Due to a serious listeria outbreak, Boar’s Head, one of the most well-known deli meat brands, has permanently closed its liverwurst factory in Jarratt, Virginia.
Nine people died, and 57 others were hospitalized across 18 states in the US because of the pollution. This choice was made because of the terrible effects.
An Outline of What Happened During the Listeria Outbreak
In July 2024, a listeria outbreak was tied to deli meats made at the Jarratt plant, so Boar’s Head started a large recall. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said that 57 people were hospitalized because of the outbreak and that nine people died because the sickness was so bad.
Since then, the CDC has said this outbreak was one of the deadliest in recent US history. Only a listeria outbreak linked to melon in 2011 took 30 lives.
Find Out Where the Contamination Came From
In a statement released on September 13, 2024, Boar’s Head said that the contamination’s cause had been found after a full probe. The listeria was found to have come from a particular production method that was only used at the Jarratt plant for making liverwurst.
Because of this, Boar’s Head had to make the tough choice to stop making liverwurst for good.
“Given how bad the outbreak was and the fact that it started at Jarratt, we have made the hard decision to close this location permanently,” Boar’s Head said. Since late July 2024, the plant has not been running.
Effects on the Community and the Workers
The closing of the Jarratt plant, one of the most giant jobs in the area, had a big effect on the people who lived there. Boar’s Head said it was very sorry that this move would affect the hundreds of people who work at the plant.
“It hurts us to affect the jobs of hundreds of hardworking employees.” As one of the biggest companies in the area, we don’t take our duty to do a good job lightly. The company said, “Under these conditions, we believe that closing the plant is the smartest thing to do.”
Boar’s Head has promised to help workers through the change process to show support, but the statement didn’t go into specifics about how the help would be given.
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Product Recalls and Affected Items
As part of the recall process, Boar’s Head took back 71 items made at the Jarratt plant from May 10, 2024, to July 29, 2024. These goods were sold under the brand names Boar’s Head and Old Country.
People who bought any of the recalled items were told to take them back to the shop and get their money back in full.
Food Safety Will Be a Big Deal in the Future
Because it knows how bad the spread was and how hard it was on the families who were affected, Boar’s Head has promised to take all the necessary steps to ensure it doesn’t happen again.
The company is taking several proactive steps to improve food safety, both within its own business and across the food industry as a whole.
Boar’s Head said they will hire a Chief Food Safety and Compliance Officer to oversee quality control across the business. The main goal of this new job is to improve food safety programs and ensure that tight rules are in place to prevent future poisoning problems. A hiring process is currently underway to fill this very important position.
Besides hiring a new officer, Boar’s Head is also setting up a private food safety council with some of the field’s most well-known and respected experts. Members of the council will be:
- Dr. David Acheson: Dr. David Acheson is the president and CEO of The Acheson Group, a world group that works to keep food safe. He used to work for the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
- Dr. Mindy Brashears: Dr. Mindy Brashears was the Under Secretary for Food Safety at the US Department of Agriculture (USDA).
- Dr. Martin Wiedmann: Dr. Martin Wiedmann is a professor of food safety at Cornell University and a food scientist.
- Frank Yiannas: Frank Yiannas was the FDA’s Deputy Commissioner for Food Policy and Response.
These professionals will help Boar’s Head improve its food safety procedures and become a star in the food safety business in terms of protecting customers.
How to Learn from Tragedies
The company said, “This is a dark moment in our history, but we plan to use this to improve food safety programs, not just for our company but for the whole industry.”
The company recognized that the listeria outbreak had a huge effect on the families affected and said it was very sorry for the deaths and injuries.
Boar’s Head has promised to be open about what it is doing to stop another spread of foodborne sickness. The company wants to win back customers’ trust and ensure that its goods always meet the highest safety standards.
It plans to do this by putting together a team of dedicated food safety pros and implementing new safety rules.
Conclusion
As Boar’s Head moves to stop making liverwurst for good and shut down the Jarratt plant, the company is focused on what it can learn from this terrible event.
Boar’s Head is entering a new age where the health and safety of its customers come first. The leadership changes show this: creating a food safety council and hiring a Chief Food Safety Officer.
The closing of the Jarratt plant is a sad event in the company’s history, but Boar’s Head is determined to do everything possible to ensure that something like this never happens again.
The company is determined to get stronger and more careful in its goal of providing safe, high-quality goods to people all over the country. It has the help of top experts in the field and is focusing more attention on food safety.
While this happens, the families touched by the listeria outbreak are in Boar’s Head’s thoughts. The company is working hard to ensure no other family has to endure the same tragedy.
The company’s quick action during this problem shows that it wants to do better and be the leader in the food business in making safer, healthier foods for everyone.
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