[Stu from NYC]

Never been a fan of boars head. Much better ways to get good NY style deli meats

[ithos]

Originally Posted by Boomer

Spinach killed in 2006. Romaine and cantaloupe have been guilty, too. I know awful things can happen with the food industry but according to reports, violations were obvious at that Virginia plant. Where was the plant manager?

Boar’s Head has spent a fortune building its brand — which I admit had lulled me into a false sense of security on the rare occasion when I bought “lunch meat” — as we from my neck of the woods call it.

It will be a very long time before I get past this, if ever.

Was Boar’s Head cutting corners with employees and production while directing money into branding?

Boar’s Head had even built a rather elitist mode into certain grocery chains, where Boar’s Head was available only in specific neighborhoods. That big, price-gouging chain that is based in Ohio — and is trying to get even bigger — is known to have varying levels of stores depending on the net worth of the neighborhoods. There was a time when not every store in the chain was entitled to Boar’s Head. Might still be that way……And now, here it is….

The emperor is stark nekkid.

Even though this killer outbreak was supposedly confined to certain versions of the Boar’s Head products from one plant, I cannot help but think this mess will take its toll on the charcuterie fad…..

Charcuterie is everywhere now……

with books with pictures of veritable works of art (which the first person in line wrecks)

— and pretty boards and tiny dishes and fancy jams and every kind of olive imaginable and every shape of crackers, gluten-free and otherwise…..

and — starring processed meats!

Charcuterie boards surely have been a boon to the mystery meat business.

Will we ever look at charcuterie boards in the same way?

Or can the cheese stand alone and carry on, with all that pretty stuff around it. No meat in sight, for a while, anyway.

Boar’s Head, you will find out how far your half-assedness is going to reach.

Boomer

Plants and crops can be contaminated by organic fertilizers like manure or compost that carry animal pathogens such as E. coli, Salmonella, or Listeria. Also by water containing animal waste.

[TheWatcher]

Originally Posted by Caymus

From one identifiable source?

Those are CDC figure estimates from last year for food borne illnesses.

Salmonella was the most common foodborne pathogen that led to death in the United States in 2023.

The CDC estimates that each year in the United States, 48 million people get sick from foodborne illnesses, 128,000 are hospitalized, and 3,000 die.

Foodborne illnesses can cause a range of symptoms, including upset stomach, diarrhea, and vomiting. Most people recover within a few days without treatment.

They (the CDC) monitor a cachement area and extrapolate to the general population. There were 177 deaths in the study group in 2023.

[Boomer]

Originally Posted by ithos

Plants and crops can be contaminated by organic fertilizers like manure or compost that carry animal pathogens such as E. coli, Salmonella, or Listeria. Also by water containing animal waste.

Oh, I know that. And to that effect, I must confess to wondering where all the bathrooms are for those working in fields.

There is a relatively new company called 80 Acres located in Ohio. They grow produce strictly indoors with lots of promises. Actually, their stuff is very good, but kind of expensive. You might find their website interesting.

Unless we personally know and grow our own food, we take our chances every day. But this Boar’s Head thing sounds like it went on for a while and should have been shut down sooner.

Boomer

[ithos]

Originally Posted by Boomer

Oh, I know that. And to that effect, I must confess to wondering where all the bathrooms are for those working in fields.

There is a relatively new company called 80 Acres located in Ohio. They grow produce strictly indoors with lots of promises. Actually, their stuff is very good, but kind of expensive. You might find their website interesting.

Unless we personally know and grow our own food, we take our chances every day. But this Boar’s Head thing sounds like it went on for a while and should have been shut down sooner.

Boomer

Great concept. Hope they become available nearby soon. I am willing to pay more for organic or similar because of all the pesticides that are used. Another problem is that our vegetables and fruits are far less nutritious than they used to be. Don't know if that will ever change.

[defrey12]

Originally Posted by maistocars

Who still eats Liverwurst these days?

MANY of us…

[Glowing Horizon]

Originally Posted by village dreamer

how can a multi Millon dollar business act like that??? 9 dead and lots sick. this is not the first company to do this, lots of chop meat company's have made people sick. i guess quality control is nonexistent. and the meat inspectors not doing the job. well i don't think I'm buying boars head anytime soon.

Here’s some insider-info I learned the hard way: sliced meat is inherently hazardous. It’s not the meat that’s necessarily dangerous. It’s the SLICER. Slicers cannot be sanitized without extreme efforts which must be rigorously & routinely undertaken because the slicers have tiny nooks & crannies where pathogens can grow if they are not killed by cleaning. Sliced cheeses may also be problematic but not as often as ALL sliced meats are. After I was told this, I’ve never again bought sliced deli meat nor any sliced meat sandwiches. It’s just not worth the risk IMO.

[Glowing Horizon]

Originally Posted by Boomer

Oh, I know that. And to that effect, I must confess to wondering where all the bathrooms are for those working in fields.

There is a relatively new company called 80 Acres located in Ohio. They grow produce strictly indoors with lots of promises. Actually, their stuff is very good, but kind of expensive. You might find their website interesting.

Unless we personally know and grow our own food, we take our chances every day. But this Boar’s Head thing sounds like it went on for a while and should have been shut down sooner.

