SARASOTA, FLA.— Boar’s Head confirmed on Sept. 13 that it plans to “indefinitely close” its Jarratt, Va., plant, which has not been running since July following the Listeria outbreak.
“This is a dark moment in our company’s history, but we intend to use this as an opportunity to enhance food safety programs not just for our company but for the entire industry,” Boar’s Head said in a statement.
The meat producer said that its investigation identified the root cause of the contamination as a specific production process that only existed at the Jarratt plant, which was used for liverwurst. Boar’s Head has now decided to permanently discontinue liverwurst.
“It pains us to impact the livelihoods of hundreds of hard-working employees,” the company said. “We do not take lightly our responsibility as one of the area’s largest employers. But, under these circumstances, we feel that a plant closure is the most prudent course. We will work to assist each of our employees in the transition process.
The United Food & Commercial Workers Local 400 union released a statement regarding the company’s decision.
The union noted that the company agreed to provide union members with the opportunity to transfer to other Boar’s Headed facilities or accept a severance package.
“Everyone agrees this unprecedented tragedy was not the fault of the workforce, so it is especially unfortunate that the Jarratt plant must close indefinitely and put so many men and women out of work,” UFCW Local 400 said in a statement. “Thankfully these workers have a union they can count on to always have their backs. We appreciate the extraordinary efforts Boar’s Head has made to keep our members on the job as long as possible and to ensure everyone is taken care of during this process.”
As investigations continue into the Listeria outbreak at the Boar’s Head Jarratt facility, the company announced on Sept. 13 that it would revise its food safety and quality measures.
In an updated statement on its website, Boar’s Head confirmed that it would appoint a new chief food safety and quality assurance officer (CFSO), with the company recruiting for the position now. The person will report directly to the president of Boar’s Head.
Along with the new position, the company announced it would establish a “Boar’s Head Food Safety Council,” which will be made up of independent food experts with some of them assisting the current investigation at the Jarratt plant.
“The Food Safety Council, which may evolve over time and as needed, will assist the company’s adoption and implementation of enhanced quality assurance (QA) programs and create a new standard for food safety in the industry,” Boar’s Head said in its statement. “The council will serve as advisors to the new chief food safety officer and to the company as a whole.”
Founding council members include Dr. David Acheson, president and chief executive officer of the Acheson Group, a global food safety consulting group. Before working in food safety industry roles, he served at the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for eight years, which included chief medical officer of the Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition to Associate Commissioner for Foods.
Next, Mindy Brashears, a food safety expert and academic, will also join the council. Brashears served as the USDA’s Undersecretary for Food Safety during the Trump Administration. She currently works as a professor of food safety and public health and director of the International Center for Food Industry Excellence at Texas Tech University.
Martin Wiedmann, DVM, a food microbiologist and academic, will serve on the council. He is the Cornell University Gellert Family Professor in Food Safety and the New York State Integrated Food Safety Center of Excellence co-director. With experience as a veterinarian and food scientist, Wiedmann researched foodborne pathogens and prevention.
Finally, Frank Yiannas, deputy commissioner for food policy and response at the FDA from December 2018 to February 2023, will also be on the council. While at the agency, Yiannas helped implement the Food Safety Modernization Act, collaborating with the Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, the Center for Veterinary Medicine, and the Office of Regulatory Affairs.
Along with these appointments, Boar’s Head said it will enhance its companywide food safety and quality assurance program. The initiative will be led by the CFSO and developed in partnership with the council.
“We remain steadfast in our commitment to our customers and to the safety and quality of our products,” the company stated. “You have our promise that we will work tirelessly to regain your trust and ensure that all Boar’s Head products consistently meet the high standards that you deserve and expect. We are determined to learn from this experience and emerge stronger.”
Earlier this week, documents from the USDA indicated new details about food safety protocol going back two years at the Jarratt facility. While the USDA earlier disclosed 69 instances of noncompliance between Aug. 1, 2023, and Aug. 2, 2024, at the Jarratt facility, a more recently released report revealed violations as early as 2022. The second round of inspection citations covered the period between January 2022 and June 2023. One note from the USDA categorized the facility as an “imminent threat” before the outbreak.
The plant in Virginia remains closed as investigations continue.
The company also shared its USDA Notice of Suspension ti received for the Jarratt facility on July 31.
During July, Boar’s Head recalled 7 million lbs of meat and poultry products due to the Listeria contamination.
According to current numbers from the Atlanta-based Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 57 people have been hospitalized and nine people have died as a result of the Listeria outbreak linked to sliced deli meat, including products from Boar’s Head.