Boar’s Head has announced the permanent closure of its Jarratt, Virginia, facility, following a deadly Listeria outbreak that has claimed the lives of nine people and sickened dozens across 18 states.
The company also revealed that it will no longer produce liverwurst, the product linked to the outbreak, as part of its response to the crisis.
The outbreak led to the recall of over 7 million pounds of Boar’s Head deli meats, and the company’s decision to halt liverwurst production followed an investigation that identified a specific contamination issue at the Jarratt plant, which had been shut down since late July.
Federal inspectors found Listeria monocytogenes in a “low risk” area of the plant, sparking concerns about a range of sanitation failures, including mold, blood puddles, and cross-contamination risks between different production lines.
As of late August, 57 people had been hospitalized due to the outbreak, with health officials tracing the source of the contamination to deli-sliced meats, including liverwurst. In response, Boar’s Head issued a statement expressing deep regret and pledged to revamp safety procedures across its operations.
In addition to the indefinite closure of the Jarratt plant, the company announced the formation of a food safety council and the hiring of a new chief food safety and quality assurance officer. Severance packages and relocation options will be offered to the plant’s affected employees.
The New York Times, People, Ars Technica contributed to this report.
