Deli meat sales down on Long Island as listeria outbreak lingers

A listeria outbreak traced to Boar's Head meat products that has left three dead and sickened 43 people — including three on Long Island and 14 across New York — has caused a decline in deli meat sales in the area, local delicatessen and grocery store owners said Monday.

At the same time, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention spokesman Dave Daigle confirmed to Newsday that New York State would be getting "special assistance" from the federal agency, "given the fact that there are several cases of listeria from this outbreak here." He didn't disclose details.

At Jessen’s Delicatessen in West Babylon, which sells only Boar’s Head products — including cold cuts, cheese, sausage and bacon — business hasn't been the same since the outbreak, shop owner John Kramer said Monday.

Sales of all products are down from where they'd normally be this time of the year, he said. In response, the deli is selling a larger selection of alternative items, such as breaded and grilled chicken cutlets, along with chicken salad and egg salad sandwiches.

"We’re probably 75% to where our normal number should be this time of year, which I don’t think is bad considering the circumstances," Kramer said, speaking of the foodborne illness outbreak.

The deli owner added that he has no intention of switching to another brand of deli meat, crediting Boar’s Head with what he called a swift response to the outbreak.

Sales of deli meat, regardless of the brand, are also down at business owner David Mandell’s seven supermarkets, including four Holiday Farms locations and at Locust Valley Market. But Mandell said he's not bothering to put any products on sale to attract customers back to the deli counter. At this point, he said, it would be ineffective.

"If you’re worried about listeria, I don’t think you’re going to buy it, no matter what the price," Mandell said of deli products. "Customers are just sort of giving it a rest and letting things play out a little bit." 

Even supermarket chain King Kullen, which has been selling Boar’s Head products for nearly three decades, is feeling the pinch.

"While the recalled items represent less than 5% of our deli department sales, the recall has impacted the sale of all cold cuts," the Hauppauge-based company said in a statement Monday. "To continue to serve our customers, we have temporarily sourced new suppliers to meet the demand for the more popular items on the recall list."

Since late July, Boar's Head has recalled more than 7 million pounds of deli meat after the contamination was traced to its plant in Jarratt, Virginia. They include 71 items produced at the facility between May 10 and Aug. 5 under the Boar’s Head and Old Country brand names, such as liverwurst, ham, bologna, salami, bacon, uncured kielbasa, frankfurters and sausages.

About 1,600 people nationwide get sick from listeria each year and about 260 die, according to the CDC. The deaths connected to this outbreak have occurred in Virginia, Illinois and New Jersey.

Symptoms of severe illness usually start one to four weeks after eating contaminated food but may start as early as the same day or as late as 70 days after, according to the CDC.  

Listeria generally affects pregnant women, the elderly and the immunocompromised, said Dr. Bruce Farber, Northwell Health's chief of public health and epidemiology, who specializes in infectious disease.

Farber added Monday that many healthy people who ingested the tainted foods may have been asymptomatic or experienced gastric distress, but then recovered quickly. 

"Most people who eat it will not get ill at all," Farber said. "A group of people may have limited gastritis, but it’s impossible to distinguish between other gastric distress."  

Mild symptoms may include a fever, muscle aches, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

But if a more severe form of the disease listeriosis develops, symptoms may include headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance, and convulsions. It also can lead to miscarriages in some pregnancies, according to the FDA.

"The immunocompromised, elderly, pregnant and neonates can get very sick and die," said Farber, who suspects the outbreak will end as the contaminated meats disappear from the food chain. 

U.S. Sen. Chuck Schumer said Sunday he would fight what he called an attempt by political opponents in the House of Representatives to slash the CDC's budget by 22% during the outbreak.

Economics aside, some Long Island shoppers seemed to be taking the outbreak and product recall in stride Monday.  

"I’m not concerned," Jill Nickolson, 59, of Dix Hills, said Monday outside ShopRite in Deer Park. "If the supermarket has it, it’s going to be fine."

Kenny Gottesman, 55, of Deer Park, said he usually eats the Boar’s Head products that were recalled and has switched to a different variety of the brand.

But Josephine Schmidt, 75, of Center Moriches, said she isn't buying Boar's Head products anymore.

"My husband has a disability," Schmidt said outside a Farmingdale food store. "I don't need any more trouble than what I've got."