Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
Listeria outbreak tied to sliced deli meat hits NY region, CDC says
By
Charles Lane
Published Jul 19, 2024
Modified Jul 19, 2024
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
Getty Images
By
Charles Lane
Published Jul 19, 2024
Modified Jul 19, 2024
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is investigating a listeria outbreak among people who have eaten meats sliced at deli counters, including nine cases in New York and New Jersey.
Seven people in New York and two people in New Jersey have been affected, out of nearly 30 people so far in the Northeast, Midwest and South, according to the health agency.
Nationwide, 28 people have been hospitalized and two have died, including one person from New Jersey, the CDC said on Friday.
Investigators are still collecting information to determine the source of the outbreak and are focusing on products sliced or prepared at delis.
A map showing where listeria cases linked with sliced deli meats have been confirmed as of July 19, 2024
U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
“89% reported eating meats sliced at deli counters,” stated a CDC advisory based on interviews with people who became ill. “Our investigation is ongoing to determine which deli meat may be contaminated.”
Groups who are especially vulnerable to the effects of listeria include people who are pregnant, 65 or older, or have weakened immune systems, as the bacteria is more likely to spread from their guts to other parts of their bodies.
Symptoms include fever, muscle aches, fatigue and headaches. Pregnant people who catch listeria can experience pregnancy loss, premature birth or a life-threatening infection in their newborns, according to health officials.
Symptoms from listeria infections usually start within two weeks of eating contaminated food but can start as early as the same day or as late as 10 weeks after, the CDC said.
New York City’s health department did not answer questions about the outbreak on Friday. New York state health officials referred questions to the state’s agricultural department, which also did not comment.
Claudia Gravekamp, a listeria researcher at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in the Bronx, said in a phone interview that 28 confirmed infections was a significant number.
“It's not so easy to bring over from person to person,” she said. “Maybe the sanitation [of the deli] is that they don’t follow all the rules to keep your food safe.”
Gravekamp said listeria can’t be killed by refrigeration or alcohol and that deli slicing equipment should be cleaned with bleach and water.
“But the fact that this was in different delis suggests that the food that they bought came from the same provider,” she said.
For those at higher risk of getting sick, the CDC advised reheating deli meat to an internal temperature of 165 degrees or until steaming hot to kill any germs that may be on the meat, before letting it cool and eating it. The agency also recommended cleaning refrigerators, containers and surfaces that may have touched sliced deli meat.
The outbreak has affected residents as far west as Minnesota and as far south as Georgia, according to the CDC. More than half of reported cases are concentrated in New York, New Jersey and Maryland.
But it “may not be limited to the states with known illnesses, and the true number of sick people is likely higher than the number reported,” said the agency. “This is because some people recover without medical care and are not tested for listeria.”
It is not yet clear which kinds of sliced deli meat are driving the outbreak, the CDC added.
This story has been updated with additional information.
Tagged
new york state
Health and Science
new york city
listeria
new jersey
Charles Lane
Charles is a Day-of reporter focused on breaking news and enterprise. He’s very friendly and can be reached at [email protected], or more securely on whatsapp/signal 631-295-6715
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
Police arrest man in Queens stabbings that ended with officer shooting woman
The arrest stems from a reported home invasion and stabbings on Friday.
By
Ryan Kost
Published Oct 27, 2026 at 12:06 p.m. ET
Early Addition: It's been a while since it rained
Because it's dry, here are your early links: McCarren Park teens love the mayor, Long Island castle being auctioned off, an update on the 1 a.m. dining scene and more.
By
James Ramsay
News
Early Addition: It's been a while since it rained
Because it's dry, here are your early links: McCarren Park teens love the mayor, Long Island castle being auctioned off, an update on the 1 a.m. dining scene and more.
By
James Ramsay
Ex-boyfriend of woman found in shallow grave in Queens charged with murder, NYPD says
By
Brittany Kriegstein
ICE used a warehouse in NJ. Locals are ‘frustrated’ by Sherrill’s response.
By
Mike Hayes
NY Gov. Hochul once resisted a data center pause. Now it’s central to her campaign.
By
Jon Campbell
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .