Boar’s Head introduced Friday it has indefinitely shut down a Virginia deli meat plant and discontinuing the liverwurst that’s linked to a deadly multi-state listeria outbreak that additionally sickened dozens.
In what it known as a “darkish second” within the firm’s historical past, Boar’s Head mentioned in a Friday statement it’s indefinitely closing its plant in Jarratt, Virginia, the place the liverwurst product linked to the outbreak was made.
The reason for the contamination was a “particular manufacturing course of” that solely existed on the Jarratt facility, the corporate mentioned.
“We remorse and deeply apologize for the latest Listeria monocytogenes contamination in our liverwurst product. We perceive the gravity of this example and the profound influence it has had on affected households,” the assertion mentioned.
“Now we have made the tough resolution to indefinitely shut this location, which has not been operational since late July 2024. It pains us to influence the livelihoods of tons of of hard-working workers,” the corporate mentioned.
“We don’t take evenly our accountability as one of many space’s largest employers,” the assertion continues. “However, underneath these circumstances, we really feel {that a} plant closure is probably the most prudent course. We’ll work to help every of our workers within the transition course of.”
This yr’s liverwurst outbreak killed 9 and hospitalized 57. Boar’s Head recalled its Strassburger Model Liverwurst on July 25 over issues it contained the bacterium Listeria monocytogenes.
The CDC mentioned the corporate was chargeable for the most important listeriosis outbreak since 2011, when more than 30 people died from affected cantaloupe.
The recall was expanded to include 7 million pounds of meat, which the corporate mentioned was each merchandise produced on the facility.
The U.S. Division of Agriculture on July 31 gave the Jarratt facility a notice of suspension.
In line with information from the USDA, the Virginia plant had dozens of violations that included reviews of inspectors discovering bugs, mould and puddles of blood.
Division personnel logged 69 situations of noncompliance with federal laws on the plant from Aug. 1, 2023, by way of Aug. 2, 2024, in accordance with paperwork CBS News obtained by way of federal Freedom of Info Act requests.
In line with the paperwork, the Agriculture Division reported “heavy discolored meat construct up” on a hydraulic pump within the plant and on the motor of an inspection line on Aug. 8, 2023, and once more reported “heavy meat buildup” on partitions of a room within the plant on June 10.
The presence of bugs was additionally a problem on the plant, in accordance with division.
Flies had been discovered “going out and in” of pickle vats on June 10, and “small flying gnat like bugs had been noticed crawling on the partitions and flying across the room.” The division additionally reported a “regular line of ants” and “a presence of flying bugs” in the identical room, in accordance with the paperwork. Additionally reported on the identical day had been “7 ladybugs, 1 beetle like insect, and 1 cockroach like insect.”
Boar’s Head mentioned since its voluntary recall in late July, it has labored with the USDA and state authorities regulatory companies and main meals security specialists to study what went unsuitable and make enhancements.
Some elevated measures, in accordance with Boar’s Head, embrace: Appointing a brand new chief meals security officer who will report on to the corporate’s president; launching a meals security council comprised of impartial meals security specialists; and creating an enhanced and companywide meals security and QA program, Boar’s Head mentioned.
Gallup not too long ago discovered that Americans’ faith in the government’s ability to provide safe food in its food supply has reached a document low since 1999.
