USDA report finds Boar's Head listeria outbreak was due to poor sanitation practices [View all]

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