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The Virginia plant where Boar’s Head produced its contaminated products faced numerous health and safety violations, leading a lawyer to describe it as a “listeria factory.”
A 74-page report from the USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service detailed violations at the Jarrett, Virginia, plant from January 2022 to August 2024. The report noted meat found on the floor, standing water with a brown mud-like substance, and unclean machines with meat residue buildup. In January 2024, inspectors also observed a “black mold-like substance” in the facility.
The numerous violations led food safety attorney Bill Marler to label the plant a “listeria factory.” Marler, who has reviewed hundreds of inspection reports over 30 years, told FOX Business that these are among the worst he has ever seen. He also noted that the unresolved issues likely constitute “criminal violations under the Federal Meat Inspection Act.”
What is described in the reports – piles of meat, water, mold and insects – is a perfect place for Listeria to grow,” said Marler, according to a Fox Business report. “This plant was more a Listeria factory than a factory to produced food for human consumption.”
On @9NEWS this #LaborDay Weekend, talking about a deadly listeria outbreak linked to a Boar’s Head facility and this year’s mosquito-borne illnesses. Tune in to learn how to protect yourself and your loved ones!
Full Story: https://t.co/VyXgaXsgkd pic.twitter.com/JVqTDU3Ouo
— Dr. Payal Kohli, MD (@payalkohlimd) August 31, 2024
In late July 2024, Boar’s Head recalled all products from its Jarratt, Virginia, plant after they were linked to nine deaths and nearly 60 hospitalizations. In an Aug. 29 press release, the company expressed sympathies for those affected by listeria, stating: “We deeply regret the impact this recall has had on affected families. No words can fully express our sympathies and the sincere and deep hurt we feel for those who have suffered losses or endured illness.”
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