Boar’s Head Plans Virginia Plant Reopening Amid Persistent Sanitation Issues

Boar's Head plans to reopen its Jarratt, Virginia plant, which was shut down after a deadly 2024 Listeria outbreak that sickened 61 people across 19 states and caused 10 deaths. Despite the reopening, USDA inspection reports from January to July 2025 reveal ongoing sanitation violations at other Boar's Head facilities in Arkansas, Indiana, and Virginia, including mold, meat residue buildup, dripping condensation, and poor employee hygiene. The outbreak was traced to the Jarratt plant's liverwurst production, and although Boar's Head has pledged to improve food safety, similar insanitary conditions persist across its plants. The USDA lifted the plant's suspension after the company claimed it had rectified the issues, but concerns remain about food safety compliance nationwide within Boar's Head operations. Boar's Head has also appointed former USDA food safety officials to advise on improvements amid criticism of the company's handling of the crisis. The reopening has drawn scrutiny given the continued sanitation problems reflected in federal inspection documents obtained by the Associated Press.