HARTFORD, CT (WFSB) – Connecticut’s senior senator called for an investigation into the handling of a Boar’s Head listeria outbreak.
Sen. Richard Blumenthal and David Shapiro, MD, chief medical officer atSt. Francis Hospital in Hartford, held a news conference on Thursday morning.
Blumenthal demanded an investigation into the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s handling of repeated sanitary violations found at the Boar’s Head plant in Virginia.
Boar’s Head has been at the center of a listeria outbreak.
In July 2024, Boar’s Head recalled nearly 7 million pounds of deli products, which prompted the closure of deli counters across the U.S., including at Big Y and Stop & Shop stores in Connecticut.
Blumenthal said the USDA failed to take strong enforcement action against Boar’s Head, even after it logged 69 instances of ‘noncompliance’ with federal rules in the past year.
He said the inaction led to at least 57 hospitalizations and nine deaths across 18 states.
There are still no reported cases in CT, but it can take weeks for symptoms of listeria to develop.
“Know that listeria can be an infection that presents very quickly after being exposed, or it can take several weeks. So if you have any symptoms, and they include flu-like symptoms, including fever, body aches, sore back, and sore head. Abdominal problems including nausea and vomiting as well as diarrhea. If you have any of these symptoms, please see your provider as soon as you can,” said Dr. David Shapiro, Chief Medical Officer, St. Francis.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently reported that it expected more people to become sick.
Blumenthal said he planned to send a letter to Inspector General Phyllis Fong of the USDA to urge the investigation.
Deli owners in Connecticut say they are confident in Boar’s Heads response.
They say right when the outbreak occurred, sales representatives physically showed up to their delis and made sure everything was properly cleaned.
Sen. Richard Blumenthal and David Shapiro, MD, chief medical officer at St. Francis Hospital in Hartford, held a news conference on Thursday morning.
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