Cheese, cantaloupe, and more: 8 of the deadliest food recalls ever

It’s been a very busy summer for food recalls in the U.S., ranging from summer classics like ice cream and hot dogs to fresh produce. Fortunately, only a recall of seven million pounds of deli meat has been linked to any deaths — three so far. Past recalls from around the world of cheese, meat, cantaloupe, and more have been far more deadly and underscore the critical importance of proper sanitation throughout every stage of food production and distribution.

These are eight of the deadliest food recalls in history.

1998 Sara Lee deli meat recall in the U.S.: 15 deaths

In 1998, Sara Lee recalled 15 million pounds of deli meat due to an outbreak of listeria. The outbreak was linked to at least 15 deaths and six miscarriages.

2023 cantaloupe recall in the U.S. and Canada: 15 deaths

A recall of cantaloupe in 2023 sparked by salmonella contamination was associated with at least 407 reported cases of illness and six deaths in the United States. In Canada, the same outbreak led to 68 hospitalization and nine deaths.

2008 Maple Leaf Foods recall in Canada: 22 deaths

In 2008, the Canadian packaged meat company Maple Leaf Foods recalled 191 of its products after they were linked to a listeria outbreak that eventually claimed 22 lives.

2008-2009 cheese and meat recall in Chile: 31 deaths

Public health officials in Chile recalled several brands of soft cheeses in late 2008 after a listeria outbreak linked to Brie and Camembert cheese resulted in at least 14 deaths. An outbreak of listeria linked to sausage and other meat products in 2009 led to 17 deaths.

2011 Jensen Farms cantaloupe recall in the U.S.: 33 deaths

Colorado-based Jensen farms recalled its cantaloupes after they were linked to a listeria outbreak that was ultimately responsible for at least 33 deaths and one miscarriage. A federal investigation found that a new conveyor system installed by the owners in 2011 did not properly clean the cantaloupes.

1985 Queso Fresco recall in the U.S.: 52 deaths

In 1985, Jalisco Products recalled their Mexican-style cheese products, including its queso fresco and cojita cheese, after they were connected to a very lethal outbreak of listeria. This was the deadliest listeria outbreak in the U.S., linked to at least 52 deaths.

2011 bean sprouts recall in Germany: 53 deaths

German health officials identified bean sprouts from an organic farm in the German state of Lower Saxony as responsible for a deadly outbreak of a rare strain of E. coli. Previously, officials had wrongly blamed cucumbers from Spain as source of the outbreak. Now, it is believed the outbreak — which resulted in that resulted in at least 53 deaths — originated from single lot of sprouts seeds that were imported from Egypt.

2017-2018 processed meat recall in South Africa: 216 deaths

In 2017, the South African company Enterprise Foods recalled some its ready-to-eat processed meat products after they were identified as the source of the world’s largest reported outbreak of listeria. The outbreak, which lasted a year and a half, resulted in over 1,000 confirmed infections and 216 deaths.