Boar's Head closes Virginia plant at center of listeria scandal

Boar's Head is closing the Virginia plant at the center of a deadly listeria outbreak, describing the decision as a 'dark moment in our company's history.'

The deli plant will also permanently discontinue the production of liverwurst, which was the product responsible for the July scandal which left nine people dead and a further 57 hospitalized.

'Given the seriousness of the outbreak, and the fact that it originated at Jarratt, we have made the difficult decision to indefinitely close this location, which has not been operational since late July 2024,' Boar's Head said in a statement on Friday. 

The closure will impact up to 500 employees at the plant, the New York Times reports. 

A union representative told the publication that Boar's Head was providing severance packages and some relocation options.

'It pains us to impact the livelihoods of hundreds of hard-working employees. We do not take lightly our responsibility as one of the area's largest employers. 

'But, under these circumstances, we feel that a plant closure is the most prudent course. We will work to assist each of our employees in the transition process.'

The contamination was caused specifically within the production process of liverwurst at the Jarratt facility, and no other products were affected.

It prompted a mass recall over listeria concerns on July 26, including liverwurst produced between June 11 and July 17.

The outbreak was later linked to nine deaths and 57 hospitalizations across 18 states. 

The plant described the incident, and the subsequent decision to shutter the doors, as a 'dark moment in our company's history.' 

Boar's Head vowed to use this as a lesson and 'opportunity to enhance food safety... for the entire industry.' 

The Department of Agriculture issued a notice of suspension on July 31 to the plant, revealing it would 'withhold the federal marks of inspection and suspend the operations of Ready-to-Eat products.'

In the notice, it was determined the establishment 'failed to maintain sanitary conditions.' 

Reports from the USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service showed the $1billion company was warned of 69 violations at the plant in Jarratt, Virginia, in the past year.

Concerns were raised before Boar's Head deli meat triggered the biggest listeria outbreak in the US in over a decade — with dozens of its products contaminated.

In one report, inspectors said they saw flies going in and out of a vat of pickles, while a trail of ants were witnessed crawling up walls nearby.

Inspectors also detailed how mold and mildew had built up on surfaces — and that, in some areas of the factory, there was a 'rancid smell' and 'ample blood' covering sections of the floor.

It was the biggest food-borne disease outbreak to hit the US since the cantaloupe outbreak in 2011, when cantaloupe contaminated with listeria sickened 147 people and lead to 33 deaths.

Among those to die was father-of-three and Holocaust survivor Gunter Morgenstein, who had regularly consumed the company's liverwurst because it reminded him of his native Germany.