One year after a deadly Listeria outbreak that claimed at least 10 lives and sickened dozens across the U.S., the Boar’s Head deli meat production plant in Jarratt, Virginia, quietly reopened last summer after a lengthy shutdown enforced by federal authorities. However, many consumers lost trust in Boar’s Head after serious sanitation violations led to the deadly outbreak.
Background
The packaging facility, which produces deli meats and other ready-to-eat products for retail sale, ceased operations in late July 2024 after a strain of Listeria monocytogenes was found to have contaminated liverwurst and other ready-to-eat meats produced at the plant.
The discovery triggered a massive recall and public health response, and the facility was closed by the USDA in July 2024. In September 2024, the Jarratt facility announced it would be closed indefinitely, confirming it would no longer produce its liverwurst and that the plant would remain shut until it could demonstrate safe operations.
The outbreak, the largest in the country since 2011, triggered a massive recall of more than 7 million pounds of products, widespread illness across nearly 20 states, and intense public scrutiny of the company’s sanitation practices. There were at least 10 confirmed deaths from the outbreak, with dozens of others hospitalized.
USDA’s involvement and findings
The U.S. The Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (USDA-FSIS) had suspended the plant’s inspection marks in July 2024 — a move that prevents products from being sold — after inspectors uncovered widespread sanitation problems. Federal reports cited mold growth, condensation over production lines, and dirty equipment, conditions regulators said created an environment where Listeria could spread.
After months of corrective work and federal oversight, the USDA lifted the forced suspension in July 2025, concluding that the plant now meets sanitation and food safety standards. Boar’s Head officials have stated that they are implementing enhanced protocols and food safety systems, including strengthened quality controls and the formation of an independent Food Safety Council, to mitigate future risks.
Lingering consequences
Despite these assurances, lawmakers and food safety advocates continue to raise concerns about whether Boar’s Head has fully addressed systemic issues, with some members of Congress requesting company leadership to testify before a federal food safety caucus. (No such proceedings were ever announced.)
After the recall, retail sales of Boar’s Head products reportedly dropped significantly in some regions, with sales plunging by up to 30% at certain supermarkets and delis as consumers avoided the brand due to safety concerns.
What you can do to stay safe
The risk of Listeria contamination in deli meats is highest for certain individuals. Per the Centers for Disease Control (CDC): High-risk people, especially pregnant people, adults 65+, and anyone with a weakened immune system, recommend “…deli meats, cold cuts, hot dogs, and other ready-to-eat meats be heated until they reach an internal temperature of 165 °F (74 °C) or until steaming hot before eating. This includes reheating in the microwave or on a stovetop.”
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