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FSIS alerts: Listeria-tainted headcheese causes three cases

5/11/2026

Summary

Story summary

The Food Safety Inspection Service issued a health alert for headcheese deli meat contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes in the Illinois-Indiana-Wisconsin tri-state area.
The contamination was discovered during an ongoing illness outbreak investigation.
Illinois health officials confirmed three listeriosis cases linked to the tainted headcheese.
The agency warned that consuming the product could cause severe infection in older adults, immunocompromised individuals, and pregnant women and their newborns.

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Story summary

The Food Safety Inspection Service issued a health alert for headcheese deli meat contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes in the Illinois-Indiana-Wisconsin tri-state area.
The contamination was discovered during an ongoing illness outbreak investigation.
Illinois health officials confirmed three listeriosis cases linked to the tainted headcheese.
The agency warned that consuming the product could cause severe infection in older adults, immunocompromised individuals, and pregnant women and their newborns.