On Thursday, August 28th, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) recorded “dozens of violations” that led to the listeria outbreak linked to a Boar’s Head plant in Jarratt, Virginia, which resulted in nine deaths and 57 hospitalizations across 18 states. The outbreak, which began earlier this year, has been identified as the largest listeriosis outbreak since the 2011 cantaloupe outbreak that caused over 30 deaths. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that the outbreak originated from deli meats contaminated with the bacterium Listeria monocytogenes, found in products distributed from the Boar’s Head plant.
The outbreak prompted Boar’s Head to recall all products manufactured at the Jarratt plant, totaling over 7 million pounds of deli meats. Following the recall, federal inspectors found numerous violations at the facility, including the presence of mold, mildew, insects, and various contaminants. Reports from the USDA detailed repeated instances of noncompliance, such as mold buildup around handwashing sinks and inside holding coolers, insects near meat products, and leaks that posed further contamination risks.
The contaminated meats were identified through genetic sequencing, which matched the bacteria from unopened packages of deli meats to the strain responsible for the outbreak. The affected products, including Boar’s Head Strassburger Brand Liverwurst, were found to have been widely distributed across several states, leading to the multistate outbreak. Health officials have warned consumers to check their refrigerators for recalled products and thoroughly clean any surfaces that may have come into contact with the contaminated meats.
Boar’s Head has suspended operations at the Jarratt plant and is working to disinfect the facility while retraining employees. “Food safety is our absolute priority, and the health and well-being of our consumers are paramount,” the company stated in a recent update. Despite these efforts, the company’s handling of the situation has drawn scrutiny, with questions about potential penalties from the USDA for the repeated violations at the plant.
The CDC has advised people, especially those with weakened immune systems, pregnant women, and individuals over 65, to be vigilant about the symptoms of listeriosis, which can include fever, muscle aches, nausea, and, in severe cases, symptoms affecting the nervous system.
