Public health officials are investigating a listeria outbreak linked to Daisy brand head cheese.
As of May 10, three people were confirmed to be victims of group infection in Illinois. The outbreak is limited to Illinois, so state officials are leading the investigation.
USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has issued a public health alert regarding head cheese. A recall has not been requested because the product is no longer available for purchase.
Headcheese is a ready-to-eat (RTE) pork deli meat product that is typically prepared by cooking meat and seasoning together into a loaf or jelly-style product.
The fully cooked pork headcheese product involved in the outbreak was produced on January 20. The product is intended for slicing at retail delis and some deli purchases may show only the producer’s brand without the dates affected. The following products are subject to public health warnings:
- Packages of various weights, packaged or sliced, from a retail deli that contain “DAISY BRAND Meat Products HEADCHEESE” and have a “Use By” date of “March 26, 2026.”
- Packages of various weights wrapped or sliced at retail deli containing “DAISY BRAND Meat Products HEADCHEESE” and marked with a red sticker indicating “HOT” and a “Use By” date of “March 26, 2026.”
Related products will have the establishment number “EST. 21406” printed inside the USDA mark of inspection. These items were distributed to retail deli stores in Illinois and Indiana.
FSIS collected unopened samples of headcheese products that tested positive for listeria. Additional testing is underway to determine if product samples are linked to the specific outbreak strain.
FSIS is concerned that recently purchased product may remain in consumer refrigerators. Consumers who have purchased the product in question are advised not to consume the product. These products must be discarded or returned to the place of purchase. Consumers who purchased these products were also urged to thoroughly clean their refrigerators to prevent the risk of cross-contamination.
About listeria infection
Food contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes may not look, smell or taste spoiled, but it can still cause serious and sometimes life-threatening infections. Anyone who develops symptoms of listeria infection after eating the related head cheese should seek medical attention and notify their doctor of possible listeria exposure.
Additionally, people who have consumed the recalled product should monitor themselves for symptoms over the next few weeks, as it can take up to 70 days after exposure to listeria for listeriosis symptoms to appear.
Symptoms of listeria infection include vomiting, nausea, persistent fever, muscle pain, severe headache, and neck stiffness. Specific laboratory tests are needed to diagnose listeria infection, which can mimic other illnesses.
People like pregnant women, the elderly, children, and cancer patients with weakened immune systems are particularly at risk for serious illness, life-threatening infections, other complications, and death. Infected pregnant women may experience only mild, flu-like symptoms, but the infection can cause premature delivery, neonatal infection, and even stillbirth.
