Boar's Head is preparing to reopen its Jarratt, Va., deli meat plant, which was the cause of a deadly outbreak of listeria last summer.
A number of local media reported on the company’s progress with USDA, which apparently lifted the forced suspension on July 18 after "thoroughly review[ing]" the plant. Boar’s Head officials said they hope to reopen the plant in the coming months.
While that plant may be cleared, CBS News and Associated Press reported USDA found violations at Boar's Head plants in Forrest City, Ark.; New Castle, Ind.; and Petersburg, Va. – many of the same kinds of sanitation problems that led to the outbreak, with the most recent report coming this June.
The listeria outbreak from the Jarratt plant stretched from May to November 2024, resulted in the deaths of 10 people and infections of 61 more and led to the recall of more than 7 million lbs. of deli meats.
Contamination of a line producing liverwurst was pinpointed, but reporting uncovered numerous confirmed food safety violations in the plant over the years, some reports from USDA inspectors calling it “filthy.” Boar's Head has permanently stopped making liverwurst.
