The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced Wednesday that a nationwide listeria outbreak linked to Boar's Head deli meats has resulted in five new deaths, bringing the total to eight, and 14 new cases.
record release A USDA report released to CBS News under the Freedom of Information Act uncovered dozens of violations linked to the company's plant in Jarrett, Virginia, including reports of mold and insect infestations throughout the facility.
Several USDA records show insect sightings in and around the plant's deli meats, including one incident that led to the tagging and disposal of more than 980 pounds of ham in a smokehouse hallway. “Retain” For the purpose of investigation, CBS News.
In June, records also revealed concerns about flies invading a “pickle barrel” left in the room.
According to the media, what appeared to be “ants climbing the walls,” as well as beetles, cockroaches and other insects, were found in other parts of the facility.
The factory also had numerous leaks and pooling issues, including puddles with “green algae growing” inside and condensation “dripping onto stored product,” according to the report.
Records show the factory had a total of 69 instances of “non-compliance” cited by authorities in the past year.
Boar's Head told The Washington Post on Wednesday that it had paused production at the plant and would not resume it “until we are confident that we are meeting the standards our customers expect and deserve.”
“We are conducting a thorough investigation, working with leading food safety experts, to determine how liverwurst produced at our Jarratt, Virginia, plant became contaminated and to prevent this from happening again,” a company spokesman said.
This is the largest listeriosis outbreak since the cantaloupe-linked outbreak in 2011.
Boar's Head, a 119-year-old family-owned business based in Sarasota, Florida, recalled 7 million pounds of meat last month, up from the 200,000 pounds it removed from shelves in June after the infection was first reported.
In addition to the eight who died, a total of 57 people in at least 13 states have become ill from the contaminated meat, all of whom have required hospitalization.
“Words cannot adequately express our sympathies and deepest sorrow for those who have suffered loss and endured illness,” the spokesperson said.
The five most recent deaths occurred in Florida, Tennessee and New Mexico, and two in South Carolina, according to the CDC.
“Consumers who were unaware of the recall may have eaten the recalled products and may have become ill for a longer period of time,” a spokesperson for the South Carolina Department of Health said in a statement following the new deaths.
The Maryland State Department of Health traced the source of the outbreak to the Jarratt plant after testing unopened packages of liverwurst.
The CDC reports that epidemiological, laboratory, and tracking data indicate that sliced meats at delis, including Boar's Head brand liverwurst, are contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes and causing illness.
Listeria is a resistant bacteria that can survive on surfaces such as meat slicers and in food even at refrigeration temperatures.
Refrigeration does not kill Listeria, but reheating the food to a high enough temperature before eating can eliminate the bacteria.
Symptoms of listeriosis include fever, chills and headache, and in some people it can take up to 10 weeks for symptoms to appear.
Health officials strongly advise against consuming the recalled deli meats and urge consumers to check their inventory for any remaining recalled products, as some have a long shelf life.
It added that the sell-by dates for some products have been extended until October 2024.
