Boar's Head has announced the closure of its Virginia plant following a deadly listeria outbreak linked to the facility.
According to Daily Mail Online, the company described the decision as a "dark moment" in its history. The closure comes after nine deaths and 57 hospitalizations across 18 states were attributed to contaminated liverwurst produced at the Jarratt plant.
The company stated that the Jarratt facility, which has been non-operational since late July 2024, will be indefinitely closed. Additionally, Boar's Head has decided to permanently discontinue the production of liverwurst, the product responsible for the July scandal. The closure will impact up to 500 employees, with the company providing severance packages and some relocation options.
The contamination was specifically linked to the liverwurst production process at the Jarratt facility. Boar's Head emphasized that no other products were affected by the outbreak. The company initiated a mass recall on July 26, which included liverwurst produced between June 11 and July 17.
Boar's Head expressed deep regret over the impact on its employees, acknowledging its role as one of the area's largest employers. However, the company stated that under the circumstances, plant closure was deemed the most prudent course of action.
The incident has prompted Boar's Head to commit to enhancing food safety practices not only within their company but for the entire industry. They view this tragedy as an opportunity to improve and prevent similar occurrences in the future.
Prior to the outbreak, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service had raised concerns about the Jarratt plant. Reports showed that the $1 billion company had been warned of 69 violations at the facility in the past year.
On July 31, the Department of Agriculture issued a notice of suspension to the plant. The notice stated that the establishment had "failed to maintain sanitary conditions" and that the USDA would "withhold the federal marks of inspection and suspend the operations of Ready-to-Eat products."
Inspectors documented various unsanitary conditions at the plant, including flies around vats of pickles, ant trails on walls, and the buildup of mold and mildew on surfaces. In some areas, inspectors noted a "rancid smell" and "ample blood" covering sections of the floor.
The listeria outbreak linked to Boar's Head products has been identified as the largest food-borne disease outbreak to hit the United States since the cantaloupe outbreak in 2011. That previous incident resulted in 147 illnesses and 33 deaths due to listeria contamination.
Among the victims of the recent outbreak was Gunter Morgenstein, a father of three and Holocaust survivor. Morgenstein had regularly consumed the company's liverwurst because it reminded him of his native Germany.
The scale of this outbreak has raised significant concerns about food safety practices in the industry and the effectiveness of current inspection protocols. It has also sparked discussions about the need for more stringent regulations and oversight in food production facilities.
Boar's Head has closed its Virginia plant due to a deadly listeria outbreak linked to contaminated liverwurst. The closure affected 500 employees and resulted in the permanent discontinuation of liverwurst production. Nine deaths and 57 hospitalizations across 18 states were attributed to the outbreak. The company had previously received warnings about violations at the facility. Boar's Head is providing severance packages and relocation options for affected employees while pledging to improve food safety practices industry-wide.
