Boar's Head Cold Cut Identified As Root Of Listeria Outbreak, Discontinued

Boar's Head announced it has discontinued liverwurst after it was identified as the root of a deadly listeria outbreak that led to a massive recall.

Last month, Boar's Head's plant in Jarratt, Virginia , was solely linked to the deaths of at least nine people and the hospitalization of about 50 others in 18 states, which led to the company announcing its shut down last Friday (September 13).

"Our investigation has identified the root cause of the contamination as a specific production process that only existed at the Jarratt facility and was used only for liverwurst," the company said in a statement obtained by FOX News . "With this discovery, we have decided to permanently discontinue liverwurst."

Liverwurst was once a popular cold cut, but had seen a drastic decline long before being linked to the deadly listeria outbreak. Robert Sietsema of Eater NY said Liverwurst was an "endangered sandwich" as it had become "probably one of the least popular sandwich options in New York City" in an April essay documenting his goal of finding the city's best liverwurst sandwiches in April.

"A filling in a sandwich made on rye, pumpernickel or whole wheat, and dressed with mustard and sometimes raw onions, liverwurst was in many kids’ lunch bag rotation 30 years ago, though even then, it seemed oddly old-fashioned," Sietsema wrote, noting that none of the five delis he visited had the sandwich and only "the older sandwich makers at least knew what it was."

The Jarratt plant was reported to have repeatedly violated federal regulations, which included the presence of mold, insects, liquid dripping from ceilings, a puddle of blood and meat and fat residue on walls, floors and equipment, according to newly released records obtained by the Associated Press last month. The plant was logged for 69 total incidents of "noncompliance" with federal rules that occurred during the past year, including several in recent weeks, according to the documents, which were shared publicly through federal Freedom of Information Act requests . Inspections at the meat plant were suspended as it will remain closed “until the establishment is able to demonstrate it can produce safe product," U.S. Agriculture Department officials announced in a statement obtained by the AP on August 29.

More than 7 million pounds of Boar's Head products were recalled after tests confirmed that listeria bacteria was present. Inspectors found "heavy discolored meat buildup" and "meat overspray on walls and large pieces of meat on the floor" at the Virginia meat plant between August 1, 2023, and August 2, 2024, according to the documents.

Flies were reported to be "going in and out" of pickle vats and "black patches of mold" were reported on a ceiling, while one inspector spotted blood puddled on the floor, as well as "a rancid smell in the cooler." Plant staff was repeatedly notified that the facility failed to meet requirements, according to the documents.

“I think it is disgusting and shameful,” said Garshon Morgenstein , whose 88-year-old father, Gunter , died in July from listeria infection after consuming Boar's Head liverwurst, via the AP . “I’m just even more in shock that this was allowed to happen.”