Federal records show U.S. government food inspectors reported unsanitary conditions at several Boar’s Head deli meat plants — most of which were shuttered last year after a deadly listeria poisoning outbreak.

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Boar’s Head plants are in New Castle, Indiana; Forest City, Arkansas; and Petersburg, Virginia described multiple instances of meat and fat residue left on equipment and walls, condensation dripping onto food, mold, insects and other problems dating back about six years.

Last summer, officials documented “general filth” in a room at the Indiana plant after the USDA released inspection records in response to Freedom of Information Act requests from several news organizations. The issues reported at the three factories linked to the food poisoning outbreak echo some of the violations found at the Jarratt, Virg plant.

The report described:

• Equipment “covered in scraps of meat” in 2019.
• “Dry flaky meat from the previous day’s produce” and “black, smelly residue” left behind in 2020
• A gate covered with “dried meat juice and grime” in 2021
• Green mold and flaky paint in 2022
• “Unknown mud” and “abundance of insects” in 2023.
• A pile of “blood, debris and garbage” in 2024

Boar’s Head says the violations are not in line with their “high standards”

Key Boer officials said in an email that the violations recorded at the three factories “do not meet our high standards.” He said the company’s remaining plants will continue to operate under normal USDA inspection. The Florida-based company has marketed itself for decades as a premier provider of deli meats and cheeses, advertising “excellence that stands out in every piece.”

last september 10 people died due to listeria outbreak

Boar’s Head stopped making liverwurst and closed its Virginia plant in September after listeria poisoning linked to the product killed 10 people and sickened more than 60 people in 19 states.

The company recalled more than 7 million pounds of ready-to-eat deli meat and poultry sold nationwide. According to the Department of Agriculture’s Food and Safety Inspection Service, approximately 2.6 million pounds were ultimately recovered.

Unhygienic conditions are behind Listeria outbreak

According to the report released last week, USDA officials said “inadequate sanitation practices” at the Jarrett plant contributed to the outbreak. The agency also found product residues, condensation and structural problems in buildings to be major factors.

State food inspectors have documented mold, insects, liquids dripping from the ceiling, and meat and fat residue on walls, floors and equipment. USDA officials have promised New ways to control Listeria in plants Which makes ready-to-eat foods, including extensive testing, updated training and equipment, increased inspections, more food safety reviews, and stronger oversight from state inspectors acting on the agency’s behalf.

Get the latest news live on Times Now with breaking news and top headlines from around the world.