A Boar’s Head Provisions facility in Jarratt is closed while the company works to disinfect the Virginia plant after a multi-state Listeria outbreak linked to its deli meats which has killed nine and hospitalized 57 people to date.
The USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service, or FSIS, released 44 pages of inspection reports dated back to Aug. 1, 2023, showing ongoing issues at the plant with condensation, standing water and unsanitary conditions in processing areas and coolers. Listeria bacteria reportedly thrive in moist environments.
Issues documented in the reports include meat build-up on equipment, overspray on walls, pieces of meat on the floor, blood in puddles on the floor, rancid odors, flies, gnats, cobwebs, green mold and black mold on walls.
One example of condensation documented in the report read that in an effort to take corrective action, an employee wiped the area but the leaks returned within 10 seconds. The inspector wrote that the issue was near fans that looked to be blowing the liquid onto uncovered deli meats.
In another report, the inspector noted that in a raw receiving cooler, there were “ample amounts of blood in puddles on the floor” and a rancid smell.
The reports show that Boar’s Head employees failed to follow its Sanitation Standard Operating Procedures, or SSOP, multiple times, but no enforcement actions appeared to have been taken. Corrective actions were taken to address problems raised by inspectors.
The Liverwurst Cook tank room, where it is believed the deadly strain of Listeria originated, was inspected on July 24 this year and condensation was noted as an issue.
A Seattle lawyer who has sued companies over food poisoning outbreaks told the AP that the conditions described in the reports were the worst he has seen in three decades.
During the Trump Administration, steps were taken to deregulate the food system with hopes that the measures would make it easier for food to be accessible for families. Experts at the time warned that food safety may suffer. Due to the lack of regulations, warning letters sent by FSIS under Trump dropped considerably when compared to the number of letters sent under the previous administration, according to an article in Science.
Boar’s Head has recalled more than 7 million pounds of ready-to-eat meat and poultry products in response to the Listeria strain – the largest outbreak since 2011.
“FSIS has suspended inspection at the Boar’s Head establishment in Jarratt, Virginia, which means that it remains closed until the establishment is able to demonstrate it can produce safe product,” said an FSIS spokesperson.
In addition to disinfecting the plant, Boar’s Head officials say they plan to retrain employees before resuming operations.
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Listeria infections cause approximately 260 deaths in the U.S. each year.
Past outbreaks in the U.S. have been linked to cantaloupe and other raw and processed fruits and vegetables, raw or undercooked poultry, unpasteurized milks and cheeses, ice cream, sausages, hot dogs, deli meats and fish and seafood. L. monocytogenes has also been found in raw pet food.
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Crystal Graham
