Boar’s Head factories in violation for ‘mold, insects, blood’: USDA

[Lauren Taylor]

A DEADLY LISTERIA OUTBREAK IN 2024 WAS LINKED TO DELI MEAT FROM POPULAR FLORIDA-BASED BOAR’S HEAD.

AND NEWLY RELEASED REPORTS SHOW UNSANITARY CONDITIONS AT SEVERAL OF THE COMPANY’S FACTORIES ACROSS THE U.S.

MULTIPLE NEWS OUTLETS PUSHED THE USDA TO TURN OVER ITS INSPECTION RECORDS INTO BOARS HEADS FACTORIES IN INDIANA, ARKANSAS, VIRGINIA…AND MICHIGAN.

INSPECTORS FOUND MOLD, INSECTS, BLOOD PUDDLES, AND TRASH IN FOOD PREP AREAS—SOME OF THESE ISSUES DATE BACK SIX YEARS, WITH THE MOST RECENT VIOLATION IN 2024.

BOAR’S HEAD ACKNOWLEDGED THE VIOLATIONS, SAYING THE REPORTS GO AGAINST THEIR HIGH STANDARDS. THE COMPANY ADDED THEY’RE HIRING A FOOD SAFETY MANAGER AND CONTINUE TO WORK CLOSELY WITH THE USDA.

THREE OF THE FACTORIES SHOWED SIMILAR CONDITIONS, TO THE PLANT IN JARRATT, VIRGINIA—THE SAME FACILITY LINKED TO THE LISTERIA OUTBREAK THAT KILLED 10 PEOPLE AND CAUSED DOZENS OF OTHERS TO FALL SICK.

OFFICIALS FOUND THE FOOD POISONING WAS TIED TO THE LIVERWURST MADE BY BOARS HEAD.

IN A NEWLY RELEASED REPORT, THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE SAYS MEAT RESIDUE, MOLD AND DRIPPINGS FROM THE CEILINGS HELPED PROMOTE THE OUTBREAK.

A RECALL WAS LATER ISSUED FOR MORE THAN SEVEN MILLION POUNDS OF MEAT NATIONWIDE, BUT OFFICIALS SAY LESS THAN HALF OF IT HAS BEEN RECOVERED.

REPUBLICAN LAWMAKERS BLAMED THE USDA, SAYING THE AGENCY FAILED TO HOLD BOAR’S HEAD ACCOUNTABLE FOR REPEATED SAFETY VIOLATIONS.

THEY RELEASED A STATEMENT SAYING, “These reports make clear that there is a culture of noncompliance of critical safety and sanitary protocols.”

USDA OFFICIALS SAY THEY ARE TIGHTENING UP OVERSIGHT WITH MODIFIED TRAINING AND MORE INSPECTIONS TO KEEP FACTORIES UP TO CODE.

MULTIPLE LAWSUITS WERE FILED BY PEOPLE AFFECTED BY THE LISTERIA OUTBREAK.

THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE IS ALSO PURSUING THEIR OWN INVESTIGATION INTO POTENTIAL CRIMINAL CHARGES.

FOR STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS, I’M LAUREN TAYLOR