Boar's Head, a renowned deli meat producer, has announced the closure of its Virginia plant following a fatal listeria outbreak linked to its products.
According to The Western Journal, the company will permanently discontinue the production of liverwurst, the item associated with the outbreak that resulted in at least nine deaths and approximately 50 hospitalizations across 18 states.
The Sarasota, Florida-based company expressed deep regret for the incident in a statement published on its website. An internal investigation revealed that the contamination was the result of a specific production process unique to the Jarratt, Virginia facility and exclusively used for liverwurst production.
The Jarratt plant, which has been non-operational since late July, had a troubled history prior to the outbreak. Government inspectors uncovered 69 instances of "noncompliance" at the facility over the past year. These violations included the presence of mold, insects, liquid dripping from ceilings, and meat and fat residue on various surfaces throughout the plant.
The scope of the recall was extensive, with Boar's Head recalling more than 7 million pounds of deli meats and other products after tests confirmed the presence of listeria bacteria in its products. This recall was initiated when it became clear that the contaminated products were making consumers ill.
Listeria infections pose a significant health risk, as symptoms may not appear for up to 10 weeks after consuming contaminated food. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control estimates that approximately 1,600 people contract listeria food poisoning annually, with about 260 of these cases resulting in death.
The closure of the Jarratt plant will have a substantial impact on the local workforce. Boar's Head acknowledged that "hundreds" of employees will be affected by this decision. The company stated:
We do not take lightly our responsibility as one of the area's largest employers. But, under these circumstances, we feel that a plant closure is the most prudent course.
In response to the crisis, Boar's Head is implementing several measures to enhance food safety across its operations. The company has announced the appointment of a new chief food safety officer who will report directly to the president.
Additionally, Boar's Head is establishing a safety council comprised of independent experts, including former high-ranking officials from the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
Boar's Head views this incident as an opportunity to not only improve its own food safety protocols but also to set new standards for the entire industry. The company stated:
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.
This approach suggests that Boar's Head is committed to learning from this tragedy and implementing changes that could potentially benefit food safety practices across the sector.
The closure of Boar's Head's Virginia plant marks a significant event in the food production industry. The listeria outbreak linked to the facility resulted in multiple deaths and hospitalizations across 18 states. The company has permanently discontinued liverwurst production and is closing the plant that employed hundreds of workers.
In response, Boar's Head is implementing new safety measures and appointing food safety experts to prevent future incidents. This event underscores the critical importance of stringent food safety practices in the food production industry.
