Virginia Boar's Head facility to resume operations following a year-long listeria-related shutdown
The Boar's Head meat packing plant in Jarratt, Virginia, which was dubbed a "Listeria factory" by a lawyer due to dozens of violations found by inspectors, is set to reopen this year following a year-long closure due to a listeria outbreak.
The USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) identified several factors that may have contributed to the listeria outbreak, with the most notable being the facility's inadequate sanitation practices. In response, the plant will undergo enhanced verification plans and increased sampling measures as part of strict federal oversight.
Following the USDA lifting its suspension on July 18, 2025, the facility will undergo at least 90 days of heightened monitoring and inspections to ensure food safety compliance. The key reopening conditions and safety measures include enhanced verification plans, increased sampling measures, and the permanent elimination of the specific production process linked to the listeria outbreak involving liverwurst.
Boar's Head has implemented boosted food safety practices aimed at reducing or eliminating Listeria in finished products, working closely with federal and state regulators to maintain sanitary conditions. The USDA has significantly increased Listeria testing, with over 23,000 samples tested in 2025 — more than a 200% increase from 2024. The agency also updated its Listeria-specific training and administered it to over 5,200 frontline inspectors to ensure effective detection and rapid response.
Structural issues such as cracks, holes, and broken flooring were identified, which could hold moisture and contribute to wet conditions. Inspectors discovered multiple instances of condensation at the Boar's Head production plant, and condensate was found dripping onto exposed products and a fan blowing condensate directly onto products. To address these issues, the plant will undergo necessary repairs and upgrades to ensure a clean and sanitary environment.
Boar's Head has an unwavering commitment to food safety and quality, as reflected in its recent enhancements to its practices and protocols. The company has also established a Boar's Head Food Safety Council, composed of independent industry-leading food safety experts, to advise the new chief food safety officer and the company overall. The council is responsible for assisting the company in adopting and implementing enhanced quality assurance programs and creating a new standard for food safety in the industry.
Once it resumes operations, the Jarratt establishment will be operating under an enhanced verification plan for at least 90 days, overseen by FSIS inspectors. The enhanced verification plan includes intensified Listeria sampling and heightened monitoring to ensure the establishment consistently and effectively implements its corrected food safety plans. The USDA required Boar's Head to provide extensive evidence that it can produce safe food before lifting the suspension, under strict conditions and continued scrutiny.
Boar's Head's website states that its production plants are equipped with advanced technologies for monitoring sanitation and temperature control. The company has been working with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to develop a plan to reopen the Jarratt facility, with the goal of ensuring the highest standards of food safety and quality for consumers.
The reopening of the Boar's Head plant in Jarratt, Virginia, comes with the importance of robust federal oversight being placed on the site moving forward, as documents reveal that sanitation challenges similar to those in the Jarratt plant have been flagged at other Boar's Head facilities in Arkansas, Indiana, and Virginia. This highlights the need for continued vigilance and adherence to strict food safety practices to prevent recurrence of contamination.
