Boar’s Head Permanently Ends Liverwurst Production
After it was identified as the source of a fatal Listeria outbreak, Boar’s Head liverwurst has been permanently discontinued. The outbreak, linked to liverwurst produced at Boar’s Head’s plant in Jarratt, VA has sickened 57 people killing nine of them. The company issued a recall for 7 million pounds of deli meat potentially contaminated with Listeria.
Boar’s Head said in a statement that the root cause of the contamination “was a specific production process that only existed at the Jarratt facility and was used only for liverwurst. With this discovery, we have decided to permanently discontinue liverwurst.”
The company did not provide details on the problematic liverwurst production process. Nor did it address the egregious food safety violations at the Jarratt plant, beyond stating the company “would not make excuses.”
Food Safety Violations, Regulatory Failures
One year of inspection reports, obtained by CBS News through a Freedom of Information Act request, revealed filthy conditions at the plant including:
- Pools of blood on the floor
- Meat buildup on equipment and the walls
- Rusted equipment
- Meat scraps on the floor
- Standing water on the floor
- Mold on the walls
- Dripping ceilings
- Foul odors
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (USDA FSIS) is the federal agency tasked with safeguarding the nation’s meat and poultry supply. When asked by various news outlets why it allowed the plant was able to continue operating under such deplorable conditions, the agency stated that it didn’t.
Under the Talmadge-Aiken Cooperative Inspection Program, some states are allowed to provide federal inspection services. So, Boar’s Head’s Jarratt facility is actually inspected by the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS). “FSIS is working closely with VDACS to ensure the establishment has an effective system in place to produce safe food for the public,” the agency told CNN.
Two days later, the Jarratt plant was permanently closed.
As the outbreak and investigation unfold, Boar’s Head said it is working to regain the trust of its customers and has committed to enhancing its food safety by creating the role of a Chief Food Safety and Quality Assurance Office, establishing an internal Food Safety Council, and implementing a companywide food safety and quality assurance program.
Those changes will come too late for the 57 people who developed Listeria infections after eating Boar’s Head liverwurst and other meat. All of them were hospitalized and nine people have died.
Experienced Listeria Lawyers
If you were sickened in this outbreak or if you suffered the wrongful death of a family member and would like a free consultation with our experienced team of Listeria lawyers, please contact us today by calling 888-377-8900 (toll-free), texting 612-261-0856, or by completing the form below.