Tennessee
Listeria outbreak linked to Boar’s Head facility claims one victim in Tennessee
What is listeria? Here’s what you need to know
Learn about Listeria, its symptoms and essential preventive measures to safeguard against the food borne illness.
The effects of a listeria outbreak that began on July 19 have continued to grow and now include one death in Tennessee.
A total of 18 states have reported cases of listeria. There have been 57 hospitalizations as a result of the outbreak. The most recent update from the Centers for Disease Control included a single case and death in Tennessee among six other deaths.
The outbreak has been tied to Boar’s Head liverwurst products. Of these products, 7.2 million pounds of deli meats have been recalled. There is a class-action suit was filed against the company in early August.
Here is what to know about the outbreak.
Is Tennessee part of the listeria outbreak?
Tennessee is now officially a part of the outbreak. The CDC announced there were six new deaths and 14 new cases from the outbreak. Of these deaths, one occurred in Tennessee.
South Carolina has the most deaths with two. There have been nine deaths in total from this outbreak. According to the CDC, this is the largest listeriosis outbreak since a 2011 outbreak linked to cantaloupe.
States affected by the outbreak are:
- Arizona: 1 case
- Florida: 3 cases, 1 death
- Georgia: 2 cases
- Illinois: 1 case, 1 death
- Indiana: 1 case
- Maryland: 8 cases
- Massachusetts: 3 cases
- Minnesota: 1 case
- Missouri: 3 cases
- New Jersey: 5 cases, 1 death
- New Mexico: 1 case, 1 death
- New York: 17 cases, 1 death
- North Carolina: 1 case
- Pennsylvania: 2 cases
- South Carolina: 2 cases, 2 deaths
- Tennessee: 1 case, 1 death
- Virginia: 4 cases, 1 death
- Wisconsin: 1 case
What brands are involved in the listeria outbreak?
Products under recall will be under the brands Boar’s Head and Old Country labels. The recall was expanded on July 30 to include 71 total products that were produced between May 10 and July 29. Products will have sell by dates ranging from July 29 to Oct. 17, 2024.
The original list of recalled items included these Boar’s Head products.
- Virginia Old Fashioned Ham with sell by date of Aug. 10.
- Italian Cappy Style Ham with sell by date of Aug. 10.
- Extra Hot Italian Cappy Style Ham with sell by date of Aug. 10.
- Bologna with sell by date of Aug. 10.
- Beef Salami with sell by date of Aug. 10.
- Steakhouse Roasted Bacon Heat and Eat with sell by date of Aug. 15.
- Garlic Bologna with sell by date of Aug. 10.
- Beef Bologna with sell by date of Aug. 10.
Boar’s Head facility caused outbreak with insects, mold an mildew
The Department of Agriculture found insects, mold and mildew at the Boar’s Head plant in Virginia linked to the listeria outbreak. There were a total of 69 “noncompliances” filed by the USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service inspectors over the past year.
Among the “noncompliances” listed in the records CBS News acquired from the USDA:
- July 25, 2024: A flying insect was spotted near a rack holding 980 pounds of Tavern Ham.
- July 23, 2024: An inspector found what “appeared to be black mold and mildew” and rust underneath hand washing sinks.
- July 17, 2024: Three dead insects found in the Cure Cooler and several more, two of which were alive, in the facility.
- June 10, 2024: “Approximately 15-20 flies were observed going in and out of the 4 vats of pickle left in the room” (on the plant’s “raw side”). Also found in other parts of the plant were “small flying gnat like insects were observed crawling on the walls and flying around the room,” plus “a steady line of ants … traveling down the wall floor junction on the right side of the room” and 7 ladybugs, 1 beetle-like insect and 1 cockroach-like insect.
- February 21, 2024: “Ample amounts of blood in puddles on the floor” in the Raw Receiving cooler. “There was also a rancid smell in the cooler.”
What are the symptoms of listeria?
Symptoms of listeria typically start one to four weeks after eating contaminated foods. The people at most risk from listeria are those who are pregnant, over 65 or have a compromised immune system.
According to the USDA, symptoms include:
- Fever
- Muscle aches
- Headache
- Stiff neck
- Confusion
- Loss of balance
- Convulsions
- Diarrhea
- Other gastrointestinal symptoms
- Miscarriage, stillbirth, premature delivery and/or life-threatening infection of newborn infants
- Death
What foods are most likely to be contaminated with listeria?
The foods most likely to develop listeria are:
- Unpasteurized soft cheeses
- Unheated cheeses sliced at a deli
- Unheated deli meat such as cold cuts, hot dogs and fermented or dried sausages
- Premade deli salads such as coleslaw and potato, tuna or chicken salad
- Refrigerated pate or meat spreads
- Refrigerated smoked fish
- Raw or lightly cooked sprouts
- Cut melon left out for more than two hours
- Cut melon in the refrigerator for more than a week
- Raw or unpasteurized milk, yogurt and ice cream
USA TODAY contributed to this report.
