Boar’s Head Shutters Virginia Plant Tied to Listeria Deaths and Halts Liverwurst Production Permanently
Boar’s Head has had a tough couple of months. After recalling 207,000 pounds of deli meat products – including ham and liverwurst – on July 26, 2024, due to listeria monocytogenes concern, the deli company expanded the recall just four days later. As of July 30, 2024, the company recalled about 7 million pounds of poultry and deli products, including more than 70 meat types produced between May 10 and July 29.
The updated recall announcement was issued as a press release by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS), providing consumers with a much needed update.
Hospitalizations and deaths as a result of the Boar's Head deli meat listeria
As of September 13, more than 50 people across 18 states have been hospitalized in connection to the outbreak. Tragically, nine people have died, making the contamination and recall one of the U.S.'s largest since 2011.
Boar's Head response to the listeria outbreak
As the listeria outbreak has devolved into destructive results, Boar's Head announced that it would be shuttering its plant in Virginia tied to the health crisis. The company also promised its employees severance given that they are "one of the area's largest employers."
"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," Boar's Head wrote, before reflecting on the listeria outbreak in its entirety. "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."
Inside the Boar’s Head deli meat recall and listeria concerns
Per the FSIS, “The products subject to recall were distributed to retail locations nationwide and some were exported to the Cayman Islands, Dominican Republic, Mexico, and Panama.”
The issue of possible listeria contamination was found when the FSIS “was notified that a liverwurst sample collected by the Maryland Department of Health tested positive for L. monocytogenes.” The state’s health department, partnered with the Baltimore City Health Department, gathered liverwurst products – with listed sell by dates ranging from July 29, 2024, to October 17, 2024 – from a retail location and carried out further testing. The departments “determined the product sample tested positive for the outbreak strain.” A full list of Boar’s Head product labels impacted by the recall can be found here.
Is Boar’s Head being investigated due to the listeria outbreak and recall?
The FSIS along with the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) are investigating the country-wide listeria outbreak linked to Boar’s Head products. The probe into the deli meat issue is ongoing as of publication, and the FSIS and CDC will keep the Listeria Outbreak Linked to Meats Sliced at Delis list refreshed with investigation updates.
What are the health dangers and symptoms of listeriosis?
Eating contaminated food positive for listeria can result in listeriosis, a possibly life-threatening infection. The illness can impact the elderly, those experiencing pregnancy and people with a weakened immune system more so than others, and is characterized by fever, muscle aches, confusion, stiff neck, headache and loss of balance.
What should you do if you purchased Boar’s Head products?
If you purchased Boar’s Head products and are concerned about listeria, check the label list linked above to be sure the product you bought is listed. If so, the FSIS recommends throwing away the meat immediately or returning it to the store at which it was purchased. Customers should proceed home and thoroughly sanitize their refrigerators and kitchen surfaces to lower the risk of cross-contamination.
Meanwhile, deli departments impacted by the outbreak should throw away any opened meats and cheeses – even if they aren’t listed by the FSIS – to avoid additional cross-contamination. They should additionally thoroughly clean and sanitize all work spaces and surfaces. Throughout the investigation and ongoing developing circumstance, the FSIS is working with recall firms to ensure that all customers are notified and to safeguard any purchases moving forward.
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