Crawford Sausage Co. Public Health Alert for Headcheese Deli Meat Products Over Possible Listeria Contamination

WASHINGTON, D.C. (May 9, 2026) — The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has issued a public health alert involving ready-to-eat headcheese deli meat products produced by Crawford Sausage Co., Inc. due to possible contamination with Listeria monocytogenes. According to the agency, a recall was not requested because the products are no longer available for purchase, though regulators warned consumers may still have them in their refrigerators.

The alert applies to certain “DAISY BRAND Meat Products HEADCHEESE” items distributed to retail deli locations in Illinois and Indiana. FSIS said the issue was identified during an ongoing outbreak investigation involving three illnesses in Illinois. Regulators confirmed that an unopened product sample tested positive for Listeria monocytogenes.

Crawford Sausage Co. public health alert: quick summary

USDA FSIS issued a public health alert for fully cooked pork headcheese products after investigators linked them to a localized Listeria monocytogenes outbreak in Illinois. Crawford Sausage Co., Inc. produced the affected deli meat products on January 20, 2026, with a “USE BY” date of March 26, 2026. FSIS said retail delis in Illinois and Indiana sold the products and warned that consumers may still have them in their refrigerators. Investigators have connected three illnesses to the outbreak so far. FSIS urges consumers to throw away the affected products or return them to the place of purchase.

What happened?

According to FSIS, Crawford Sausage Co., Inc., a Chicago-based meat processor, distributed ready-to-eat pork headcheese products that may contain Listeria monocytogenes. Regulators issued a public health alert instead of a traditional recall because retailers no longer sell the products.

Crawford Sausage Co., Inc. produced the products on January 20, 2026, for slicing at retail deli counters. FSIS said some consumers may only see the producer’s brand name on deli packaging rather than full production details.

Investigators uncovered the issue while examining an ongoing illness outbreak involving three people in Illinois. FSIS, the Illinois Department of Public Health, and local health departments continue to coordinate the investigation, while officials keep the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention informed.

“The problem was discovered as part of an ongoing illness outbreak investigation,” FSIS stated in its public alert. The agency also confirmed that “FSIS collected an unopened headcheese product sample that tested positive for Lm.”

Retail deli locations across Illinois and Indiana received the affected products. Regulators warned consumers that recently purchased products could remain in home refrigerators.

FSIS also urged consumers to throw away the products or return them to the place of purchase, warning that “these products should be thrown away or returned to the place of purchase.”

Affected products

Brand	Product	Size	Best by date	Issue	Affected states
Daisy Brand Meat Products	Headcheese	Various deli-sliced weights	MAR 26 2026	Possible Listeria monocytogenes contamination	Illinois, Indiana
Daisy Brand Meat Products	Headcheese with red “HOT” sticker	Various deli-sliced weights	MAR 26 2026	Possible Listeria monocytogenes contamination	Illinois, Indiana

What caused the issue?

According to the FSIS notice, investigators triggered the alert after testing identified Listeria monocytogenes in an unopened sample of the headcheese product. Laboratory teams continue analyzing the sample to determine whether it matches the outbreak strain connected to illnesses in Illinois.

Listeria monocytogenes can cause listeriosis, a serious foodborne illness particularly dangerous for pregnant women, older adults, newborns, and individuals with weakened immune systems. Symptoms may include fever, muscle aches, headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance, and gastrointestinal issues.

The agency confirmed that three illnesses associated with the outbreak investigation have already been identified in Illinois.

FSIS warned that invasive listeriosis infections can spread beyond the gastrointestinal tract and may lead to miscarriages, stillbirths, premature delivery, or severe infections in newborns.

Questions you might have

Here’s what you should do

• Do not consume the affected headcheese products.
• Throw the products away or return them to the place of purchase.
• Check deli packaging for the “USE BY” date MAR 26 2026 and establishment number “EST. 21406.”
• Thoroughly clean refrigerators, deli drawers, and food-contact surfaces to prevent cross-contamination.
• Consumers with questions can contact Crawford Sausage Co., Inc. at (773) 277-3095.

Behind the Brand

Chicago-based Crawford Sausage Co., Inc. produces sausage and deli meat products for distribution across parts of the Midwest. The company operates under establishment number M21406 and manufactures fully cooked, non-shelf-stable meat products.

The FSIS alert notes that the company is cooperating with federal and state authorities during the ongoing investigation. Source86 reached out to Crawford Sausage Co., Inc. for comment regarding how the contamination may have occurred, but has not yet received a response.

Other relevant recalls

This latest public health alert follows a broader pattern of Listeria-related deli meat and ready-to-eat food incidents across the industry. In recent months, Source86 has covered several similar alerts and recalls involving potential contamination concerns, including Made Fresh Salads’ recall of assorted cream cheeses, Slade Gorton’s recall of Wellsley Farms salmon, Suzanna’s Kitchen’s recall of 13,720 pounds of ready-to-eat grilled chicken fillets, Primavera Nueva’s tamale recalls tied to possible Listeria contamination, and Boss Dairy Farms’ recall of Charlevoix Mild Cheddar Cheese over Listeria concerns. These incidents highlight the continued food safety challenges facing refrigerated ready-to-eat products across multiple categories.

Eran Mizrahi, CEO of Source86, said incidents like this highlight the importance of traceability and supplier oversight throughout the food supply chain.

“Food safety isn’t just about compliance; it’s about trust. Every alert reminds us how vital it is to maintain transparency, rigorous checks, and supplier accountability,” Mizrahi said.

Broader pattern

This public health alert is the latest in a continuing series of Listeria-related warnings involving ready-to-eat foods sold through retail deli counters. Federal regulators have increasingly emphasized the importance of sanitation and environmental monitoring in deli operations because Listeria monocytogenes can survive and spread in refrigerated settings.

FSIS has also repeatedly advised retail delis to follow strict cleaning and sanitization procedures for slicers, counters, and storage areas to reduce the risk of contamination.

Ensuring safe eats

The Crawford Sausage Co. public health alert underscores the ongoing challenges food manufacturers and retailers face in controlling Listeria contamination in ready-to-eat products. While regulators believe the products are no longer being sold, consumers may still unknowingly have affected items at home.

Preventing similar incidents requires strong sanitation practices, rigorous environmental testing, supplier accountability, and rapid traceability systems throughout the food supply chain. Consumers who purchased the affected headcheese products should avoid eating them, dispose of them safely, and thoroughly sanitize refrigerators and food-contact surfaces.

At Source86, we help food brands strengthen ingredient sourcing, FSQA oversight, private-label production, and supply chain transparency, enabling businesses to respond quickly and responsibly when food safety concerns arise. Contact us.