination on July 25, but extended the recall to eight other products “out of an abundance of caution” a day later.

Stop & Shop and Big Y locations across the state removed all meat from their deli counters for deep cleaning, the grocery chains said in separate statements.

“Stop & Shop proactively took action to help safeguard our customers by temporarily closing our delis again today for deep cleaning and sanitization,” a spokesperson for the grocery chain said.

They also discarded all open deli meats and cheeses that may have been cross contaminated with recalled items.

Big Y stores temporarily closed their deli counters to “destroy all potentially impacted products,” as well as conduct a deep clean and sanitization of the deli department.

“We have stopped shipment into our stores on any products of concern at this time,” said senior director of fresh foods at Big Y John Fraro. “To make sure we are breaking the supply chain, we will also be disposing of all product that may have come in contact with the affected products.”

Both chains shut down their deli counters on Friday after the announcement of the initial recall, WCVB reported, but later reopened.

The Center for Disease Control says the outbreak has spread to 13 states. Two people have died due to the bacteria this year, one in Illinois and one in New Jersey, the CDC said.

Listeria is especially harmful for pregnant people and those 65 and older, the CDC says. Symptoms include fever, muscle aches, tiredness, headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance, or seizures. For those who are pregnant, Listeria can cause premature birth or pregnancy loss.