Virginia Boar’s Head plant plans to reopen after Listeria outbreak, sanitation issues

GREENSVILLE COUNTY, Va. (WRIC) -- The Boar's Head deli meat plant in Virginia, which was linked to a deadly listeria outbreak in 2024, is set to reopen in the coming months, according to a report by the Associated Press.

The Boar's Head deli meat plant in Jarratt was shut down indefinitely in September 2024 after being linked to a listeria outbreak, which reportedly killed 10 people.

On Friday, Aug. 8, the Associated Press reported that the Jarratt Boar's Head plant is set to reopen in the coming months, with job openings reportedly posted for two dozen positions, including a food safety quality analyst, at the Jarratt site.

Events leading to the Jarratt plant shutting down

In late July 2024, the Boar's Head Provisions Co., Inc. plant in Jarratt recalled all of its liverwurst and other deli meats due to a possible listeria contamination, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).

In addition to liverwurst, the company also recalled other deli meat products that were produced on the same line and the same day as the liverwurst, since they also might have been contaminated.

The resulting listeria outbreak would go on to make many people across several states report having been sickened in the outbreak, and resulted in the deaths of at least 10 people across several states, including an 88-year-old Virginia man.

On Sept. 13, Boar's Head announced that it was closing its plant in Jarratt, sharing the following statement on its website:

“It pains us to impact the livelihoods of hundreds of hard-working employees. We do not take lightly our responsibility as one of the area’s largest employers,” Boar’s Head wrote in a statement shared on its website. “But, under these circumstances, we feel that a plant closure is the most prudent course.”

In an effort to prevent future outbreaks, Boar’s Head had previously announced plans to hire a new Chief Food Safety Officer and establish a Food Safety Council composed of experts in the field.

As of Aug. 8, several employees are listed under a Food Safety Advisory Council on Boar's Head's website, including a chief food safety advisor.

Former employees speak out about what went wrong

As a result of its closure, hundreds of employees were without a job. 8News spoke with several people related to the plant to figure out what went wrong, including a former sanitation manager, Terrence Boyce, who detailed how sanitation practices at the plant were allegedly very outdated.

Additionally, 8News spoke to another former employee who shared photos taken inside the plant. He told 8News how he had found metal chips in the bologna and that people would pick up meat that had fallen on the floor and put it back with the "regular" meat.

Metal detector at Jarratt, Virginia Boar's Head plant

These recounted experiences shared by former employees suggested that issues may have existed at the plant before the deadly listeria outbreak.

According to a report from The Hill, the USDA released reports that showed inspectors warned the Boar’s Head plant in Virginia posed an “imminent threat” two years before the deadly listeria outbreak.

These reports, dating back to 2022, revealed troubling conditions, including bugs, mold, mildew, blood puddles on the floor and meat buildup on the walls.

Boyce revealed that the USDA had interviewed him as part of an ongoing internal investigation into sanitation practices at the Boar’s Head plant in Jarratt.

According to the Associated Press, USDA officials said this week that they had "thoroughly reviewed" the plant and lifted the forced suspension of operations on July 18.

RELATED: USDA releases report detailing ‘unsanitary conditions’ at Boar’s Head plant in Petersburg

A spokesperson for Boar's Head sent 8News the following statement:

“Boar’s Head has an unwavering commitment to food safety and quality. That commitment is reflected in recent enhancements to our practices and protocols, which you can read about at https://boarshead.com/food-safety.

We have also been working with the USDA in developing a plan to re-open our Jarratt facility in a measured, deliberate way in the coming months.”

8News has reached out to the USDA for an update about its investigation into the Boar's Head plant in Jarratt and is waiting for a response.