Struggling deli meat factory owned by Boar's Head aims to resume operations, yet associated sanitation concerns remain unresolved.
Boar's Head deli meat plants continue to face significant food safety concerns following recent inspections that uncovered sanitation issues similar to those that led to the deadly listeria outbreak in 2024.
Despite assurances of improvements and plans to reopen the original outbreak plant in Jarratt, Virginia, inspection reports reveal ongoing problems with unsanitary conditions at other Boar's Head facilities in Arkansas, Indiana, and Virginia as recently as June 2025.
Key persistent concerns include the presence of meat and fat residues on equipment, walls, and stairs, clogged drains, poor sanitation practices, and the discovery of mold, insects, rust, chipping paint, and dripping condensation throughout facilities. These observations mirror those that caused the listeria contamination responsible for 61 illnesses and 10 deaths from May to September 2024.
Boar’s Head has asserted a commitment to food safety improvements, engaging a food safety council with experts and hiring a new chief food safety officer. However, the company has declined to publicly discuss the ongoing sanitation issues, and some inspections indicate that problems persist across multiple plants.
USDA officials lifted the forced suspension on the Jarratt plant on July 18, stating that the facility is in full compliance with food safety guidelines. However, the findings echo the inadequate sanitation practices that contributed to the outbreak, including product residue, condensation, and structural problems in the buildings.
Sandra Eskin, a former USDA official, stated that if food safety problems continue, the government needs to ensure the company fixes them. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins announced plans to bolster efforts against foodborne germs, including listeria.
The new inspection findings cover Boar's Head sites in Forrest City, Arkansas; New Castle, Indiana; and Petersburg, Virginia. In April, an inspector at the Petersburg plant reported finding discarded meat underneath equipment. Boar's Head officials refused to discuss the problems found this year and canceled a scheduled interview with the Associated Press.
Rep. Rosa DeLauro called the findings "appalling" and a pattern of negligence. Several survivors of the illness declined to comment publicly on the new problems, citing financial settlements with the company that included nondisclosure agreements.
Outside food safety advocates were surprised that factory conditions have not improved since the outbreak was first identified. Problems reported by inspectors include instances of meat and fat residue, blocked drains, beaded condensation, overflowing trash cans, and staff not wearing protective gear or washing hands.
Boar's Head has posted job openings for two dozen positions, including a food safety quality analyst, at the Jarratt site, indicating that the plant is preparing to reopen in the coming months. However, the ongoing food safety concerns raise questions about the company's ability to ensure the safety of its products.
[1] Food Safety News, "Boar's Head Plants Continue to Face Sanitation Problems," June 2025, https://www.foodsafetynews.com/2025/06/boars-head-plants-continue-to-face-sanitation-problems/
[2] Associated Press, "Boar's Head Deli Meat Plants Face Ongoing Food Safety Concerns," July 2025, https://apnews.com/article/food-business-health-food-safety-boars-head-deli-meat-plants-face-ongoing-food-safety-concerns-1c787f095502823e4f55b6753511408f
[3] Washington Post, "Boar's Head Deli Meat Plants Facing Continued Food Safety Risks," July 2025, https://www.washingtonpost.com/food/2025/07/18/boars-head-deli-meat-plants-facing-continued-food-safety-risks/
- Despite Boar's Head's assertion of food safety improvements and plans to reopen the Jarratt plant, health-and-wellness concerns persist due to ongoing sanitation issues in other facilities, such as those in Forrest City, Arkansas; New Castle, Indiana; and Petersburg, Virginia, which have been revealed through recent inspections.
- Given the new inspection findings showing ongoing issues with meat and fat residues, blocked drains, and poor sanitation practices in Boar's Head facilities, science experts and medical-conditions activists have raised questions about the company's ability to ensure the health-and-wellness of consumers, particularly when it comes to food-and-drink products.
