2022 Outbreak of Listeria Infections Linked to Deli Meats and Cheese

Deli meats (cold cuts, lunch meats, hot dogs, and pâtés) and deli-sliced cheeses are known sources of Listeria illnesses. This is because Listeria can easily spread among food, food preparation surfaces like deli slicers, and hands. Listeria is a hardy germ that can be difficult to fully remove once it is present in a deli or a food processing facility. It can survive and grow at cold temperatures in a refrigerator.

Data showed that deli meat and cheese bought at deli counters in multiple states were the likely sources of this outbreak.

• Of 12 people interviewed, 11 reported eating meat or cheese from deli counters.
• The outbreak strain of Listeria was found in open packages of mortadella, ham, and salami sliced at the deli, as well as a deli in Brooklyn, New York.

A single deli or food source was not identified. It is difficult for investigators to identify the specific source of outbreaks linked to deli meats and cheeses. This is because Listeria spreads easily between food and the deli environment, and it can live for a long time in deli display cases and on equipment. A contaminated food likely introduced the outbreak strain of Listeria into delis in multiple states.

Listeria is especially harmful if you are pregnant, aged 65 or older, or have a weakened immune system due to certain medical conditions or treatments. Other people can be infected with Listeria,but they rarely become seriously ill.

If you are pregnant, aged 65 or older, or have a weakened immune system:

• Reheat deli meat and deli-sliced cheese to an internal temperature of 165°F or until steaming hot to kill any germs.
  • If you prefer, you can let it cool before eating it.
  • You can also choose safer cheese options that don’t need to be reheated. This includes hard cheeses (like cheddar and parmesan) that aren’t from the deli counter, feta, string cheese, cottage cheese, and cream cheese.
• Take steps to prevent getting sick from Listeria.
  • Learn which foods are more likely to have Listeria, and choose safer food options.
  • Follow CDC on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter to stay up to date on multistate foodborne outbreaks.

• Follow USDA-FSIS best practices for controlling Listeria contamination in deli areas.

• Listeria is especially harmful to people who are pregnant, aged 65 or older, or have weakened immune systems. This is because Listeria is more likely to spread beyond their gut to other parts of their body, resulting in a severe condition known as invasive listeriosis.
  • For people who are pregnant, Listeria can cause pregnancy loss, premature birth, or a life-threatening infection in their newborn.
  • For people who are 65 years or older or who have a weakened immune system, Listeria often results in hospitalization and sometimes death.
• Symptoms usually start within 2 weeks after eating food contaminated with Listeria, but may start as early as the same day or as late as 10 weeks after.
  • Pregnant people usually have fever, muscle aches, and tiredness.
  • People who are not pregnant usually have fever, muscle aches, and tiredness. They may also get a headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance, or seizures.
• For more information about Listeria, see the Listeria Questions and Answers page.