Stop and Shop Pulls Deli Meats From Shelves

Shoppers at SouthCoast Stop and Shops may have noticed something odd on Friday afternoon.  The supermarket's deli cases were stripped empty.  Workers at the Fairhaven Stop and Shop were working hard to wipe down all of the deli's surfaces as word of a listeria issue circulated.

The store manager on duty at the Stop and Shop in Fairhaven made it a point to let shoppers know nothing in the Fairhaven store has been contaminated.  "We have not had an outbreak here.  It is throughout the country.  It is not in Fairhaven or anywhere near here."

Shoppers that have recently bought cold cuts at any Stop and Shop are welcome to bring back the product for a full refund.

"Abundance of Caution"

"We just pulled everything from our deli cases as a precaution from the CDC.  We're just following the CDC's recommendation.  None of our Stop and Shop stores have tested positive. we don't have it in our supply chain.  We're doing it as a precaution," said management.

There was no word on how long the deli counters were expected to remain closed.  One worker said that they may reopen the deli as soon as Saturday, but that she had not heard anything definitive.

Multiple signs hanging on the empty deli cases in Fairhaven read, "Due to the nationwide CDC investigation on meats sliced at delis, we have voluntarily closed the deli department for a deep cleaning out of an abundance of caution.  Thank you for understanding."

What is Listeria?

According to the CDC's website, "listeria is a serious infection usually caused by eating food contaminated with the bacterium Listeria monocytogenes. An estimated 1,600 people get listeriosis each year, and about 260 die. The infection is most likely to sicken pregnant women and their newborns, adults aged 65 or older, and people with weakened immune systems."