IDPH Reminds Consumers to Use Caution After Listeria Outbreak Linked to Headcheese Deli Meat Product

IDPH Reminds Consumers to Use Caution After Listeria Outbreak Linked to Headcheese Deli Meat Product

KEY PPOINTS FOR MEDIA:

• Certain lots of Daisy Brand headcheese may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes
• Three ill people in Illinois reported eating headcheese products before they got sick.
• If consumers still have the product in their refrigerators, they should throw it out or return it to point of purchase

MEDIA ADVISORY

IDPH reminds consumers to use caution after Listeria outbreak linked to headcheese deli meat product

SPRINGFIELD - The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) is urging consumers to take precautions after an outbreak of Listeria monocytogenes (Lm) linked to a brand of headcheese deli meat product sold in Illinois.

Three cases of Listeria in Illinois have been identified; the individuals report eating headcheese products purchased from three different locations prior to getting sick. USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) collected an unopened headcheese sample which tested positive for Listeria monocytogenes. Additional testing of the product samples is ongoing to determine if the positive samples are related to the outbreak strain. The product has not been recalled because it is no longer believed to be on store shelves, but officials are concerned that some of it may still be in consumers' refrigerators. If so, the product should not be consumed, but should be discarded immediately or returned to the point of purchase.

• Various weight packages packed or sliced in retail delis, containing "DAISY BRAND Meat Products HEADCHEESE," with a "USE BY" date of "MAR 26, 2026."
• Various weight packages packed or sliced in retail delis, containing "DAISY BRAND Meat Products HEADCHEESE," with a red sticker indicating "HOT" and a "USE BY" date of "MAR 26, 2026."

The products bear establishment number "EST. 21406" inside the USDA mark of inspection. These items were distributed to retail deli locations in Illinois and Indiana. These products are intended for slicing at retail delis and some deli purchases may only show the producer's brand without the affected date. Consumers who may have had the product are urged to thoroughly clean their refrigerators to avoid any potential risk of cross-contamination.

IDPH pursued the investigation in partnership with local health departments and the USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS).

Listeria monocytogenes can cause listeriosis, a serious infection that can be particularly dangerous for older individuals, pregnant persons, and people with weakened immune systems. Listeriosis can cause fever, muscle aches, headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance and convulsions sometimes preceded by diarrhea or other gastrointestinal symptoms; symptoms can be more severe and dangerous for the risk groups listed above.

More information on this consumer alert can be found at this link. The IDPH website has additional information on Food Safety in general.