Boar’s Head plant in Virginia set to reopen one year after listeria outbreak that resulted in fatalities.
A processing plant operated by Boar’s Head, which was shuttered last year due to a significant listeria outbreak that affected multiple states, is scheduled to reopen in the coming months, according to statements from officials. The outbreak, which has been described as the largest of its kind in the United States since 2011, was traced back to the facility in Jarratt, Virginia, and resulted in over 60 reported illnesses across 19 states, along with 10 fatalities. The tragic toll included victims from New York and New Jersey as well. In response to the health crisis, Boar’s Head was compelled to recall over 7 million pounds of deli products, alongside a permanent cessation of its liverwurst production line.
The investigation into this public health emergency commenced in July 2024, following a positive test for listeria on a sample of liverwurst collected from a Maryland store. As the evidence mounted, Boar’s Head took the precautionary step of indefinitely closing the Jarratt facility by September 2024, citing the gravity of the outbreak. This ultimately led to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) withdrawing critical federal inspection certifications necessary for the plant’s operations, which halted production entirely.
Recently, USDA officials announced that the suspension of operations at the Jarratt facility was lifted on July 18, following a diligent review of the plant’s sanitation and operational protocols. The USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service confirmed that the facility is now in full compliance with the recommended guidelines for safe food handling and production, emphasizing that the considerable issues which contributed to the previous suspension have been rectified.
However, a recent Freedom of Information Act request has revealed troubling information regarding other Boar’s Head facilities. Documents indicate that plants in Arkansas, Indiana, and Virginia have been cited for similar sanitary deficiencies that were present at the Jarratt location during the listeria outbreak. Inspections conducted over the past seven months reported numerous “noncompliances,” including obstructed drains, overflowing waste receptacles on production floors, and staff failing to adhere to basic hygiene protocols such as wearing hairnets and washing hands.
As Boar’s Head prepares to resume operations, questions surrounding the integrity of food safety measures at its other facilities remain a cause for concern, highlighting the ongoing challenges within the food processing industry. The reopening of the Jarratt plant signals a return to business for Boar’s Head, but the recent findings underscore the critical importance of maintaining rigorous safety standards to protect public health.
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