The boar’s head closes plants that are linked to development
Officials with wild boar heads say Virginia plants, bound by a fatal listeria outbreak, have been closed indefinitely.
Fox-10 Phoenix
Congressional Democrats question whether the factory at the heart of the 2024 fatal Listeria outbreak is suitable for reopening, summoning boar principals to confront the federal food safety committee.
In a letter to the boar head dated September 15th, Rep. Rosa Delauro of D-Connecticut and nine other Democrats asked company officials to appear before the Congressional Food Safety Caucus. Members of the Congress called for a meeting with wild boar staff, citing a report from the Associated Press that Jarrat, Virginia, is reopening in the coming months, debating “recurring patterns of food safety negligence that put American public health at risk.”
Boar’s Head closed its Virginia-based facility in 2024, creating Ribaurst, affecting around 500 union members and administrative employees. However, hygiene issues have been reported elsewhere, including Arkansas, Indiana, Arkansas and other plants in Virginia, according to the Associated Press.
“It’s horrifying that wild boar heads are encountering similar problems at their other facilities,” the September 15 letter said. “This information is not certain that the Jarratt, Virginia facility is ready to safely reopen.”
Boar head plants are associated with fatal listeria outbreaks
Inadequate hygiene at Virginia’s wild boar head plant was one of the major contributors that led to the outbreak of fatal multi-attitude Listeria that killed 10 people and made 61 sick last summer, the US Department of Agriculture said in a January report.
A month after the recall began in July 2024, the USDA Food Safety and Inspection Agency released 69 reports of “violations” at the Boar head plant in Jarrat, Virginia, from inspectors in the weeks leading up to the recall. Among the findings are live and dead insects, mold, black and green mold, and other unsanitary conditions.
After the recall, the boar principal announced plans for the new company to enhance food safety and quality measures, including the appointment of a new best food safety and quality assurance officer and the appointment of the Food Safety Council.
The Sarasota, Florida-based company told USA Today in a September 16 statement that it was reviewing letters sent by Congress.
“In our 120-year history, this was the first time that such an event has happened at our Jarat facility,” the company said. “We will work closely with regulators and key food safety experts to move quickly, proactively and decisively, identify the root cause of the problem and implement strengthening food production nationwide to ensure this doesn’t happen again.”
The USDA did not immediately return a request for USA Today’s comment on September 16th.
What is Listeria?
Bacteria that can cause listeria poisoning and listeriosis can survive and grow in refrigerated conditions and become infected where the listeria monocytogen is produced, according to the Food and Drug Administration. Listeriosis is considered a serious condition and can be dangerous or threatening, especially those who are newborns, pregnant people,
Contributors: Amaris Encinus, Mary Walrath Holdridge, USA Today. CA Bridges, Daytona Beach News Journal
Fernando Cervantes Jr. is a trending news reporter for USA Today. Contact him at fernando.cervantes @gannett.com and follow him at x @fern_cerv_.
