Boar's Head discontinues product, closes facility linked to listeria outbreak 'indefinitely'

Boar's Head on Friday announced that it is "indefinitely" closing the Virginia manufacturing plant that's been linked to the deadly listeria outbreak.

"Given the seriousness of the outbreak, and the fact that it originated at Jarratt, we have made the difficult decision to indefinitely close this location," which was shut down in late July, the company said. 

The company's Jarratt facility was linked to the meats sliced at deli counters, including Boar's Head brand liverwurst, that caused the biggest listeria outbreak since 2011, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). 

As of Aug. 8, 57 people were infected with the listeria outbreak strain from 18 states, all of whom have been hospitalized. Nine people have died — one in Illinois, one in New Jersey, one in Virginia, one in Florida, one in Tennessee, one in New Mexico, one in New York and two in South Carolina, according to the CDC's latest update.

"Under these circumstances, we feel that a plant closure is the most prudent course," the company continued.

The company said it will also permanently discontinue its liverwurst product, which was made at the Jarratt plant. 

This decision came after Boar's Head "identified the root cause of the contamination as a specific production process that only existed at the Jarratt facility and was used only for liverwurst." 

The company said it is implementing enhanced food safety and quality measures immediately, including appointing a new chief food safety and quality assurance officer who will report directly to Boar’s Head’s president.

The company is in the process of recruiting for this position. 

Boar's Head will also establish a "Boar’s Head Food Safety Council" that will be composed of independent industry-leading food safety experts, some of whom have been assisting with the listeria investigation. 

This council will be tasked with assisting the company’s adoption and implementation of enhanced quality assurance programs and in charge of creating a new standard for food safety in the industry.

They will also serve as advisers to the new chief food safety officer and to the company overall.