Boars Head (Sarasota, Florida) said it’s closing the Virginia plant tied to a deadly Listeria outbreak. Liverwurst is the product that was linked to the deaths of nine people and hospitalizations of about 50 others in 18 states. The company expressed regret and profound apologies for the outbreak in a statement on its website. Boar’s Head said an internal investigation at its Jarratt, Virginia, plant found that the contamination resulted from a specific production process. The process only existed at the Jarratt plant and was only used for liverwurst. The Jarratt plant hasn’t been operational since late July when Boar’s Head recalled more than 7 million pounds of deli meats and other products after tests confirmed that Listeria in its products made people sick. The Jarratt plant had a troubled history. Government inspectors found 69 instances of “noncompliance” at the facility during the last year, including mold, insects, liquid dripping from ceilings, and meat and fat residue on walls, floors, and equipment. Boar’s Head said “the closure will impact hundreds” of employees.
The company said it is appointing a new chief food safety officer who will report to its president. It is also establishing a safety council comprised of independent experts, including Mindy Brashears, a former food safety chief at the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and Frank Yiannas, a former deputy commissioner for food policy at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. @
