66d1ecd2b3a33c2edf78cce8 Deliadobestock 281532841

Boar’s Head Plant in Listeria Recall Had Multiple USDA Violations

Aug. 30, 2024
The agency’s Food Safety and Inspection Service found dead insects, rotting meat and mold in inspections over the past year. The death toll now is nine.

As the death toll in the Boar’s Head deli meat recall hit nine, reports have surfaced that USDA inspectors found deplorable conditions at the Jarratt, Va., plant over the past year and even in weeks leading up to the outbreak of listeria tied to that plant.

USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service found repeated violations of food safety regulations, including instances of mold, insects, liquid dripping from ceilings and meat and fat residue on walls, floors and equipment.

Government inspectors logged 69 instances of “noncompliance” with federal rules in the past year, according to an Associated Press report, including several in recent weeks. Boar’s Head officials halted production at the plant in late July and started issuing recalls.

Listeria linked to the plant has been the cause of at least nine deaths and hospitalizations of about 50 others in 18 states, according to reports. The company recalled more than 7 million pounds of products in the past month.

The latest recall list includes 71 products produced between May 10 and July 29 under the Boar’s Head and Old Country brand names. These items include meat intended for slicing at retail delis as well as some packaged meat and poultry products sold at retail locations. Most were distributed to retail locations nationwide and some were exported.

In the earliest inspection report we saw, dated Aug. 8, 2023, an inspector had the covering of a pump removed and “an obvious odor filled the department.” Inside was “heavy, discolored meat build-up.” That same report noted meat overspray and fat on walls, rusting equipment and standing water. In one of the more recent inspections this July 27 -- a day after the first recall – an inspector noted water dripping from a ceiling that was blown by a fan onto uncovered hams.

Other inspections noted dead flies floating atop a vat of vinegar, dirty floors and mold.

The Boar’s Head brand was established in the New York City area in 1905. The company is now headquartered in Sarasota, Fla., and is controlled by the Brunckhorst and Bischoff families, descendants of the founder.

About the Author

Dave Fusaro | Editor in Chief

Dave Fusaro has served as editor in chief of Food Processing magazine since 2003. Dave has 30 years experience in food & beverage industry journalism and has won several national ASBPE writing awards for his Food Processing stories. Dave has been interviewed on CNN, quoted in national newspapers and he authored a 200-page market research report on the milk industry. Formerly an award-winning newspaper reporter who specialized in business writing, he holds a BA in journalism from Marquette University. Prior to joining Food Processing, Dave was Editor-In-Chief of Dairy Foods and was Managing Editor of Prepared Foods.

Sponsored Recommendations

Refrigerated transport services you can count on

Ensure product quality from origin to final destination with refrigerated shipping solutions from Schneider.

4 shipping challenges that a dedicated carrier can solve

Navigating the logistics industry is challenging. Find out how a dedicated transportation solution can solve some of the most common shipping challenges.

Dedicated lightweight solution maximizes bottled water payload

A leading bottled water company needed a carrier to transport water from 29 plants to retailers. The challenge? Handling over 46,000 pounds. Read the study.

Recipe for successful growth: Schneider’s dedicated fleet services helps bakery rise

Learn how a large bakery company complimented their private fleet with Schneider Dedicated freight services to increase freight capacity, amplify visibility & reduce costs.