Listeria Exposure Prompts Quaker Lane Stop & Shop to Close Deli Counter

WARWICK, RI — Recent discovery of Listeria bacteria at the 300 Quaker Ln. Stop & Shop has not been connected to any illnesses, but the store has closed its deli and meats counter for a professional cleaning out of an abundance of caution, according to a spokesman.

On Sunday, the Rhode Island Department of Health (RIDOH) posted a release to their website alerting consumers that the grocery store had issued a consumer alert for deli sliced meat and cheese because of potential exposure to Listeria monocytogenes bacteria.

According to the RIDOH announcement, “Consumption of food contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes can cause listeriosis, an uncommon but potentially fatal disease. Healthy people rarely contract listeriosis. However, listeriosis can cause high fever, severe headache, neck stiffness and nausea. Listeriosis can also cause miscarriages and stillbirths, as well as serious and sometimes fatal infections in those with weakened immune systems, such as infants, the elderly and people with HIV infection or people undergoing chemotherapy.”

RIDOH advised customers who bought sliced meat and cheese from the store sold between Jan. 18 and Feb. 2 to discard the products and bring their receipts to Stop & Shop for full refunds.

Stop & Shop spokesman Phil Tracey said the bacteria was discovered during routine, “extensive testing” at the store. “We closed the deli) case out of an abundance of caution,” Tracey said.

He said he could not predict when the deli counter would re-open. The rest of the grocery store remains open.

RIDOH advised consumers seeking more information to visit the store at 300 Quaker Lane in Warwick, or call Stop & Shop customer service at 800-767-7772.