Nantucket Deli Counters Close Amid Mainland Listeria Outbreak

A 13-state listeria outbreak that has killed two and sickened dozens prompted Nantucket Stop & Shop locations to remove certain deli products and prepared foods from shelves Friday morning.

Boar's Head issued a recall on liverwurst products Friday after a sample tested positive for the bacteria and has also recalled a series of other potentially impacted products including ham, bologna, and bacon. One analysis also suggested a potential connection to sliced turkey, and many grocery chains have taken preventative steps to prevent further infections.

“Stop & Shop has removed all impacted products from sale both in stores and online,” the company wrote in a statement. “In an abundance of caution, because this product is sliced in stores, Stop & Shop has also discarded all other open deli meats and cheeses that could have been sliced or prepared in the same area and is conducting a thorough cleaning of the deli area and equipment.”

There are no reported cases on Nantucket at this time - as confirmed by both Nantucket Cottage Hospital and the Nantucket Health Department - but customers who consumed potentially tainted food should monitor themselves for symptoms for the next two months. Symptoms include headaches, neck stiffness, confusion, loss of balance, convulsions, fever and muscle aches. Listeria can be deadly and is especially dangerous for individuals who are immunocompromised, elderly or pregnant.

Any potentially contaminated products should be discarded, and customers should clean their refrigerators after disposing of the tainted meats. Stop & Shop is offering full refunds to any customer who has purchased an affected product.

There are several listeria outbreaks each year in the United States, often linked to sliced deli meats and cheeses, with the most recent occurring early last April.

A full list of affected products is available below:

• Boar's Head Strassburger Brand Liverwurst
• Boar's Head Virginia Ham Old Fashioned Ham
• Boar's Head Italian Cappy Style Ham
• Boar's Head Extra Hot Italian Cappy Style Ham
• Boar's Head Bologna
• Boar's Head Beef Salami
• Boar's Head Garlic Bologna
• Boar's Head Beef Bologna