Boar’s Head Closing Virginia Factory Tied to Deadly Listeria Outbreak

Facility Recalled Products In January

Boar’s Head Brand is closing its Berks County, Virginia facility just months after a deadly Listeria outbreak was traced back to the plant. The Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania-based company said this week it will permanently close the plant and shift production to other facilities at the end of the year. In January, Boar’s Head recalled several products produced at the Berks County factory after nine people got sick, including one person who died.

CDC Linked Outbreak to Factory

The factory has not been operating since the recall, and Boar’s Head said it decided to close it after a review of its operations. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) linked the Listeria outbreak to the factory after conducting a trace back on products that sickened people. Listeria is a bacteria that can cause serious and deadly infections in people with weakened immune systems, the elderly, and pregnant women.

Symptoms Of Listeria

The symptoms of Listeria infection can include fever, muscle aches, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. In severe cases, Listeria can cause meningitis or bloodstream infections. Though the outbreak tied to Boar’s Head products ended months ago, Listeria bacteria can survive in food and the environment for months. The CDC recommends cleaning and sanitizing surfaces that may have come into contact with contaminated products and washing hands thoroughly after handling food.

Other Recalls

The Boar’s Head factory in Berks County is not the only food processing plant to face a Listeria outbreak in recent years. In 2021, an outbreak traced back to a Blue Bell Creameries plant led to the company recalling all of its products. In 2015, an outbreak linked to caramel apples led to the death of seven people.

Steps To Avoid

To avoid Listeria infection, the CDC recommends taking the following steps:

• Wash hands thoroughly after handling food.
• Clean and sanitize surfaces that may have come into contact with contaminated products.
• Cook meat to the proper internal temperature.
• Avoid eating raw or unpasteurized milk and dairy products.
• Pregnant women, the elderly, and people with weakened immune systems should avoid eating high-risk foods, such as deli meats, soft cheeses, and raw seafood.

For more information on Listeria infection, visit the CDC website:
https://www.cdc.gov/listeria/index.html