USDA launches federal investigation into Boar’s Head inspections after sanitation manager speaks out
GREENSVILLE COUNTY, Va. (WRIC) -- Former Sanitation Manager Terrence Boyce revealed the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) interviewed him two weeks ago as part of an ongoing internal investigation into sanitation practices at the Boar’s Head plant in Jarratt, Virginia. "It was a surprise," Boyce said. "They came to my door and were very adamant about what they wanted." Boyce said the interview came just a week after he spoke with 8News in an exclusive interview, breaking down where he thinks the Jarratt plant went wrong. "Some of the questions were geared towards process and procedures. If I knew any more complaints,” Boyce said. “I was very candid with the inspectors, all of what I knew about the inspectors that were there.” 8News was working to get the names of each employee who conducted an inspection over the last two years, but the USDA denied a Freedom of Information Act request under U.S.C. § 552 (b)(7)(A) (FOIA Exemption 7(A)). This means the requested information will be used in the investigation, and it cannot be released while it's ongoing. “I told them I think all of them need to be questioned actually,” Boyce stated. “You mean to tell me that these people have been here for 10 years and they forgot how to clean this equipment? This has been going on. It's not new." Boyce was employed from January to August of 2023, he said by the time they hired him as a sanitation manager, it was years too late. Dating back to 2022, reports from the USDA revealed troubling conditions, including bugs, mold, mildew, blood puddles on the floor and meat buildup on the walls. The plant has not produced any product since the recall in July. The USDA reports there were a total of 69 violations between then and August 2023, when Boyce was fired. This statement was shared with 8News from the USDA's Office of Inspector General: "Regarding Boar’s Head, I can confirm that an inspection is being conducted by USDA OIG’s Office of Audit." The objective of the inspection is to determine whether the Food Safety and Inspection Service and the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services established an effective process to (1) ensure that corrective and enforcement actions for reported noncompliances at the Boar’s Head Establishment, Jarratt, Virginia were implemented; and (2) identify, elevate, and address recurring noncompliances reported at State-inspected establishments to reduce the risk of adulterated product entering the food supply. Thank you for your question and the interest in our work." USDA's Office of Inspector General The USDA’s Inspector General, Phyllis Fong, is now investigating whether the Food Safety and Inspection Service and the Virginia Department of Agriculture properly addressed the reported issues. This story will be updated when new information becomes available.
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GREENSVILLE COUNTY, Va. (WRIC) -- Former Sanitation Manager Terrence Boyce revealed the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) interviewed him two weeks ago as part of an ongoing internal investigation into sanitation practices at the Boar’s Head plant in Jarratt, Virginia.
"It was a surprise," Boyce said. "They came to my door and were very adamant about what they wanted."
Boyce said the interview came just a week after he spoke with 8News in an exclusive interview, breaking down where he thinks the Jarratt plant went wrong.
"Some of the questions were geared towards process and procedures. If I knew any more complaints,” Boyce said. “I was very candid with the inspectors, all of what I knew about the inspectors that were there.”
8News was working to get the names of each employee who conducted an inspection over the last two years, but the USDA denied a Freedom of Information Act request under U.S.C. § 552 (b)(7)(A) (FOIA Exemption 7(A)). This means the requested information will be used in the investigation, and it cannot be released while it's ongoing.
“I told them I think all of them need to be questioned actually,” Boyce stated. “You mean to tell me that these people have been here for 10 years and they forgot how to clean this equipment? This has been going on. It's not new."
Boyce was employed from January to August of 2023, he said by the time they hired him as a sanitation manager, it was years too late.
Dating back to 2022, reports from the USDA revealed troubling conditions, including bugs, mold, mildew, blood puddles on the floor and meat buildup on the walls.
The plant has not produced any product since the recall in July. The USDA reports there were a total of 69 violations between then and August 2023, when Boyce was fired.
This statement was shared with 8News from the USDA's Office of Inspector General:
"Regarding Boar’s Head, I can confirm that an inspection is being conducted by USDA OIG’s Office of Audit."
The objective of the inspection is to determine whether the Food Safety and Inspection Service and the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services established an effective process to (1) ensure that corrective and enforcement actions for reported noncompliances at the Boar’s Head Establishment, Jarratt, Virginia were implemented; and (2) identify, elevate, and address recurring noncompliances reported at State-inspected establishments to reduce the risk of adulterated product entering the food supply.
Thank you for your question and the interest in our work." USDA's Office of Inspector General
The USDA’s Inspector General, Phyllis Fong, is now investigating whether the Food Safety and Inspection Service and the Virginia Department of Agriculture properly addressed the reported issues.
This story will be updated when new information becomes available.
