Daisy brand headcheese products that sparked a public health alert earlier this month have tested positive for the deadly bacteria listeria.
The US Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) issued a public health alert regarding the brand’s ready-to-eat pork deli meat product cooked into a loaf.
In an update posted last week, the FSIS said whole genome sequencing results show samples collected and tested by the agency, produced at Crawford Sausage Co., tested positive for the outbreak strain of listeria monocytogenes.
This bacteria causes severe diarrhea and muscle aches, and can be deadly in pregnant women, older people and those with compromised immune systems.
The products have been linked to three sickened individuals in Illinois.
A recall has not been issued because the products are no longer available for purchase but still may be in some customers’ refrigerators.
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.
Health authorities issued a warning about ready-to-eat Daisy brand headcheese products that tested positive for listeria bacteria (stock image)
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.
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 initially said it had collected an unopened headcheese product sample that tested positive for listeria and ‘further testing is ongoing to determine if the product samples are related to the specific outbreak strain.’
The latest update confirms the samples did test positive for the outbreak strain.
No details have been released about the three individuals who have been sickened by the outbreak.
Pictured above is the label of the recalled headcheese products
Pictured above is the front of the package of a recalled headcheese product
Listeria, also called listeriosis, is a serious infection caused by eating food contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes.
The bacteria 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.
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.
