Boar's Head plant posed an 'imminent threat' years before listeria outbreak [View all]

[iemanja]

Inspectors warned that a Boar’s Head plant in southern Virginia had “major deficiencies” that could pose an “imminent threat” to food safety after discovering rusted equipment, condensation dripping on the floor and green mold on the wall nearly two years before a deadly nationwide listeria outbreak, according to government inspection reports released by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

But despite repeated violations, the plant continued to operate until July.

“The establishment failed to meet the regulatory requirements,” according to a noncompliance report, noting that plant management was “notified to take the necessary corrective actions.”

Between Sept. 27 and Oct. 4, 2022, inspectors detailed food residue on the floor of the liverwurst room, live beetles in a hallway and thick product buildup on equipment, among other violations. “Dirt, screws and trash were observed on the floor of the production area,” the document said.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2024/09/10/boars-head-listeria-outbreak-inspection/

As someone who thought Boar's Head was good quality meat, this makes me ill.