Boar’S Head Plants Nationwide Under Investigation As Listeria Death Toll Rises

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has confirmed that Boar’s Head processing plants across the country are now part of an ongoing law enforcement investigation. This follows a deadly listeria outbreak linked to contaminated deli meats produced by the company. The investigation comes after at least 59 people were hospitalized and 10 fatalities were reported due to the listeria strain traced back to a now-closed Boar’s Head plant in Virginia.

In a statement released Thursday, the USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) said the investigation remains active and is focused on public health and corporate accountability. “We take very seriously matters of public health and corporate accountability, and an investigation into this matter remains underway,” an FSIS spokesperson stated.

The Virginia plant in question had previously been cited multiple times by USDA inspectors for numerous violations. These included the presence of mold and insects, according to records obtained through a Freedom of Information Act request by CBS News. Despite these findings, the plant continued to operate until the listeria outbreak forced its closure.

The USDA had outsourced much of its oversight duties at the Virginia plant to state inspectors under a decades-old agreement. This system, designed to manage federal oversight at rural facilities, has since come under scrutiny as the agency looks to close gaps in its inspection processes.

The disclosure of the investigation coincided with a letter from Connecticut Senator Richard Blumenthal and Representative Rosa DeLauro, both Democrats, urging the USDA and the Department of Justice (DOJ) to explore criminal charges against Boar’s Head. In their letter, the lawmakers wrote, “The time for action is long overdue, and we urge your agencies to work together to seek immediate justice for impacted consumers and prevent this from happening again.”

The USDA’s FSIS has withheld certain records related to other Boar’s Head facilities in Michigan, Arkansas, and Indiana, citing the ongoing law enforcement probe. According to FSIS, releasing those records could potentially hinder the investigation.

Although it is still unclear whether the investigation is criminal or civil in nature, FSIS has confirmed that all Boar’s Head plants across the country are under review. The agency is also conducting a “top-to-bottom review” of its procedures and inspection models to prevent similar outbreaks in the future. FSIS emphasized the importance of state inspection models and the need for policy changes to prevent any oversight gaps.

“We are committed to a thorough review of all factors contributing to this outbreak and will continue investigating Boar’s Head facilities to ensure public health is protected,” the FSIS spokesperson added.

Boar’s Head has declined to comment on the investigation, stating that they do not address ongoing legal matters.

The USDA and other agencies will continue their investigation as they seek to ensure food safety standards are upheld across the country.