Boar’s Head Shuts Down Virginia Plant and Discontinues Liverwurst Production Following Deadly Listeria Outbreak

Boar’s Head announced on Friday that it is permanently closing its Jarratt, Virginia, plant in response to a deadly listeria outbreak that has been linked to the deaths of at least nine people and the hospitalization of about 50 others across 18 states. The company also stated it will cease production of liverwurst, the specific product associated with the outbreak.

The Sarasota, Florida-based deli meat company expressed deep regret and extended an apology on its website for the impact of the listeria contamination, which has caused significant illness and loss of life. An internal investigation revealed that the contamination stemmed from a specific production process used solely at the Jarratt plant and only for liverwurst production.

The Jarratt plant hasn’t been operational since late July after Boar’s Head recalled over 7 million pounds of deli meats and other products due to confirmed listeria contamination that had been making people sick. Listeria, a hardy type of bacteria, can survive refrigeration and cause food poisoning, which the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) estimates affects about 1,600 people annually and results in around 260 deaths. The infection is particularly dangerous because symptoms may not appear until up to 10 weeks after consuming contaminated food.

The closure of the Virginia plant will impact “hundreds” of employees, Boar’s Head said in its statement. “We do not take lightly our responsibility as one of the area’s largest employers,” the company noted. “But, under these circumstances, we feel that a plant closure is the most prudent course.”

To prevent such an outbreak from occurring again, Boar’s Head is making significant changes to its food safety practices. The company is appointing a new chief food safety officer who will report directly to its president. Additionally, Boar’s Head is establishing a new safety council comprising independent experts. The council will include Mindy Brashears, a former food safety chief at the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and Frank Yiannas, a former deputy commissioner for food policy at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

“This is a dark moment in our company’s history, but we intend to use this as an opportunity to enhance food safety programs not just for our company, but for the entire industry,” Boar’s Head stated.