A deli meat plant in Virginia linked to a fatal food poisoning outbreak has repeatedly violated federal regulations, as revealed in newly disclosed records. The plant, operated by Boar’s Head, was found to have issues ranging from mold, insects, and liquid dripping from ceilings to meat and fat residue on walls, floors, and equipment. Documents obtained through Freedom of Information Act requests detailed 69 instances of noncompliance with federal rules over the past year, with some violations occurring in recent weeks.
The Jarratt, Virginia, plant has been associated with the deaths of at least nine individuals and the hospitalization of around 50 others in 18 states. These cases were all connected to listeria contamination from Boar’s Head deli meats. Following the confirmation of listeria bacteria in their products causing illnesses, the company issued a recall of over 7 million pounds of items last month.
Inspections conducted by the U.S. Food Safety and Inspection Service between August 2023 and August 2024 uncovered issues like discolored meat buildup, overspray on walls, meat on the floor, flies near pickle vats, mold on the ceiling, blood on the floor, and unpleasant odors in cooling areas. Despite repeated notifications to the plant staff regarding their failures to meet requirements, the problems persisted.
The documents did not contain test results confirming listeria in the factory; however, the bacteria can thrive in various areas within a food processing facility, including floors, walls, drains, and equipment. The presence of pests like flies can spread the bacteria, and it can persist in hard-to-clean areas. Boar’s Head representatives did not respond to requests for comment, but they expressed regret for the impact of the recall and stated that they prioritize food safety.
Experts in food safety raised concerns about the recurring issues at the plant, highlighting the risk factors for listeria infections. Listeria causes about 1,600 illnesses and 260 deaths annually in the U.S., with older individuals, pregnant women, and those with weakened immune systems being the most vulnerable. Despite the concerning findings, no enforcement actions against Boar’s Head were reported between January and March in the latest records available. The dire conditions described in the inspection reports were deemed among the worst by a lawyer with three decades of experience in food poisoning cases.
