USDA issues health alert for headcheese that may be contaminated with listeria

WASHINGTON - Federal health officials have issued a public health alert for a ready-to-eat pork headcheese product distributed to deli counters after testing linked the product to a listeria outbreak that has sickened at least three people in Illinois.

A recall was not requested because the products are no longer available for purchase. 

Headcheese may be contaminated with listeria

Big picture view:

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced Saturday that "Daisy Brand Meat Products Headcheese" may be contaminated with listeria monocytogenes, a dangerous bacterium that can cause severe illness.

Headcheese is a ready-to-eat (RTE), pork deli meat product typically made from meat and seasonings that are cooked together and formed into a loaf or jelly-style product.

Officials said the fully cooked pork headcheese products were produced on Jan. 20, 2026, and were intended for slicing at retail deli counters. 

The affected products carry a "USE BY" date of "MAR 26 2026" and bear the establishment number "EST. 21406" inside the USDA inspection mark.

The items were distributed to retail deli locations in Illinois and Indiana.

Products no longer available for sale

Dig deeper:

FSIS said the products are no longer available for sale. However, the agency warned that consumers may still have the meat stored in their refrigerators.

"Consumers who have purchased these products are urged not to consume them," the agency said in the alert. "These products should be thrown away or returned to the place of purchase."

Consumers who have purchased the products are also urged to clean their refrigerators thoroughly to prevent the risk of cross-contamination.

Contamination discovered during outbreak investigation

The backstory:

The contamination was discovered during an ongoing outbreak investigation led by the Illinois Department of Public Health in coordination with FSIS and local health departments. 

Investigators collected an unopened package of the headcheese product that tested positive for listeria. Additional testing is underway to determine whether the contaminated sample matches the strain linked to illnesses.

Big picture view:

Listeriosis, the infection caused by listeria bacteria, can produce symptoms including fever, muscle aches, headache, confusion, stiff neck and gastrointestinal illness. Severe infections can spread beyond the digestive system and may become life-threatening.

Older adults, pregnant women and people with weakened immune systems are particularly vulnerable. Health officials warn that pregnant women face especially serious risks, including miscarriage, stillbirth, premature delivery or severe infection in newborns.

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People in the higher-risk categories who experience flu-like symptoms within two months after eating contaminated food should seek medical care and tell the health care provider about eating the contaminated food.

For consumers who need to report a problem with a meat, poultry, or egg product, the online Electronic Consumer Complaint Monitoring System can be accessed 24 hours a day at https://foodcomplaint.fsis.usda.gov/eCCF/.