Boar’s Head Closes Virginia Meat Plant Tied to Deadly Listeria Outbreak

Boar’s Head announced on Friday the closure of its Virginia plant in response to a severe listeria outbreak. This facility, located in Jarratt, is linked to the contamination that has resulted in the tragic deaths of at least nine individuals and has sent approximately 50 others to the hospital across 18 states.

In a statement posted on its website, Boar’s Head expressed profound regret for the outbreak and extended its deepest apologies to those affected. The company revealed that the internal investigation conducted at the Jarratt facility identified the contamination source as stemming from a particular production process unique to their liverwurst product.

Since late July, when Boar’s Head initiated a recall of over 7 million pounds of deli meats and various other items due to listeria testing positive in its products, the Jarratt plant has been shut down. Listeria is a resilient bacterium capable of withstanding and even thriving within refrigerated environments. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, around 1,600 people in the United States fall ill from listeria each year, with approximately 260 fatalities attributed to it. The symptoms from listeria infections can emerge up to ten weeks post-consumption of tainted food, adding to the challenge of identifying the source of outbreaks.

The inspection history of the Jarratt plant reveals a troubling pattern. Over the past year, government inspectors documented 69 instances of “noncompliance” within the facility, highlighting issues such as the presence of mold, insects, water leaking from ceilings, and meat and fat residues found on walls, floors, and equipment.

The closure of the Jarratt plant is expected to significantly impact “hundreds” of employees, as acknowledged by Boar’s Head in its statement. The company emphasized its commitment to its role as one of the region’s largest employers but determined that closing the plant was the most responsible course of action under the current circumstances.

In an effort to enhance food safety measures following this outbreak, Boar’s Head announced plans to appoint a new chief food safety officer who will report directly to the company president. Furthermore, the establishment of a safety council is planned, consisting of independent experts in the field, including Mindy Brashears, who previously served as the chief of food safety at the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and Frank Yiannas, a former deputy commissioner for food policy at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

“This is a dark moment in our company’s history, but we intend to use this as an opportunity to enhance food safety programs, not just for our company, but for the entire industry,” Boar’s Head stated. This commitment reflects their determination to address the serious issues raised by the outbreak and to prevent similar incidents in the future.

The impact of this outbreak and the subsequent closure of the Jarratt plant underscores the critical need for rigorous food safety protocols within the food production industry. As consumers become increasingly aware of food safety standards, companies are under heightened scrutiny to ensure their products meet health regulations.

The situation continues to evolve as more information becomes available. Boar’s Head’s actions in the wake of this crisis will be closely monitored by both the public health community and consumers as they seek a path forward in rebuilding trust following this devastating incident.