USDA report finds Boar's Head listeria outbreak was due to poor sanitation practices
Source: NPR
January 11, 2025 5:45 PM ET
A U.S. Department of Agriculture report has found that "inadequate sanitation practices" at a Boar's Head facility in Virginia contributed to a listeria outbreak that left 10 people dead and dozens hospitalized around the country last year.
The report, released Friday by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS), reviewed the listeria outbreak linked to the deli meat supplier's facility in Jarratt, Va.
In one case, inspectors said they found "meat and fat residue from the previous day's production on the equipment, including packaging equipment." Other instances included dripping condensation "on exposed product" and "cracks, holes and broken flooring that could hold moisture and contribute to wet conditions."
The outbreak lasted from July through November 2024, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. With cases reported in over 19 states, it was the largest outbreak of the foodborne bacterial illness since 2011. In an email to NPR, a spokesperson for Boar's Head said: "We continue to actively cooperate with the USDA and government regulatory agencies on matters related to last year's recall, and we thank them for their oversight."
Read more: https://www.npr.org/2025/01/11/nx-s1-5256921/boars-head-listeria-outbreak-usda-investigation
Link to USDA/FSIS REPORT site - Review of the Boars Head Listeria monocytogenes Outbreak - January 2025
Link to USDA/FSIS REPORT (PDF) - https://www.fsis.usda.gov/sites/default/files/media_file/documents/Boars-Head-Public-Report-012025.pdf
Buddyzbuddy
(144 posts)That's what happens when you don't take the time to properly train employees in safety and sanitation. Or hiring people that don't take the seriousness or responsibilities of the job to heart. Do you think the person whose job it was to clean and sanitize that equipment wanted to kill people or make them sick?
This is a management problem from the top down. Nobody will be held to account. $$$ will be paid but that's it.
But if diaper Don gets sick from one of those burgers he loves so much, I'm sure somebody's head will roll.
ratchiweenie
(7,962 posts)Wuddles440
(1,461 posts)health crises will be a regular occurrence once the incoming regime and DOGE totally gut the regulations. Of course, reporting of many such outbreaks will be suppressed so the general public will lack any awareness.
Lonestarblue
(12,040 posts)Ive been buying sliced turkey from a local small grocery that roasts the turkeys instead of just stocking commercial products.
Grins
(7,970 posts)Like with Amazon, employees and low- level managers pressured to be more and more efficient with fewer and fewer people. And graded on doing that above all.
Oneear
(189 posts)Food Plants need training for everyone every year, with Doctors check-ups with Shots taken, and Records at HR that match up with payroll
Stargazer99
(3,055 posts)I have worked in labor intensive factories and it is management that cuts cost by not taking the time or expense to make sure product is safe. Who do you think orders the process of production? The worker? I can see you"ve never been in the actual process of production>>>so stop the BS and get real
marybourg
(13,238 posts)I dont see any one blaming employees.
Stargazer99
(3,055 posts)marybourg
(13,238 posts)Old Crank
(5,082 posts)Now what happens. $100 fine and a promis to clean up more?
Oopsie Daisy
(4,646 posts)... they display them, I think the amount they actually sell has dropped significantly. For a brief period they stopped selling ALL meat and cheese (even their own brand) because of the fear of cross-contamination.
I avoid that counter, even now... instead I'll just by my deli style meats pre-packaged, or from Costco in bulk and freeze them for later. (Maybe I'm fooling myself... it could be that the risks are just as great with pre-packed deli meats and deli-style cheeses.)
Lovie777
(15,421 posts)markie
(22,977 posts)people get lazy over time and that is bad... years ago I had a husband die from complications of listeria (From bad deli meat) and I know all too well how important good practices are
Farmer-Rick
(11,579 posts)The executives and management at Boars Head corporation have allowed this awful situation. Do you think if they were really concerned they would have let it go on to the point where people are dying and filing suits against them? They killed people in order to squeeze out a few extra dollars by not paying people to clean. That is a decision made at corporate headquarters. That's Not a decision some lowly worker makes.
Dirty processing facilities are not a deep dark secret that is hidden from the CEO and their executives. They know how it happened and did nothing....until they were caught.
Stargazer99
(3,055 posts)Artistree22
(57 posts)MichMan
(13,716 posts)Farmer-Rick
(11,579 posts)By not ensuring sanitary conditions or giving workers paid time to clean. And it's not just saving one person's labor costs. It's saving 100s of people's labor costs.
Now they got listeria in the facility. It's a really difficult pathogen to kill out once it gets a foothold.
Don't eat Boars Head!!!!! I bet this is a problem in other facilities too. It sounds like someone in corporate was looking at labor savings in sanitary procedures.
ReRe
(10,957 posts)Can you say "Regulations" boys and girls? Regularions are a good and necessary thing. They protect the company and the public.
But noooo, they think their bottom line cannot afford the cost of quality and control. All they have to do is hire a degreed specimen processor to swab equipment, floor, wall & door knobs, etc. of each station every night after everyone leaves. Run them to the lab and drop off immediately. ASAP, Microciologists sets up cultures & checks them at 24 hrs and 48 hrs. They can tell in 24 hrs if the culture is growing bacteria, and in 48 hrs, they can report exactly what bacteria is growing from each and every swab. Viola'! If this practice is not required by the USDA, WTF?
mwooldri
(10,449 posts)That's their advertising slogan. Appears they did take their advertising advice a little too far.
Sneederbunk
(15,463 posts)Not a good look for the boar or it's head.
MichMan
(13,716 posts)Joinfortmill
(16,777 posts)Blue_Tires
(57,208 posts)SWBTATTReg
(24,482 posts)And, before we forget, this is only one item out of quite a few items that had contamination issues, such as some salad brands (that is why I don't buy any prepared salads), and I'm sure that there are quite a few other brands of foods that have had issues w/ their food quality.
I would suspect that the more an item is processed in order to get to the store shelves, that chances are better that contamination issues arise. Not 100% by far, and of course, depending on where you get your products makes a heck of a difference. The competence of the behind the counter people as well as the store mgmt counts for a lot. In the Boar's Head issue described above, they (the Feds) mentioned basic hygiene issues w/ the equipment in the manufacturing of Boar's Head, a rather disturbing thing to me, IMHO.
I guess just be safe in buying literally anything. The more processed an item is, the more danger (it goes through more stuff, allowing more chances of possible contamination).
snowybirdie
(5,745 posts)After seeing this report, I'll never buy Boars Head products again. It happened once, that's enough for me
DBoon
(23,241 posts)It is the only deli meat available, unless you call Oscar Meyer bologna deli meat.
MichMan
(13,716 posts)Just found out they are owned by Smithfield
doc03
(37,093 posts)Jilly_in_VA
(11,236 posts)Who threw you the clue?
Thing that gets me is why they just fine these guys (Boar's Head, the baby formula plant, etc.) instead of shutting them down the FIRST time and ordering them to clean up. But no, they just fine them, over and over, and nothing gets done!