All Boar’s Head facilities are part of a law enforcement probe after news of the filthy conditions at the company’s Jarratt, Virginia plant tied to a fatal Listeria outbreak came to light, according to CBS News. Deli meat made at the Jarratt plant is the source of a 19-state outbreak that includes 59 illnesses and 10 deaths. Most patients said they ate Boar’s Head liverwurst before they became ill.
Do You Need a Listeria Lawyer?
In August, CBS was first to report the deplorable conditions at Boar’s Head’s Jarratt plant based on inspection documents obtained through a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request. Between August 2023 and August 2024, inspectors found dozens of food safety violations including: water dripping from the ceiling, mold, pools of animal blood on the floor, meat build-up on machinery, debris, foul odors, dead and live insects, rusty equipment; and doors, walls, and ceilings in a state of disrepair.
When CBS requested similar documents for the company’s other processing plants from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (USDA FSIS), the request was denied citing an ongoing law enforcement probe. The agency said it was withholding 93 pages of requested information because the “release of the records could hinder the government’s ability to further control and shape the investigation,” CBS News reported.
Boar’s Head processing neat and poultry products at facilities in:
- Jarratt, VA
- Petersberg, VA
- Forest City, AR
- New Castle, IN
- Holland, MI
In a letter to CBS, USDA FSIS said it was also reviewing its inspection model with a “particular focus on state inspection models, including where policy changes are needed to prevent oversight gaps.” The model referenced is the Talmadge-Aiken Cooperative Inspection Program which allows some states to provide federal inspection services.
Virginia is one of 29 states that conduct inspections on behalf of USDA FSIS. Boar’s Head’s Jarratt facility was inspected by the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS).
Other states operating under this agreement are: Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Maine, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.
The revelation of the law enforcement probe comes as Sen. Richard Blumenthal and Rep. Rosa DeLauro have asked USDA FSIS and the Department of Justice to consider criminal charges against the company.
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.