Poor Sanitation At Boar바카라�s Head Deli Meat Plant Linked To Listeria Outbreak, Federal Reports Reveal

Recent federal records have revealed alarming violations at a Boar바카라�s Head deli meat plant in Virginia, which is linked to a listeria outbreak that has resulted in nine deaths and nearly 50 hospitalizations. The documents, obtained through Freedom of Information Act requests, detail severe sanitation issues at the plant, including mold, flies, and dripping water.

The Jarratt, Virginia, facility, a rural plant operated by Boar바카라�s Head Provisions Co. Inc., was under scrutiny from federal meat inspectors for over a year. Despite repeated inspections revealing significant problems, including black mold on walls, dead flies, and meat residue on surfaces, the facility continued to operate until a large-scale recall was issued.

The outbreak was first identified when Günter Morgenstein, an 88-year-old hair stylist known locally as Garshon, fell gravely ill in early July. The connection between his illness and Boar바카라�s Head liverwurst was confirmed through whole genome sequencing by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), leading to a recall of 3,500 tons of meat products.

Between August 1, 2023, and August 2, 2024, inspectors noted 84 instances of noncompliance at the plant. These included issues such as 바카라�black patches of mold바카라� on ceilings, 바카라�heavy discolored meat buildup,바카라� and flies seen 바카라�going in and out바카라� of pickle vats. One inspection report even detailed 바카라�a rancid smell in the cooler바카라� and blood puddled on the floor.

The USDA바카라�s zero-tolerance policy for listeria mandates immediate recalls when contamination is detected, yet it appears the USDA inspectors did not prompt the recall themselves. The recall, which began on July 25 and was expanded on July 29, came only after state health officials and epidemiologists traced the outbreak to Boar바카라�s Head products.

바카라�The repeated nature of these violations is deeply concerning,바카라� said Brian Ronholm, director of food policy at Consumer Reports. 바카라�Given the severity of the outbreak, it바카라�s clear there바카라�s a breakdown in the process, especially considering the USDA바카라�s zero-tolerance stance on listeria.바카라�

The USDA confirmed that the Virginia facility has been closed until it can demonstrate that it can produce safe products. Boar바카라�s Head officials have stated they are working with food safety experts to address the issues at the plant, which they claim were confined to a specific process.

The CDC reported that 57 people across 18 states were hospitalized due to listeria infections, with the majority being elderly individuals. According to health experts, listeria can persist in refrigerators and on surfaces and so there are chances that consumers might still have recalled products in their homes.

The contamination issues at the plant included severe voilations in sanitation and maintenance levels, raising questions about the effectiveness of the facility바카라�s food safety protocols. 바카라�It바카라�s disturbing to see the same issues persist despite continuous inspections,바카라� said Neal Fortin, director of the Institute for Food Laws & Regulations. 바카라�This indicates serious struggles with maintaining sanitation standards.바카라�

In response to the outbreak, Boar바카라�s Head expressed deep regret and assured customers that no product will be released until they meet stringent safety standards.