Federal inspectors from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) uncovered significant violations at a Boar’s Head plant in Jarratt, Virginia, linked to a listeria outbreak that has caused a nationwide recall of deli meats. The violations include mold, mildew, and insects repeatedly found throughout the facility, according to newly released records.
Boar’s Head initiated a recall of all deli meats produced at the Jarratt plant last month, after products distributed from the site were connected to a growing outbreak of listeriosis. The outbreak has resulted in 57 hospitalizations across 18 states and has now been linked to nine deaths, with fatalities reported in South Carolina, Illinois, New Jersey, Virginia, Florida, Tennessee, New Mexico, and New York.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) confirmed this is the largest listeriosis outbreak since 2011, when an outbreak linked to cantaloupe claimed several lives. Authorities in multiple states found unopened products from the plant contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes, and genetic sequencing confirmed the strain is responsible for the outbreak.
Consumers are advised to check their refrigerators for the recalled deli meats and to thoroughly clean any surfaces that may have come into contact with the contaminated products. A spokesperson from South Carolina’s health department emphasized the risks, warning that some people may have already consumed the products without knowing they were part of the recall.
Records obtained through a Freedom of Information Act request reveal that the USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service issued 69 “noncompliance” reports over the past year at the Jarratt plant. Despite the serious findings, it remains unclear whether Boar’s Head will face penalties, as no enforcement actions have been reported by the agency to date.
Boar’s Head expressed regret over the situation, stating in a press release that food safety is their top priority. Elizabeth Ward, a company spokesperson, emphasized that the USDA conducts daily inspections at the plant and that the company takes immediate corrective action whenever an issue is raised. Operations at the Jarratt plant have been suspended while Boar’s Head conducts a thorough cleaning and retraining of staff. No products will be released until they meet stringent safety standards, the company said.