These documents are the first to illustrate that problems with sanitation at the company extend beyond the facility closed in Jarratt, Virginia, after a deadly listeria outbreak.
Inspection findings across multiple plants
The Freedom of Information Act requests for records from the USDA identified Boar’s Head facilities in New Castle, Indiana; Forrest City, Arkansas; and Petersburg, Virginia.
Examples of violations from the reports include: Green mold or algae on the ceilings, floors, and walls: Inspectors reported green mold or algae to be on most of the facilities.
- Unidentified slime: Reports also surfaced of equipment and surfaces covered with an unknown slimy substance.
- Insect infestation: Insect infestation has built up in the production areas and raises concern for product contamination.
- Dried meat residue: Dried remnants of meat from previous production cycles were found on surfaces to indicate failure to clean.
- Condensation dripping: Condensation was noted to drip onto food and food-contact surfaces, creating opportunity for bacterial growth.
- Flaking paint and rust: There were structural issues like chipping paint and rust that were prevailing and could have contaminated products.
The observations are similar to insanitary conditions reported earlier in a facility located in Jarratt, Virginia implicated in the listeria outbreak that killed at least ten people and hospitalized many others.
Boar’s head response and ongoing operations
Boar’s Head acknowledged the violations, with the company saying the cited conditions “do not meet our high standards.” The company assured that its remaining plants were still operating under normal USDA oversight and pledged to move quickly to resolve the issues.
Public health concerns and expert opinions
Records showing just how pervasive those unhealthy conditions were greatly disturbed health officials. Thomas Gremillion, the head of food policy at Consumer Federation of America described the records as “really concerning” and “It’s reasonable for some people to decide they don’t want to eat deli meat, Companies like Boar’s Head, they should have to earn consumers’ trust,” he added.
History of the earlier listeria outbreak and closure of this plant
The listeria outbreak that led to the recall of over 7 million pounds of deli meats originated from the now-shuttered plant in Jarratt, Virginia. According to inspection reports filed from this plant, some particularly egregious violations showed meat residue on equipment, the accumulation of mold and mildew, insects in and around the deli meats, and puddles of blood on the plant’s floor. “Inadequate sanitation practices” and structural problems in the plant were listed as contributing factors to the outbreak in the USDA report.
Oversight and what’s next
With these events unfolding, lawmakers question the oversight from USDA and press the agency on how it responds when the same company has repeated violations. The USDA now promises to institute new, more far-reaching measures in food safety, including expanded testing, updated training, more frequent inspections, and tighter oversight of state inspectors. Boar’s Head also promised to upgrade sanitation by adding a “food safety culture manager” who will oversee compliance and make sure products are safe.
