Boar’s Head Provisions has announced that it will no longer be producing liverwurst and is closing its Virginia facility following a listeria outbreak that resulted in the deaths of nine people and the hospitalization of 57 others across 18 states. The plant in Jarratt, Virginia, has been closed since late July when millions of pounds of deli meat products were recalled due to listeria being detected in the liverwurst produced at the facility. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found numerous violations at the plant, including leftover meat on equipment, mold and mildew buildup, insects in and around deli meats, and blood puddles on the floor.
Boar’s Head has stated that the process used to make liverwurst was the source of the contamination, leading them to discontinue the product entirely at all of their facilities. This decision will impact around 500 union workers who are represented by the United Food and Commercial Workers. Listeria monocytogenes is a bacterium that can spread through various means, including water, mist, clothing and hands of workers, and improperly sanitized equipment. In the past, listeria outbreaks have been linked to deaths, including an outbreak in turkey deli meat in 2002 which resulted in eight deaths and three fetal deaths.
The USDA has a zero-tolerance policy for listeria in ready-to-eat meats, meaning any level of contamination makes the product unsafe for consumption. Boar’s Head, a privately held company that has been in operation since 1905, not only produces deli meats but also offers cheeses, hummus, and condiments under its brand. The closure of the Virginia facility and the discontinuation of liverwurst production are part of the company’s efforts to prevent such incidents from occurring in the future and ensure the safety of their products. The impact of this decision on the workers at the facility is significant, as they will no longer be employed at the plant following the closure.
