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Boar's Head Closing Plant After Listeria Outbreak
A USDA recall for various Boar's Head deli and ready-to-eat packaged meats that were contaminated with Listeria, occurred in late July and expanded a few days later.
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The recall of liverwurst among other deli meat first occurred in late July.Olha_Afanasieva/iStock/Getty Images Plus via Getty Images
Boar's Head Provisions Co. has announced the closing of its Virginia plant that is linked to a Listeria outbreak.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported the product was linked to the deaths of at least nine people and hospitalizations of about 50 others in 18 states.
On July 25, the USDA listed a recall for Sarasota, FL-based Boar's Head liverwurst, due to possible Listeria contamination. The meat company also recalled additional deli meat products that were produced on the same line and on the same day as the liverwurst and, therefore, could be adulterated with Listeria as well.
A liverwurst sample collected by the Maryland Department of Health tested positive for the outbreak strain of Listeria monocytogenes at the time.
The recall was expanded on July 29 to include 7 million additional pounds of ready-to-eat meat and poultry products. To date, more than 70 products were affected.
Today the company announced the decision to close the plant, located in Jarratt, VA, that manufactured the tainted liverwurst. On its website, the company said it has worked closely with the USDA on the investigation into how the product got contaminated.
The notice went on to say that the investigation identified the root cause of the contamination as a specific production process that only existed at the Jarratt facility and was used only for liverwurst, and thus, decided to permanently discontinue liverwurst.
As well, Boar's Head decided to indefinitely close the Jarratt facility, which has not been operational since late July. The USDA's Food Safety & Inspection Service sent Boar's Head on July 31, 2024, a Notice of Suspension for the plant.
Additionally, Boar's Head has introduced new safety measures, to include:
Appointing a new Chief Food Safety & Quality Assurance Officer (CFSO), reporting directly to the Boar’s Head president.
Establishing a “Boar’s Head Food Safety Council” comprised of independent industry-leading food safety experts, some of whom have been assisting with the current investigation at the Jarratt facility. The Food Safety Council, which may evolve over time and as needed, will assist the company’s adoption and implementation of enhanced quality assurance (QA) programs and create a new standard for food safety in the industry. The council will serve as advisors to the new Chief Food Safety Officer and to the company as a whole.
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