Troubled deli meat factory run by Boar's Head to resume operations, despite continued reports of cleanliness concerns
The Boar's Head deli meat plant, which was at the centre of a deadly Listeria monocytogenes outbreak in 2024, is set to reopen in the coming months. The outbreak, which sickened 61 people and caused 10 deaths across 19 states, was linked to the Jarratt, Virginia, plant.
Government inspections revealed chronic sanitation problems at the facility, including mold, insects, meat residues on equipment, rust, chipping paint, dripping condensation, blocked drains with meat products, overflowing trash, and employees not following proper hygiene protocols like wearing hairnets or washing hands.
Despite the severity of the problems and the outbreak, Boar's Head planned to reopen the Jarratt plant after the USDA lifted a forced suspension on July 18, 2025. However, sanitation concerns persist, with ongoing reports of insanitary conditions not only at the Jarratt plant but also at other Boar's Head facilities in Arkansas, Indiana, and another Virginia location. These problems have been described as reflecting a broader "food safety culture problem" within the company.
Boar's Head has publicly apologized and asserted a commitment to food safety, stating that they have implemented comprehensive measures and worked with the USDA to develop a plan to reopen the facility in a controlled manner. The company has also hired a chief food safety officer and convened a panel of expert advisers, which includes Frank Yiannas, a former U.S. Food and Drug Administration official, and Mindy Brashears, President Donald Trump's nominee for USDA's undersecretary for food safety.
However, outside food safety advocates expressed surprise that factory conditions did not improve since the outbreak was first identified. Sandra Eskin, a former USDA official who heads STOP Foodborne Illness, has expressed concerns about the company's promises to address systemic problems and federal oversight of listeria contamination in plants that make ready-to-eat foods. Barbara Kowalcyk, who directs a food safety and nutrition security center at George Washington University, stated that there is an organizational culture issue that needs to be changed.
Boar's Head permanently stopped making liverwurst and recalled over 7 million pounds of deli products following the outbreak. The Jarratt, Virginia, plant was shut down in September due to sanitation problems that led to the listeria contamination. The most recent report of these sanitation problems was in June.
Consumers, especially older people, those who are pregnant, or have weakened immune systems, are advised to think carefully about deli meat consumption due to ongoing issues at Boar's Head. Several survivors of the listeria outbreak declined to comment publicly on the new problems, citing financial settlements with the company that included nondisclosure agreements.
Officials at Boar's Head have posted job openings for two dozen positions, including a food safety quality analyst, at the Jarratt site. The USDA has stated that the Jarratt plant is now in full compliance with food safety guidelines.
References:
- ABC News
- CNN
- Food Safety News
- The Washington Post
- The New York Times
In the face of continuing health-and-wellness concerns, scientific scrutiny remains critical for Boar's Head plants, particularly the Jarratt facility in Virginia, which is set to reopen. Despite reassurances from Boar's Head about improved sanitation, outside food safety advocates question the company's commitment to addressing systemic health-and-wellness issues, such as the broader "food safety culture problem."
