### The Boar’s Head Listeria Epidemic: A Stark Reminder of Food Safety Necessity
In a startling discovery, federal evaluations have revealed a troubling number of violations at the Boar’s Head meat processing plant in Jarratt, Virginia. This site is at the heart of a lethal nationwide Listeria epidemic that has resulted in nine fatalities, the hospitalization of 57 individuals across 18 states, and the recall of more than 7 million pounds of meat. The information, gathered through a Freedom of Information Act request by CBS News, illustrates a concerning scenario of the conditions that facilitated the outbreak.
#### The Disturbing Findings: 69 Violations in a Year
From August 1, 2023, to August 2, 2024, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Services (FSIS) reported 69 violations at the Boar’s Head facility. These breaches encompassed a range of issues, including mold, leaking water, unclean equipment, remnants of meat debris, and even pools of blood on the ground. The inspection reports depict a facility overwhelmed by unsanitary conditions, cultivating an ideal environment for the proliferation and transmission of Listeria monocytogenes, the bacterium responsible for the outbreak.
Listeria monocytogenes is a notably perilous pathogen due to its ability to thrive in cold settings, such as refrigerators, where other bacteria typically struggle. While healthy individuals may only suffer mild gastrointestinal symptoms, Listeria poses substantial hazards to at-risk groups, including the elderly, newborns, pregnant women, and those with compromised immune systems. For these populations, Listeria can induce life-threatening infections with a fatality rate nearing 17%. Pregnant women may face particularly dire consequences, possibly resulting in miscarriage, stillbirth, or severe infections in infants.
#### A Chaotic Facility: Mold, Insects, and Blood
The inspection reports illustrate a factory in turmoil, with ongoing unsanitary conditions. On June 10, 2024, an inspector noted “heavy meat buildup” on the walls of the “pickle vat pump room,” which was also infested with flies and gnats. In another location, a rollup door was coated in meat residue, and a leaking water pipe above dripped continuously to the floor. The inspector also observed a “steady line of ants” along with sightings of ladybugs, a cockroach, and a beetle.
These problems were not one-off occurrences. During an inspection on March 13, 2024, a room close to where netted hams were processed was found to have trash and meat protein on the floor, including “whole pork muscles.” Similarly, on August 8, 2023, processing lines were discovered to be encrusted with meat particles and trash, showcasing “heavy discolored meat buildup” on a hydraulic pump and meat and fat remnants stuck to the supports of a catwalk. The scale on the inspection line was also tainted with meat debris and trash, producing a foul smell.
Ongoing water leaks and condensation plagued the facility, fostering mold growth. On October 26, 2023, an inspector discovered a plastic-wrapped water pipe in the cure cooler, with orange-brown water pooling at the lowest point. The plastic wrap had been present since August 17, 2023, suggesting a long-standing problem.
The pervasive issue of mold was evident throughout the plant. On January 9, 2024, inspection of a holding cooler revealed black mold spots as large as a quarter. On July 23, 2024, an inspector observed bubbled paint surrounding employee hand-washing sinks, with the bubbles filled with water. Beneath the sinks, black mold and pink mildew were found.
Most alarmingly, on February 21, 2024, an inspection of a raw cooler disclosed “ample amounts of blood in puddles on the floor” along with a “rancid smell.” These conditions are not only unclean but also foster an environment conducive to harmful bacteria like Listeria proliferating.
#### The Consequences: Facility Closure and Ongoing Inquiry
Following the outbreak and the revelations from inspections, the Boar’s Head plant in Jarratt, Virginia, has been closed since late July 2024. Health officials detected the outbreak strain of Listeria monocytogenes in unopened containers of Boar’s Head liverwurst, triggering the recall of millions of pounds of meat.
Despite the severity of the infractions, the USDA has not imposed any enforcement measures against Boar’s Head. Furthermore, there is no available data on swab testing for Listeria at the Virginia facility, raising concerns over the effectiveness of oversight and the likelihood of future outbreaks.
In a statement issued on August 29, 2024, Boar’s Head reiterated its commitment to resolving the issues at the plant. “We are conducting an extensive investigation, working closely with the USDA
