The Boar’s Head deli meat plant in Virginia that has been tied to the deadly listeria food poisoning outbreak had repeatedly been logged by government inspectors for “noncompliance” with federal rules in the past year.
Federal regulation violations they were logged for included instances of mold, liquid dripping from ceilings, insects, and meat and fat residue found on walls, equipment, and floors. Between August 2023 and August 2024 inspectors found the following:
- Heavy discolored meat buildup
- Meat overspray on walls
- Large pieces of meat on the floor
- Flies going in and out of pickle vats
- Black patches of mold on a ceiling within the facility
- Blood pooled on the floor
- A rancid smell in the cooler
Documents detail that plant staff were repeatedly notified that they failed to meet requirements. Virginia officials inspected the plant through a partnership with the US Food Safety and Inspection Service, and when problems were found officials said Boar’s Head took “corrective actions in keeping with FSIS regulations.” However, federal reports show that no enforcement actions were taken against Boar’s Head between January and March.
The US Agriculture Department officials have suspended inspections at the plant and it will remain closed “until the establishment is able to demonstrate it can produce safe product.”
A Rutgers food science and safety expert who reviewed the inspection documents said that the reports of condensation found throughout the plant are concerning as that’s a known risk factor for creating conditions for listeria to thrive.
So far, the deaths of at least nine people have been linked to the Virginia plant, and the hospitalization of about 50 others across 18 different states. It was confirmed by the New Mexico Department of Health that the New Mexico victim was an elderly, Bernalillo County woman. All 59 victims became sick with listeria after consuming Boar’s Head Provisions Co. Inc. deli meats.
After tests confirmed the presence of listeria bacteria in Boar’s Head deli meat products was in fact what was making people sick, the company recalled over 7 million pounds of their products.
According to the CDC, each year in the US listeria infections cause around 1,600 illnesses, and lead to the death of about 260 people. The bacteria can thrive on walls, drains, floors, in the cracks and crevices of difficult-to-reach areas of food processing equipment, and more. It can also easily be spread by pests like flies and the germ is able to survive in biofilms, which are thin, slimy collections of bacteria that can be difficult to get rid of.
Those affected by the listeria bacteria found in the deli meats may be able to pursue legal recourse. If you have become sick after consuming the meats or tragically lost a loved one, contact the team at Singleton Schreiber to learn more about your options.
