Boar’s Head, the Sarasota, Florida-based company, announced on Friday that it will close its plant in Jarratt, Virginia, which was linked to a current listeria outbreak. The company will also discontinue the production of liverwurst, the product associated with the outbreak.
The listeria outbreak resulted in nine reported deaths and approximately 50 hospitalizations across 18 states.
Multiple lawsuits against Boar’s Head are pending, including a wrongful death case filed on behalf of the family of victim Gunter Morgenstein.
In a statement posted on the company’s website, Boar’s Head apologized for the incident and its impact on everyone affected.
According to the company’s internal investigation, the contamination was caused by a specific production process unique to the Jarratt plant and exclusively used for liverwurst production. Operations at the plant have been suspended since late July when Boar’s Head recalled over 7 million pounds of deli meats and other products after the presence of listeria bacteria was confirmed in its products.
Listeriosis, the infection caused by Listeria monocytogenes, is particularly dangerous for certain vulnerable populations. Pregnant individuals, people aged 65 or older, and those with weakened immune systems are at highest risk. Symptoms can include fever, muscle aches, headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance, and convulsions, sometimes preceded by gastrointestinal symptoms. In pregnant individuals, listeriosis can lead to miscarriages, stillbirths, premature delivery, or life-threatening infections in newborns.
Inspectors identified 69 violations at the Jarratt plant over the past year, including mold, insects, liquid dripping from ceilings, and meat and fat residue on surfaces.
The closure will affect “hundreds” of employees, according to Boar’s Head. The company acknowledged its role as a major employer in the area but stated that closing the plant was the most prudent course of action under the circumstances.
In response to the outbreak, Boar’s Head is implementing several measures to enhance food safety. These include appointing a new chief food safety officer who will report directly to the company president and establishing a safety council comprising independent experts.
Boar’s Head described the incident as “a dark moment” in the company’s history but expressed its intention to use this experience as an opportunity to improve food safety programs not only for itself but for the entire industry.
Commenting on this story, one national Listeria lawyer said, “Although the company’s pending food safety and quality measures are a good step in the right direction, they come too late to save victims like Gunter Morgenstein, and others, who have tragically perished after eating Boar’s Head products.”
