FILE-Shelves sit empty where Boar's Head meats are usually displayed at a Safeway store on July 31, 2024 in San Anselmo, California. The USDA released a recent report on what caused a listeria outbreak. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
A listeria outbreak at a Boar’s Head facility in Virginia, which left 10 people dead and dozens hospitalized in multiple states in the U.S. in 2024, was caused by poor sanitation.
U.S. Department of Agriculture report explains what led to outbreak
Findings were detailed in a report released on Jan. 10 by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service. The agency examined the listeria outbreak connected to a deli meat supplier’s facility in Jarratt, Virginia.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention noted in an update about the listeria outbreak cases from November 2024 that approximately 61 people were affected by the outbreak with cases reported in 19 states.
Boar's Head recalled its ready-to-eat liverwurst products related to the outbreak in July 2024.
NPR reported that Boar's Head closed its Jarratt plant in September 2024 and the company announced it would stop making any liverwurst products.
This recall later grew to more Boar’s Head goods, including sliced hams and sausages, all of which were produced at the Virginia plant.
Inspectors reported finding "meat and fat residue from the previous day's production on the equipment, including packaging equipment."
Boar’s Head addresses listeria outbreak
What they're saying:
In an email provided to NPR, a company spokesperson said"We continue to actively cooperate with the USDA and government regulatory agencies on matters related to last year's recall, and we thank them for their oversight."
The Boar’s Head spokesperson tells NPR that the organization is working to implement enhanced food safety programs, "including stronger food safety control procedures and more rigorous testing at our meat and poultry production facilities."
What is listeria?
Why you should care:
Listeria is a type of bacteria that can contaminate food and cause illness and it thrives in cool and damp environments. Listeria can cause an infection called listeriosis.
The bacteria are persistent and grows in cool temperatures and when food encounters surfaces that are contaminated with listeria, the bacteria can grow fast on the food despite aggressive cleaning and sanitizing.
According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service, listeria can contaminate lunch meats like hot dogs, cold cuts, and dry sausages. It can also be found in unpasteurized (raw) milk, soft cheeses, smoked seafood, and salads.
Listeriosis can be dangerous for at-risk groups like pregnant women and their unborn babies, newborns, and older adults. Women who are pregnant experience symptoms of listeriosis can include fever, flu-like symptoms like muscle aches.
People who are not pregnant may experience symptoms like fever, flu-like symptoms, such as muscle aches and fatigue, headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance, and seizure, according to the CDC.