{"id":2339738,"date":"2024-09-11T13:29:02","date_gmt":"2024-09-11T17:29:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/usda-flagged-safety-and-health-violations-in-boars-head-plant-years-before-listeria-outbreak-washington-examiner\/"},"modified":"2024-09-11T13:34:38","modified_gmt":"2024-09-11T17:34:38","slug":"usda-flagged-safety-and-health-violations-in-boars-head-plant-years-before-listeria-outbreak-washington-examiner","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/usda-flagged-safety-and-health-violations-in-boars-head-plant-years-before-listeria-outbreak-washington-examiner\/","title":{"rendered":"USDA flagged safety and health violations in Boar\u2019s Head plant years before listeria outbreak &#8211; Washington Examiner"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">34<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fusda-flagged-safety-and-health-violations-in-boars-head-plant-years-before-listeria-outbreak-washington-examiner%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2339738&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>The article discusses serious safety and health violations reported at the Boar\u2019s \u2063Head plant \u2064in Jarratt, Virginia, identified by USDA inspectors two years prior \u200bto a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/fda-notice-ice-cream-products-recalled-over-bacterial-contamination\/\" title=\"FDA Alert: Ice Cream Recalled Due to Bacterial Contamination\">listeria outbreak linked<\/a> to the facility. Inspections conducted in\u2063 September and October 2022\u2063 revealed \u2062significant issues, including the \u200dpresence of live beetles, green mold, holes in the walls, and unsanitary conditions such as trash on\u2064 the floor and leaking pipes. Despite these \u2064findings, \u2063the USDA took no enforcement action against the plant or the company, which stated it performs thousands of \u2064inspections annually and addresses issues \u2062as they arise.<\/p>\n<p>Further reports from inspectors between August 2023 and July \u200c2024 documented ongoing\u200d noncompliance,\u2064 including blood spills, dirty equipment, and \u2064flies, which could foster environments for the growth of\u2064 Listeria monocytogenes, the bacteria responsible for listeriosis. Although regulations require USDA-trained inspectors to be present at all times, the plant continued to produce ready-to-eat products without facing consequences for these violations, raising \u200csafety concerns regarding the food available to consumers.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">USDA flagged safety and health violations in Boar&rsquo;s Head plant years before listeria outbreak<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_1369319\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/usda\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>Department of Agriculture<\/a>-trained inspectors reported <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/health\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>health<\/a> and safety violations at the Boar&rsquo;s Head plant in Jarratt, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/virginia\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>Virginia<\/a>, two years before the listeria outbreak.<\/p>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>Federal food safety assessments completed in September and October 2022 revealed there were live beetles in the bathroom hallway, patches of green mold and numerous holes in the wall, trash on the floor, leaking pipes, condensed water beading on the ceiling, and&nbsp;rust covering the wall where the liverwurst, the source of the outbreak, was produced.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Despite these reports, neither the plant nor Boar&rsquo;s Head received any enforcement action from the USDA,&nbsp;a spokeswoman for Boar&rsquo;s Head <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2024\/09\/10\/health\/boars-head-deli-meat-listeria.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>told the<\/a> <em>New York Times<\/em>.<\/p>\n<p>She said the plant performs thousands of inspection tasks each year and that the company will immediately address any problems.<\/p>\n<p>However, inspectors reported on 60 separate days between Aug. 1, 2023, and July 27, 2024, of &ldquo;noncompliances,&rdquo; which included blood puddles on the floor, dirty machinery, flies in pickle containers, and &ldquo;heavy meat buildup&rdquo; on walls. There were also reports of pools of water and condensation and rust in the plant.&nbsp;Wet conditions are breeding grounds for the bacteria Listeria monocytogenes, the source of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/dont-eat-this-if-you-have-it-in-your-pantry\/\" title=\"Don\u2019t Eat This If You Have it In Your Pantry\">listeria infection<\/a>.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Under law, all food plants are mandated to have USDA-trained inspectors on-site at all times the facility is in operation, but in spite of these reports, the plant did not face any consequences.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;They shouldn&rsquo;t have allowed this company to keep producing ready-to-eat products, lunch meat that&rsquo;s going to go on people&rsquo;s tables, when they&rsquo;re seeing this level of violation,&rdquo;&nbsp;said Sarah Sorscher, a food safety regulatory expert. &ldquo;Consumers had to die before this plant got shut down, really is the bottom line.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Nine people have died, and dozens of people have been hospitalized, in what is now one&nbsp;of the worst listeria outbreaks in recent times.