Boar's Head permanently discontinues liverwurst due to listeria contamination

This story was up to date to right a misspelling/typo.

Boar's Head liverwurst will not be accessible for buy or consumption ever once more, the corporate introduced.

The resolution to “permanently discontinue” the deli meat was introduced Friday, months after the invention of an ongoing listeria outbreak was tied to a “specific production process” that triggered 57 hospitalizations throughout 18 states, together with 9 deaths as of late August, USA TODAY reported.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention was made conscious of the lethal outbreak on July 19, selecting to concern a recall for 207,528 kilos of Boar's Head liverwurst seven days later.

The firm then selected July 30 to increase the recall to embrace each product made on the similar facility the place its liverwurst was produced, leading to 7.2 million kilos of recalled Boar's Head merchandise, in accordance to earlier USA TODAY reporting.

The “root cause” of the contamination, in accordance to Boar's Head, was a “a specific production process that only existed at the Jarratt facility and was used only for liverwurst.”

“With this discovery, we have decided to permanently discontinue liverwurst,” the corporate stated in an announcement.

The firm's newest announcement is one among many made for the reason that outbreak was found in July, which has resulted in a multi-agency investigation, a number of lawsuits and, and requires a congressional investigation, USA TODAY reported.

The human toll: His dad died from listeria tied to Boar’s Head meat. He wanted to share his story.

Boar's Head proclaims closure of Virginia-based plant

Boar's Head additionally made the “difficult decision” to indefinitely shut the Virginia-based facility that produced the liverwurst, impacting about 500 union staff and extra workers in administration, USA TODAY reported.

“It pains us to impact the livelihoods of hundreds of hard-working employees. We do not take lightly our responsibility as one of the area’s largest employers,” Boar's Head stated. “But, under these circumstances, we feel that a plant closure is the most prudent course. We will work to assist each of our employees in the transition process.”

Issues on the plant, together with reviews of mildew and mildew, bugs, water leaks and different unsanitary situations, dated again to a minimum of 2021, USA TODAY reported.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture issued a discover of suspension to the power in July, citing that the institution “failed to maintain sanitary conditions” and “produced [a] product adulterated with (Listeria monocytogenes) linked to an ongoing outbreak.”

Boar's Head “made no excuses” in response to the inspection data and noncompliance reviews on the Jarratt plant.

Boar's Head plans to use ‘darkish second' to enhance

Boar's Head acknowledged that it was a “dark moment” within the firm's historical past however plans to use the expertise as an “opportunity to enhance food safety programs not just for our company, but for the entire industry.”

The firm will “immediately implement” enhanced meals security and high quality measures to forestall future incidents, that are as follows:

Appointing a brand new Chief Food Safety & Quality Assurance Officer
Establishing a “Boar’s Head Food Safety Council” comprised of impartial industry-leading meals security specialists
Creation of an enhanced companywide meals security and QA program

The firm “remains steadfast” in its dedication to each prospects and the protection and high quality of their merchandise, in accordance to Boar's Head.

“You have our promise that we will work tirelessly to regain your trust and ensure that all Boar’s Head products consistently meet the high standards that you deserve and expect. We are determined to learn from this experience and emerge stronger.”

Contributing: Mike Snider