Boar’s Head announced Friday, Sept. 13, it will permanently close its Jarratt, Virginia, plant, where a deadly listeria outbreak originated. The outbreak hospitalized 57 people across 18 states and resulted in nine deaths.
The company traced the contamination to liverwurst produced at the facility and has permanently discontinued the product.
Boar’s Head said it will also implement a companywide food safety program, appoint a new food safety officer, and form a food safety council made up of independent industry experts, including former USDA and FDA officials.
USDA inspections of the Jarratt plant since 2022 reported mold, insects, and other unsanitary conditions. Despite warnings and corrective action requests, the issues persisted, leading to the plant’s indefinite closure.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention continues to advise consumers to check for recalled products with “EST. 12612” or “P-12612” on the label.
