Boar's Head, the deli meat company at the center of the deadly Listeria food poisoning outbreak, is under scrutiny from law enforcement authorities, the U.S. Department of Agriculture said in response to a government records request. Ta.
USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service officials declined to share documents regarding USDA inspections and enforcement at Jarratt's Boar's Head plant in Jarratt, Virginia, as well as inspection reports from eight of the company's other plants across the country.
FSIS acknowledged that the records include dozens of pages of documents, but the records were not released in response to a Freedom of Information Act request filed Friday. A letter sent Friday said the records were withheld because they were compiled “for law enforcement purposes, including both civil and criminal law.” By Associated Press.
The letter states that releasing the records could “obstruct” and “impede” the government's investigation.
The Associated Press sought records on the Listeria outbreak, which has killed 10 people and sickened at least 50 people in 19 states since May, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Listeria monocytogenes was initially detected in samples of Boar's Head liverwurst and was later found to be responsible for the human disease.
Previously released records revealed problems with walls, floors and equipment dating back at least two years, including mold, pests, water spots and meat and fat residue.
Boar's Head previously recalled more than 7 million pounds of deli meat distributed to stores across the United States.
The Sarasota, Fla.-based company announced this month that it was closing its Virginia plant and permanently ceasing production of liverwurst.
Boar's Head faces multiple lawsuits filed by victims and their families.
FSIS officials did not respond to an email from The Associated Press seeking additional comment on the records.
Justice Department officials declined to comment on possible legal action against Boar's Head.
This week, Sen. Richard Blumenthal and Rep. Rosa DeLauro called on the Departments of Agriculture and Justice to “work closely” to decide whether to bring criminal charges against Boar's Head in connection with the crisis. Ta.
In response, the USDA's own internal investigators are reviewing the agency's operations and will decide whether to launch an investigation by the end of the year, Blumenthal's office said.
Past food poisoning outbreaks have resulted in criminal and civil penalties.
In 2020, Chipotle agreed to pay record $25 million To resolve criminal charges related to contaminated food that caused an outbreak between 2015 and 2018 that sickened more than 1,100 people.
In 2015, former Peanut Corporation of America executive Stewart Parnell said: sentenced to 28 years in prison after a salmonella outbreak in his company's peanut butter killed nine people and sickened more than 700.
