A deadly listeria outbreak has resulted in the regretful decision by Boar’s Head to shutter its plant in Jarratt, Virginia where it produces liverwurst, a product that has been linked to the deaths of at least nine people and the hospitalization of 50 others across 18 states.
The facility has been closed since late July when more than seven million pounds of deli meats and other products were recalled after tests confirmed the presence of listeria. The outbreak was caused by contamination that resulted from a specific production process used exclusively in that plant to produce liverwurst.
Listeria, unfortunately, is bacteria that can survive refrigeration, and according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control it impacts around 1,600 people each year, of which 260 are fatal cases. Tracing the infections can prove to be difficult given the late onset of symptoms, which may occur up to 10 weeks after ingestion. The plant in question, however, has not been a stranger to regulatory non-compliance in the past, with listeria one of the many issues it has faced including mold, insects, and leaks.
Boar’s Head will appoint a new chief food safety officer and will establish a safety council to mitigate the recurrence of these issues at its other facilities. Hundreds of employees will be impacted by the closure.
