Boar’s Head also said it decided to permanently discontinue the sale of liver pate, the deli meat linked to the outbreak that began last May and is reported in 18 states, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

“We deeply regret and apologize for the recent Listeria monocytogenes contamination in our liver pate product,” the company said in a press release the day before.

“We understand the gravity of this situation and the profound impact it has had on affected families. Comprehensive measures are being implemented to prevent such an incident from happening again,” it added.

In addition to those who died, as of Aug. 28, 57 people were hospitalized in connection with the illness, the CDC added.

Consuming food contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes bacteria can cause this serious infection known as listeriosis, whose symptoms begin in one to four weeks, but can occur on the same day, they warned.

About 1,600 persons contract listeriosis annually in the United States and about 260 die from it. Pregnant women and newborns, as well as adults 65 years of age or older and people with weakened immune systems are the groups most at risk.

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