Jarratt, Virginia Boar’s Head deli meat plant announces indefinite shut down

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WRIC 8 News reported that the Boar’s Head deli meat plant in Jarratt, Virginia has shut down indefinitely after being linked to a deadly listeria outbreak. Nine people died with dozens others hospitalized due to the outbreak.

The listeria outbreak

The listeria outbreak caused the first recall at the end of July, rolling back more than seven million pounds of product, and the plant has not been operational since. Now, hundreds of employees are without a job.

Boar’s Head IT specialist Artie Moorman said:

“It’s been a pretty crazy seven weeks. But I was really impressed with the response, that’s really what made probably me and many others not abandon ship.”

According to Moorman, the company implemented extensive training after the recall, along with construction in the building.

Moorman added that many of his coworkers had dedicated decades of their lives to working at Boar’s Head, and some workers have been offered transfers to a Boar’s Head facility in Petersburg.

Moorman concluded:

“In the short amount of time I was there, I was impacted a lot by just how everyone really is like a family there. People were getting benefits, packages, severance pay, but I don’t think it’s worth it anywhere near enough losing a job you’ve worked your whole life.”

In an effort to prevent future outbreaks, the company said in a statement it will permanently discontinue liverwurst. Also, Boar’s Head has announced plans to hire a new Chief Food Safety Officer and establish a Food Safety Council composed of experts in the field.