Tennessee
Tracking Music City Bowl opt outs for Tennessee and Illinois
Tracking the opt outs for both Tennessee and Illinois before the Music City Bowl on December 30 (5:30 p.m. Eastern Time, ESPN) at Nissan Stadium in Nashville:
Tennessee
Linebacker Arion Carter: Carter over the last seasons had 96 tackles, 13.5 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks in 31 career games. He had a team-high 76 tackles this season, with 6.0 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks while appearing in 10 games. He missed two games and was limited against Oklahoma in November while dealing with turf toe injuries. Carter had 68 tackles and 6.5 tackles for loss in 13 games last season and 17 tackles and 1.0 tackles for loss in eight games as a freshman in 2023.
Wide Receiver Chris Brazzell II: He a breakout senior season in his second year with the Vols, catching 62 passes for 1,017 yards and nine touchdowns. He had 19 catches for 333 yards and two touchdowns in 2024, after transferring from Tulane. In 15 games at Tulane he caught 45 passes for 722 yards and five touchdowns. Brazzell is ranked No. 7 at wide receiver on Mel Kiper Jr.’s NFL Draft Big Board. He’s ranked No. 34 overall on ESPN’s list of the best available prospects in the draft.
Cornerback Jermod McCoy: Did not play this season after tearing his ACL during offseason training in January. He was a star last season with 44 tackles, nine passes defended and four interceptions. He had 31 tackles and two interceptions in 12 games as a freshman at Oregon State before transferring to Tennessee.
Illinois
Offensive Tackle J.C. Davis: Bret Bielema said the Illinois starting left tackle is opting out of the Music City Bowl. He was an All-Big Ten First Team pick by the league coaches this season and the No. 3 left tackle this season according to Pro Football Focus grades. He had made 49 straight starts before opting out of the bowl game.
EDGE Gabe Jacas: The Illinois outside linebacker declared for the NFL Draft on Friday night. He led the Big Ten this season with 11.0 sacks. He had 13.5 tackles for loss and 43 total tackles in 12 games this season. He finishes second in Illinois program history for career sacks, with 27.0, trailing only Simeon Rice. Jacas had 74 tackles, 8.0 sacks and 13.0 tackles for loss last season, after combining for 8.0 sacks and 9.0 tackles for loss in his first two seasons at Illinois.
Tennessee
More than 8,500 layoffs hit Tennessee in 2025, nearly 19% increase from 2024
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WZTV) — Tennessee employers laid off more than 8,500 workers in 2025 compared to 7,320 last year, according to the Tennessee Department of Labor & Workforce Development.
This is about a 19% increase in layoffs, with WARN notices impacting 8,691 Tennesseans to date. As of 2023, 5,168 Tennessee workers were laid off through WARN notices.
Counties in Middle Tennessee impacted include:
- Davidson
- Sumner
- Maury
- Rutherford
- Williamson
- Wilson
- Coffee
- DeKalb
- Bedford
- Lawrence
- Putnam
The largest layoff this year was in Maury County. Come January, 710 employees will be laid off from GM Ultium Cells’ Spring Hill facility. Research Assistant Professor at the University of Tennessee Knoxville Michael Kofoed tells FOX 17 News that the facility is is likely impacted by the rise on steel tariffs ruled out by the Trump administration. He adds steel tariffs raise input costs for employers which directly impacts employees’ salary or employment.
The second largest layoff impacted 658 workers at Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations, LLC in Rutherford County with 615 workers at Vanderbilt University Medical Center permanently laid off. WARN notices are reports a company is required to file with the state to give workers time to find future employment.
Kofoed states that Tennessee is seeing a troubling trend, with layoffs skyrocketing since 2023.
“That is a very big and concerning number,” Kofoed said.
According to CNBC, more than 1.1 million U.S. employees were laid off this year, the highest 11-month total since 2020.
Tennessee
Nonprofit rescues 11 ‘emaciated and suffering’ animals from Tennessee property ahead of dangerous cold snap
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WSMV) – The Animal Rescue Corps (ARC) is asking for donations after rescuing 11 animals Friday.
ARC said it was contacted by law enforcement in an unidentified rural Tennessee area to rescue five dogs and six cats in what the nonprofit is calling “Operation Cold Snap.”
In the rescue, the nonprofit took in two emaciated Great Danes, three Pit Bulls and six cats. ARC said some of the animals are emaciated and suffering from untreated bite wounds and infections.
The nonprofit said the animals were kept without heat or regular care.
ARC shared a video of the rescue. In it, you can see the property s in disarray with trash littering the floor and overturned furniture.
This rescue comes just days before Middle Tennessee is expected to see its coldest temperatures of the season.
Now, ARC is asking for donations to help the 11 animals rescued Operation Cold Snap. Those interested in donating can do so on the nonprofit’s website.
Copyright 2025 WSMV. All rights reserved.
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