The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) released a report showing that inspectors warned that a Boar's Head plant in Virginia posed an “imminent threat” two years before the recent deadly Listeria outbreak.
2 rounds Inspection documents Following a listeria outbreak at Boar's Head Co.'s Jarratt, Virginia, plant, the USDA has released its inspection reports. The first set of documents covers the period from August 2023 to August 2024, while the latest documents date back to 2022. The New York Times reported on the release of the inspection reports on Tuesday.
According to the documents, the plant had rusty equipment, product buildup, dripping condensation on the floor and blue mold on the walls. In the fall of 2022, inspectors noticed live beetles in the hallways, as well as other violations including dirt, screws and trash in the production areas. The report also cited dirty machinery, flies and blood in puddles on the floor.
Despite these issues being noted in the inspection report and the company being made aware of them, the factory continued to operate and process product.
A Boar's Head spokesman said inspectors found an imminent threat in 2022, but no enforcement action was taken after the Department of Agriculture reviewed the results of the inspections, records and observations. The New York Times.
Production at meat processing plants has been suspended, and Boar's Head has recalled seven million pounds of product after a reported listeria outbreak.
At least nine people have died and more than 60 I got sick from the epidemicThe Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said:
At the time of the outbreak, Boar's Head said it was committed to “consistently meeting the high quality and safety standards our customers expect.” He told the Times The company's management said it “deeply regrets” the impact of the outbreak.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) said it is investigating both the occurrence and circumstances of Listeria at Boar's Head facilities across the country.
“In addition to a comprehensive review of Boar's Head facilities across the country, our investigation will also include a thorough investigation to determine what contributed to the spread at this particular facility, areas for improvement and whether there are lessons learned that can be applied more broadly to prepared meat and poultry facilities,” an FSIS spokesperson said in a statement to The Hill.
