The Illinois Department of Health is warning about a listeria outbreak linked to a deli item, with at least three sickened as they urge people in the state to “thoroughly” clean their refrigerators.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service on Saturday issued an alert about the outbreak, linked to headcheese, a loaf or jelly-like item made of pork and seasonings cooked together. The headcheese was distributed to delis in Illinois and Indiana, the FSIS said, and was sold and sliced at deli counters.
The warning from IDPH came Wednesday, with officials saying saying three cases of listeria linked to the deli meat were reported in Illinois.
According to the IDPH, the people sickened all reported eating headcheese products that were purchased from three different locations. Additional testing of the product remains ongoing, IDPH said.
The headcheese was sold under the name Daisy Brand, and was meant to be sliced onsite. Some of the packaging included a red sticker indicating “HOT,” with sell-by dates of March 26, 2026, but health officials say packaging of the products may only show the brand’s producer, Crawford Sausage Co., without the affected date.
A thread on X posted by IDPH warned customers that while the name of the item may sound strange, the risk should be taken seriously.
‘”Headcheese sounds unserious,” the thread began. “Listeria is not. Listeria can cause serious illness, especially for pregnant people, older adults, and people with weakened immune systems.”
The IDPH went on to say that symptoms can include fever, muscle aches, headaches, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance, and diarrhea.
The full description of the products can be found below
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.”According to officials, the product was also sold in Indiana.
What is listeria?
Food contaminated with listeria can lead to listeriosis, a serious infection that primarily affects older adults, people with weakened immune systems, pregnant women and newborns.
“Listeriosis can cause fever, muscle aches, headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance and convulsions sometimes preceded by diarrhea or other gastrointestinal symptoms,” the FSIS said. In pregnant women, the infection can cause miscarriages, stillbirths, premature delivery or life-threatening infection of the newborn. In some cases, the infection can be fatal.
People in the higher-risk categories who experience flu-like symptoms within two months after eating contaminated food should seek medical care, officials said.
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