Health officials have warned against a ready-to-eat deli meat product because it may be contaminated with deadly bacteria.
The US Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has issued a public health alert regarding Daisy brand headcheese, a ready-to-eat pork deli meat product cooked into a loaf.
The product has been linked to an outbreak of listeria, a type of bacteria that causes severe diarrhea and muscle aches, which has sickened three individuals in Illinois.
Daisy did not issue a recall because the products are no longer available for purchase.
According to FSIS, the fully cooked pork headcheese products implicated in the outbreak were produced on January 20.
The alert was issued for ‘DAISY BRAND Meat Products HEADCHEESE’ with a use-by date of March 26, 2026, and ‘DAISY BRAND Meat Products HEADCHEESE,’ with a red sticker indicating ‘HOT’ and a use-by date of March 26, 2026.
Implicated products have the establishment number ‘EST. 21406’ printed inside the USDA mark of inspection.
The items were distributed to retail deli stores in Illinois and Indiana.
Health authorities have issued a warning about ready-to-eat headcheese that may be contaminated with listeria (stock image)
Though the products are no longer for sale, FSIS said it ‘is concerned that recently purchased product may remain in consumer refrigerators.’
‘Consumers who have purchased these products are urged not to consume them,’ the agency said. ‘These products should be thrown away or returned to the place of purchase.
‘Consumers who have purchased these products are also urged to clean refrigerators thoroughly to prevent the risk of cross-contamination.’
FSIS, along with the Illinois Department of Public Health and local Illinois health departments are investigating the outbreak. FSIS said it collected an unopened headcheese product sample that tested positive for listeria.
‘Further testing is ongoing to determine if the product samples are related to the specific outbreak strain,’ FSIS said.
No details have been released about the three individuals who have been sickened by the outbreak.
Listeria, also called listeriosis, is a serious infection caused by eating food contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes.
It can be found in moist environments, soil, water, decaying vegetation and animals, and can survive refrigeration and other food preservation measures.
Many foods can harbor the bug, but it is usually found in unpasteurized milk, soft cheeses and ready-to-eat foods, such as pre-packed sandwiches. Cooked shellfish, cured meats and fish, including sushi and pre-cut fruit, are also a risk.
Pictured above is the label of the recalled headcheese products
Pictured above is the front of the package of a recalled headcheese product
Most people who eat food contaminated with listeria will not become seriously ill.
But in some cases, it can cause confusion and seizures, miscarriages among pregnant women, and even death.
This can happen when the infection spreads beyond the gut and affects the central nervous system, which can lead to numbness and seizures.
‘FSIS recommends retail delis clean and sanitize all food and non-food surfaces and discard any open meats and cheeses in the deli that housed the products subject to this alert,’ the agency wrote.
FSIS also recommends consumers with questions call the toll-free USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline at 888-MPHotline (888-674-6854) or email a question to MPHotline@usda.gov.
