Sanitation problems at other Boar’s Head facilities are raising more safety concerns<\/p>\n<\/h3>\n
By I. Edwards HealthDay Reporter<\/b>
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THURSDAY, Sept. 18, 2025 (HealthDay News) \u2014 Federal officials are raising concerns about whether a Virginia Boar\u2019s Head<\/a> deli meat plant, linked to last year\u2019s deadly listeria outbreak, is ready to safely reopen.<\/p>\n In a letter sent Monday, Rep. Rosa DeLauro<\/a> of Connecticut and nine other Democrats asked Boar\u2019s Head officials to appear before the Congressional Food Safety Caucus to explain what they called \u201ca repeated pattern of food safety negligence that jeopardized Americans\u2019 public health,” The Associated Press <\/em>reported.<\/p>\n The facility, in Jarratt, Virginia, was shut down after listeria-contaminated liverwurst killed 10 people, sickened dozens more, and led to a recall of more than 7 million pounds of deli meat. <\/p>\n Federal officials later blamed \u201csystemic problems\u201d at the plant.<\/p>\n Although the U.S. Agriculture Department lifted the suspension in July, the facility will face at least 90 days of heightened monitoring by federal inspectors once it reopens, according to The AP<\/em>.<\/p>\n Meanwhile, The Associated Pres<\/em>s obtained records showing sanitation lapses at Boar\u2019s Head sites in Arkansas, Indiana and another Virginia plant. <\/p>\n Inspectors found blocked drains filled with meat, condensation dripping from ceilings, residue left on equipment and staff skipping hygiene rules.<\/p>\n \u201cIt is appalling that Boar\u2019s Head is encountering similar issues at other facilities of theirs,\u201d the letter stated. \u201cThis information leaves us less than confident that the facility in Jarratt, Virginia, is prepared to reopen safely.\u201d<\/p>\n Boar’s Head defended its safety record, noting the Jarratt outbreak was the first of its kind in the company\u2019s 120-year history.<\/p>\n \u201cWe moved quickly, aggressively and decisively in close collaboration with regulators and leading food safety experts to identify the root cause of the problem and implement enhancements to our food manufacturing nationwide to prevent something like this from ever happening again,” the company said.<\/p>\n More information<\/strong><\/p>\n The Mayo Clinic has more about the risks posed by listeria<\/a>.<\/p>\n