Kentucky is not one of the states the Food and Drug Administration says Boars Head products potentially carrying listeria was sold in. However, it borders four states where the deli meats were recalled. Luke Mathis, the Fayette County Health Department’s supervisor for Environmental Health, said listeria is unusual because it can grow while refrigerated.
“You buy them in ready to eat forms like, you know, ham or deli meat, something you just make a sandwich with. That's why it’s more of a concern at times, because there isn't a kill step that you'll do at home, like cooking it or baking it.”
Mathis said people in high-risk groups may want to follow advice given to his then-pregnant wife.
“Her physician advised her whenever she was going to consume deli meats or make a sandwich, they recommended that she actually microwave it, heat it up to introduce a kill step, even though it's a ready to eat food product.”
According to the FDA, listeria is especially dangerous to pregnant women, newborn babies, people over 65 and those with weakened immune systems.
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