SARASOTA, FLA. — Boar’s Head confirmed on Sept. 13 it plans to “indefinitely close” its Jarratt, Va., plant, which has not been operating since July, following a Listeria outbreak.

“This is a dark moment in our company’s history, but we intend to use this as an opportunity to enhance food safety programs not just for our company but for the entire industry,” Boar’s Head said.

The meat processor said its investigation identified the root cause of the contamination as a specific production process that only existed at the Jarratt plant, which was used for liverwurst. Boar’s Head has now decided to permanently discontinue liverwurst.

“It pains us to impact the livelihoods of hundreds of hard-working employees,” the company said. “We do not take lightly our responsibility as one of the area’s largest employers. 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.”

The United Food & Commercial Workers Local 400 union released a statement regarding the company’s decision.

The union said the company agreed to provide union members with the opportunity to transfer to other Boar’s Head facilities or accept a severance package.

As investigations continue into the Listeria outbreak at the Boar’s Head Jarratt facility, the company announced on Sept. 13 its plans to revise food safety and quality measures.

Boar’s Head said it plans to hire a new chief food safety and quality assurance officer, with the company recruiting for the position now. The person will report directly to the president of Boar’s Head.

Along with the new position, the company announced it would establish a “Boar’s Head Food Safety Council,” which will be made up of independent food experts with some of them assisting the current investigation at the Jarratt plant.

“The Food Safety Council, which may evolve over time and as needed, will assist the company’s adoption and implementation of enhanced quality assurance programs and create a new standard for food safety in the industry,” Boar’s Head said. “The council will serve as advisers to the new chief food safety officer and to the company as a whole.”

Documents released by the USDA last week revealed new details about food safety protocol going back two years at the Jarratt facility. While the USDA earlier disclosed 69 instances of noncompliance between Aug. 1, 2023, and Aug. 2, 2024, at the Jarratt facility, a more recently released report revealed violations as early as 2022. The second round of inspection citations covered the period between January 2022 and June 2023. One note from the USDA categorized the facility as an “imminent threat” before the outbreak.

The plant in Virginia remains closed as investigations continue.

In July, Boar’s Head recalled 7 million lbs of meat and poultry products due to the Listeria contamination.