Records reveal that a Boar’s Head deli meat plant in Jarratt, Virginia, connected to a fatal listeria outbreak, had repeatedly breached federal food safety regulations, Independent reports.
The plant has been linked to at least nine deaths and the hospitalization of approximately 50 others in 18 states.
According to documents obtained through Freedom of Information Act requests, the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) recorded 69 instances of “noncompliance” with federal rules at the plant over the last year. Mold, insects, dripping liquid from ceilings, and large amounts of meat and fat residue on walls, floors, and equipment were among the violations. The inspection reports, which run from August 1, 2023 to August 2, 2024, also mentioned flies near pickle vats and black mold patches on ceilings.
The plant was linked to a listeria outbreak, which resulted in the recall of more than 7 million pounds of Boar’s Head products last month. The bacteria, which can survive in difficult-to-clean environments, was discovered in the deli meats, raising serious public health concerns.
Despite repeated warnings to plant workers about these safety flaws, conditions reportedly did not improve. The records contained no test results confirming the presence of listeria in the factory, but the environmental conditions described are known to promote the bacteria’s growth.
Barbara Kowalcyk, director of George Washington University’s Institute for Food Safety and Nutrition Security, expressed concern about the lack of additional actions taken by the company and regulators. Donald Schaffner, a food science expert at Rutgers University, stated that the reports’ persistent sanitation issues indicate significant problems with maintaining cleanliness.
Boar’s Head has yet to respond to a request for comment, but has expressed regret for the recall’s impact and stated that food safety is a top priority. The USDA has not yet responded to inquiries about enforcement actions involving the plant’s conditions.
Garshon Morgenstein, who lost his father to a listeria infection linked to Boar’s Head liverwurst, criticized the situation, calling it “disgusting and shameful.” Legal experts in food safety have also commented on the severity of the plant’s conditions, stating that they are among the most concerning violations seen in recent years.