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Symptoms of a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/us-health-officials-announce-deli-meat-recall-two-dead-dozens-injured\/\" title=\"US Health Officials Announce Deli Meat Recall - Two Dead, Dozens Injured\">listeria infection include fever<\/a> and muscle aches, and it is especially dangerous for pregnant women, elderly people, and people with a compromised immune system.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;It can take up to 10 weeks for symptoms to develop, with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/former-fda-commissioner-hopeful-on-vaccine-rollout\/\" title=\"Former FDA commissioner hopeful on vaccine rollout\">health experts concerned<\/a> that hospitalizations and deaths are still likely to occur.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/washingtonexaminer.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title><strong><\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p>In July, Boar&rsquo;s Head recalled 3,500 tons of meat. However, there is a fear that many consumers are unaware of the recall, and some of the meat already sold has an expiration date in October.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>The Jarratt facility had a protocol set in place to fight against listeria through sanitation, but now, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/feds-subpoena-hunter-biden-paternity-records-and-tax-documents\/\" title=\"Feds Subpoena Hunter Biden Paternity Records and Tax Documents\">food experts<\/a> are calling for that to include a step that involves irradiation. This would mean applying intense pressure to smash bacteria off the product after it is packaged.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p> <script data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/cdn-cgi\/scripts\/5c5dd728\/cloudflare-static\/email-decode.min.js\"><\/script><script>!function(){var g=window;g.googletag=g.googletag||{},g.googletag.cmd=g.googletag.cmd||[],g.googletag.cmd.push(function(){g.googletag.pubads().setTargeting(\"has-featured-video\",\"true\")})}();<\/script><script>var _bp=_bp||[];_bp.push({\"div\":\"Brid_1369319\",\"obj\":{\"id\":\"27789\",\"width\":\"1280\",\"height\":\"720\",\"stickyDirection\":\"below\",\"video\":\"1369319\"}});<\/script><script defer src=\"https:\/\/services.brid.tv\/player\/build\/brid.min.js\"><\/script><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The USDA identified health and safety violations at the Boar&#8217;s Head facility in Jarratt, Virginia, two years prior to the listeria outbreak. Inspections conducted in September and October 2022 uncovered issues such as live beetles in restrooms, green mold patches, numerous wall holes, trash on the floor, leaking pipes, condensation on ceilings, and rust on walls where liverwurst\u2014linked to the outbreak\u2014was made. Despite these findings, neither Boar&#8217;s Head nor the plant faced any penalties from the USDA. A spokesperson for Boar&#8217;s Head stated that they conduct thousands of inspections annually and promptly address any issues. However, inspectors noted &#8220;noncompliances&#8221; on 60 different occasions between August 1, 2023, and July 27, 2024. These included blood puddles on floors, dirty equipment, flies in pickle containers, and significant meat buildup on walls. The facility also reported water pooling and rusting conditions that can foster Listeria monocytogenes bacteria responsible for listeria infections. Although food plants are required by law to have USDA-trained inspectors present during operations at all times\u2014and despite these alarming reports\u2014the plant did not face repercussions. Food safety expert Sarah Sorscher criticized this oversight: \u201cThey shouldn\u2019t have allowed this company to keep producing ready-to-eat products when they\u2019re seeing this level of violation,\u201d she said. Tragically nine individuals have died due to what has become one of the most severe listeria outbreaks recently; many others have been hospitalized with symptoms like fever and muscle aches that pose particular risks for pregnant women and those with weakened immune systems. Symptoms can take up to ten weeks to manifest; thus health officials worry further hospitalizations or fatalities may still occur. In July alone Boar\u2019s Head recalled 3,500 tons of meat but there are concerns many consumers remain unaware of this recall as some products were sold with expiration dates extending into October. The Jarratt facility had sanitation protocols aimed at combating listeria; however experts now advocate adding a step involving irradiation\u2014applying intense pressure post-packaging\u2014to eliminate bacteria effectively<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2542,"featured_media":2339739,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/boars-head-sign-.webp","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[40648,40647,40649,40646,19013],"class_list":["post-2339738","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-boars-head","tag-health-violations","tag-listeria-outbreak","tag-safety-violations","tag-usda"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/boars-head-sign-.webp","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2339738","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2542"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2339738"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2339738\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2339739"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2339738"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2339738"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2339738"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}