The Boar's Head plant in Virginia that was the source of a major listeria outbreak was a disorganized cesspool that targeted people who spoke out about unsanitary and dangerous conditions, former workers told the Post.
Last week, the CDC reported that an unidentified person in New York state became the 10th person to die from a Listeria outbreak linked to the Jarratt plant. At least 59 people have become ill in 19 states since May.
“It all starts with management,” one former employee told the Post. “I wasn't shocked that something like this happened at Jarratt, but what bothers me the most is that people lost their lives because the problem wasn't fixed.”
Jarrett's facility has been cited for violations 69 times in the past year after health inspectors found insects, blood pools on the floor, mold growth and clogged drains inside the plant.
As The Post reported, the facility closed indefinitely on Sept. 13 and will likely never reopen.
“If you spoke up, they tended to retaliate. You were a target,” said another veteran employee, who requested anonymity.
The former worker, who was one of 500 laid off after the factory closed, added that the death toll was “heartbreaking”.
Testimony from Jarratt employees echoes damning accusations that supervisors ignored red flags raised by Terrence Boyce, the plant's former health supervisor, about health and safety violations at the facility.
Mr. Boyce filed a whistleblower complaint with the Virginia Department of Labor alleging that he was unfairly fired.
The Jarratt factory was shut down in late July after reports of people being hospitalized or dying from Boar's Head products.
A few weeks ago, the century-old brand recalled more than 7 million pounds of deli meats and cheeses.
Investigators later discovered that liverwurst made at the Jarratt factory had tested positive for the deadly bacteria.
Boar's Head has announced that it will no longer sell liverwurst, which was only made at its Jarratt factory.
“In addition to taking a comprehensive look at Boar's Head facilities across the country, our investigation will include what factors led to the outbreak at this particular facility, what needs to be improved, and what issues there are. “The lessons learned may be more broadly applicable to ready-to-eat meat and poultry facilities,” the company said in a statement.
Boar's Head has plants in Colorado, Arkansas, Michigan, Indiana, Virginia and Florida, according to job postings on the company's website. Many of the 73 jobs posted this month.
A spokesperson for the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service said in a statement that the agency is “thoroughly investigating other Boar's Head facilities to best protect the public health.”
