Listeria Outbreak: CDC Warns Public To Throw Away Hard-Boiled Eggs Purchased Recently

Over 1,600 people develop Listeria and about 260 of them die every year. Although people become ill with this serious infection after consuming contaminated food, it is more likely to affect pregnant women, their newborns and older adults aged 65 or older and those with weakened immune systems.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) warned the public to get rid of certain hard-boiled egg products purchased in the last couple of months over a recent Listeria outbreak.

Although they mentioned that the outbreak itself has been resolved, experts warn that some people might still be having some of those contaminated eggs which could potentially infect them, SLASH GEAR mentioned.

Here’s what the CDC advises the customers, retailers, and foodservice operators:

• Do not consume, sell or serve any recalled hard-boiled egg products
• Throw away all the hard-boiled egg products which had ‘Best If Used By’ dates through March 2, 2020.
• They are past their shelf life and shouldn’t be sold
• Check refrigerators, storage coolers for the recalled products and get rid of them immediately
• Wash and sanitize all surfaces that might have come in contact with the recalled egg products.
• Use extra vigilance in sanitizing and cleaning
• In case you have consumed a recalled egg product, contact a healthcare provider immediately, especially if you are experiencing symptoms of Listeria including fever, diarrhea, fatigue, headaches, stiff neck and muscle aches.

Listeria is a bacterial infection and most people recover from it. But, it can be quite dangerous for pregnant women and the elderly. It is mostly contracted from unpasteurized dairy and deli meats. The CDC’s food safety alert published a week ago, it was mentioned that a multi-state Listeria outbreak was linked back to hard-boiled egg products sold by Almark Foods.

8 cases were reported during the outbreak, most of which involved hospitalizations but one patient died. Although the outbreak seemed to have ended as of the safety alert’s publication, the CDC warns that some people might still possess these recalled products in their refrigerator. The FDA has mentioned a list of the recalled egg products on its website including the details and brand names of such products.