Boomer

Some of the most beautiful, perfectly-formed produce I’ve ever seen is in Japan. Because of their lack of productive land & the Japanese culture’s high-demand for premium produce, most Japanese produce is grown inside. Their produce is a sight to behold. As young adults, we went annually to the State Fairs in IN & IL where we gawked at their prize-winning produce. Japanese produce would nearly all be prize-winning IMO. If you’d like to see it for yourself, NHK is like the Japanese version of American public television. NHK has free shows via Apps. Almost all NHK shows are in English & they are generally about food, art, travel or daily news. We love watching NHK. It’s fun to see their gardening, cooking, art, festivals and trains.

[Glowing Horizon]

Originally Posted by TheWatcher

Those are CDC figure estimates from last year for food borne illnesses.

Salmonella was the most common foodborne pathogen that led to death in the United States in 2023.

The CDC estimates that each year in the United States, 48 million people get sick from foodborne illnesses, 128,000 are hospitalized, and 3,000 die.

Foodborne illnesses can cause a range of symptoms, including upset stomach, diarrhea, and vomiting. Most people recover within a few days without treatment.

They (the CDC) monitor a cachement area and extrapolate to the general population. There were 177 deaths in the study group in 2023.

The pathogen found in Boar’s Head sliced deli meats is the same one which is most commonly found in sliced meats—listeria. Listeria infections are more often serious & can be life-threatening/deadly especially in young kids, older people, pregnant & nursing women & immune-compromised people. Salmonella is more commonly encountered but it was NOT what has been causing illnesses from Boars Head products.

[Glowing Horizon]

Originally Posted by ithos

Great concept. Hope they become available nearby soon. I am willing to pay more for organic or similar because of all the pesticides that are used. Another problem is that our vegetables and fruits are far less nutritious than they used to be. Don't know if that will ever change.

Part of the perceived diminishing nutrition is “user error.” In the past, people gathered & saved their own heirloom seeds so the varieties of produce they grew are different than what became commercially available. If commercial produce were not available, millions of people would go hungry. Like most things, it’s a trade off. We gained more surviving humans & food-animals but we forfeited variety. Most heirloom organic crops cannot be produced in enough quantities, at reasonable prices or is pest- and disease-prone. Our produce needs to be able to be handled, packed & shipped since it is no longer being harvested from our own garden, immediately eaten, cooked, frozen or home-canned.

[Glowing Horizon]

Originally Posted by Aloha

Publix may have thoughts of ending their tight-knit association with Boars Head. Looks like Congressional Hearings about Boars Head filthy facility are lurking.

It’s too easy to vilify the food producers IMO. We must accept that we are contributing by constantly seeking the highest quantity & quality for the absolute minimum prices which results in high-volume, low-cost production (corner cutting). Boars Head will be easier than most to vilify since their brand is perceived to be luxury/premium, high-end—which few can even afford now.

In fact, our declining economy may have caused a suddenly lower demand, which in turn may have slowed product turnover & provided additional time for the Listeria bacteria to grow.

[RedChariot]

Originally Posted by defrey12

MANY of us…

Yes many of us still eat liverwurst. I rediscovered it in the last year after many years of not eating it. Of course it was Boar's Head. We love Friday night dinner of assorted Boar's Head Ham, Turkey, etc sandwiches on fresh Publix French hamburger buns. Sometimes a Publix sub with xtra meat and only Boar's Head. We try to keep it at once a month. We will tread lightly if and when they return. Nothing stays the same. I hate change.

[LuvtheVillages]

Originally Posted by Boomer

There is a relatively new company called 80 Acres located in Ohio. They grow produce strictly indoors with lots of promises. Actually, their stuff is very good, but kind of expensive. You might find their website interesting.

Unless we personally know and grow our own food, we take our chances every day. But this Boar’s Head thing sounds like it went on for a while and should have been shut down sooner.

Boomer

Produce grown indoors - sounds a lot like The Villages Grown farm. You can purchase their produce at Sawgrass and in local grocers. Some local restaurants also use their produce.

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

I'm eternally grateful that I have what my mom always called a "cast-iron stomach." I can eat anything, and not get sick from it. But, I grew up sharing pinches of raw ground chuck with mom, who always told the waitress that "cooked" meant "no longer mooing." She also made a killer ceasar salad with raw egg in the recipe. So maybe my digestive system has acclimated itself to eating some really nasty things with ease. Just don't let me eat too many cashews, or more than a finger-full of bleu cheese in a single day.

Meanwhile - the only time I ever get Boar's Head is when hubby wants a smoke turkey sub. And that's only because Publix doesn't offer its own brand of it. Everything else, I get a store brand or a different national brand. I'm still not over the fact that y'all call it "cappy" down here. It's Cappacuolo, pronounced "gabba-gool." Not "cappy" for crying out loud. Publix low-sodium turkey breast is infinitely better than Boar's Head turkey. I also have learned not to even allow myself to be tempted with pastrami in or around The Villages. It's horrible. I've never had such bad pastrami, even when I got the cheap stuff because I couldn't afford the good stuff, up north. There's a Jewish deli where my dad lives in Boynton, I'll probably bring home a pound next time I visit.

[Glowing Horizon]

Originally Posted by Boomer

Oh, I know that. And to that effect, I must confess to wondering where all the bathrooms are for those working in fields.

There is a relatively new company called 80 Acres located in Ohio. They grow produce strictly indoors with lots of promises. Actually, their stuff is very good, but kind of expensive. You might find their website interesting.

Unless we personally know and grow our own food, we take our chances every day. But this Boar’s Head thing sounds like it went on for a while and should have been shut down sooner.

Boomer

Have you also wondered where the BATHROOMS are for all the wild birds flying over the fields & rats, mice, & other critters crawling around thru them? You do know what your pretty green grass is actually fertilized with, right? (It’s pig pee)