The boar’s head that shuts down a Virginia plant is linked to the deadly listeria outbreak

Boar’s Head said Friday it is closing its Virginia plant because of a deadly listeria outbreak.

The Sarasota, Florida-based company said it would also permanently stop production of liverwurst, the product that has been linked to the deaths of at least nine people and the hospitalization of about 50 others in 18 states.

Boar’s Head expressed its deep regret and apology for the outbreak in a statement on its website.

Boar’s Head said an internal investigation at its plant in Jarratt, Va., found that the contamination was the result of a specific manufacturing process. The process only existed at the Jarratt plant and was only used for liverwurst, the company said.

The Jarratt plant has not been operational since late July, when Boar’s Head recalled more than 7 million kilograms of deli meat and other products after tests confirmed Listeria bacteria in its products was making people sick.

Listeria infections are caused by a type of resistant bacteria that can survive and even thrive in refrigeration. An estimated 1,600 people get listeria food poisoning each year, and about 260 die, according to the US Centers for Disease Control. Infections can be difficult to identify because symptoms can appear up to 10 weeks after eating contaminated food.

The Jarratt plant has had a troubled history. Government inspectors found 69 cases of “non-compliance” at the facility in the past year, including cases of mold, insects, liquid dripping from the ceiling and meat and grease residue on walls, floors and equipment.

Boar’s Head said “hundreds” of staff would be affected by the closure.

“We do not take our responsibility as one of the area’s largest employers lightly,” the company said. “But under the circumstances, we believe closing a plant is the most prudent course.”

The company said it is appointing a new chief food safety officer who will report to its chairman. It also establishes a safety board made up of independent experts, including Mindy Brashears, former chief of food safety at the US Department of Agriculture, and Frank Yiannas, former deputy commissioner for food policy at the US Food and Drug Administration.

“This is a dark time in our company’s history, but we plan to use this as an opportunity to improve food safety programs not just for our company, but for the entire industry,” the company said.

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