Newly released reports expose a pattern of serious sanitation violations at multiple Boar's Head plants, raising concerns about the company's food safety practices. The findings echo issues found at the plant linked to a deadly listeria outbreak, prompting calls for greater accountability and stronger regulations.
Newly released reports from Boar's Head plants in New Castle, Indiana; Forrest City, Arkansas; and Petersburg, Virginia, paint a disturbing picture of persistent sanitation issues. The reports, obtained through Freedom of Information Act requests from The Associated Press and other news organizations, detail multiple instances of meat and fat residue left on equipment and walls, dripping condensation falling on food, mold, insects, and other problems dating back roughly six years.
Last May, an inspector documented “general filth” in a room at the Indiana plant. The newly released reports describe a range of unsettling findings, including “dry crusted meat from the previous day's production” and “dark, stinky residue” left behind in 2020, green mold and flaking paint in 2022, and a puddle of “blood, debris and trash” in 2024. These issues echo some of the violations found at the Jarratt, Virginia, plant linked to the food poisoning outbreak.Boar's Head officials responded to the reports by stating that the violations “do not meet our high standards.” They added that the company's remaining plants continue to operate under normal USDA oversight. However, the company's image has been significantly tarnished. Boar's Head stopped making liverwurst and shuttered its Jarratt, Virginia, plant in September after listeria poisoning tied to the product sickened more than 60 people in 19 states, including 10 who died. The conditions revealed at the other Boar's Head plants have raised serious concerns among consumer advocates and the public. Thomas Gremillion, director of food policy at the Consumer Federation of America, stated, “It's reasonable for some people to decide they don't want to eat deli meat…Companies like Boar's Head, they should have to earn consumers' trust.” One victim's family, grieving the loss of their mother after consuming contaminated liverwurst, has filed a lawsuit against the company, demanding greater accountability. Lawmakers have also criticized the USDA for not taking stronger action against Boar's Head, despite documentation of repeated problems. The USDA inspector general is reviewing the agency's handling of the situation, and the U.S. Department of Justice is investigating whether criminal charges are warranted. The new records released by FSIS should be considered by the DOJ, especially as they potentially point to a wider, systemic problem. These reports make clear that there is a culture of noncompliance of critical safety and sanitary protocols. USDA officials have admitted that “inadequate sanitation practices” contributed to the outbreak, citing product residue, condensation, and structural problems in the buildings as key factors.In response to the crisis, the USDA has promised new measures to control listeria in plants that make ready-to-eat foods, including broader testing, updated training and tools, increased inspections, more food safety reviews, and stronger oversight of state inspectors who act on behalf of the agency. Boar's Head is also taking action, hiring a “food safety culture manager” to address the systemic issues.
BOAR's HEAD FOOD SAFETY SANITATION VIOLATIONS LISTERIA OUTBREAK USDA FDA CONSUMER RIGHTS
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Boar's Head Plant Reports Reveal 'General Filth', Raising Concerns About Food SafetyNewly released USDA reports detailing unsanitary conditions at multiple Boar's Head plants have reignited concerns about the company's food safety practices. The reports, spanning several years, document instances of meat and fat residue, insects, mold, and other problems. This follows a listeria outbreak linked to Boar's Head liverwurst that resulted in multiple deaths. Lawmakers and consumer advocates are demanding greater accountability from the company and the USDA.
Read more »
USDA Report Blames Food Safety Violations at Boar Head Plant for Listeriosis OutbreakA final review by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food and Safety Inspection Service (FSIS) identified multiple food safety violations at a Boar Head plant in Virginia as the primary cause of a recent listeriosis outbreak. The violations included the presence of mold, insects, and unsanitary conditions.
Read more »
USDA Report Blames Boar's Head Sanitation for Listeria OutbreakA new USDA report found that inadequate sanitation practices at a Boar's Head facility in Virginia were responsible for a listeria outbreak. The report details specific sanitation issues found by inspectors and outlines steps both Boar's Head and the FSIS are taking to prevent future outbreaks.
Read more »
USDA Report Blames 'Inadequate Sanitation' at Boar's Head for Listeria OutbreakA new USDA report attributes a major listeria outbreak linked to Boar's Head meats to 'inadequate sanitation practices' at their Jarratt, Virginia facility. The report details several issues found at the plant, including meat residue, condensation dripping on products, and cracked flooring that could hold moisture. This outbreak, affecting over 19 states, was the largest since 2011. Boar's Head acknowledges the findings and states they are implementing enhanced food safety programs. The report also reviews FSIS procedures and recommends improvements to prevent future listeria outbreaks.
Read more »
Cause of Deadly Boar's Head Listeria Outbreak RevealedPoor sanitation at Virginia Boar's Head plant caused a deadly listeria outbreak that killed 10 and sickened 61 last summer.
Read more »
Boar's Head Listeria Outbreak Traced to Poor SanitationA listeria outbreak linked to a Boar's Head facility in Virginia in 2024, resulting in 10 deaths and dozens of hospitalizations, was found to be caused by inadequate sanitation practices. The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service investigation revealed 'meat and fat residue' on equipment, prompting a recall of liverwurst products and the closure of the Virginia plant. Boar's Head is implementing enhanced food safety measures to prevent future outbreaks.
Read more »