Boar’s Head facing legal scrutiny by feds over deadly listeria outbreak found in deli meat
Boar’s Head, the deli meat company at the center of a deadly listeria food poisoning outbreak, is being scrutinized by law enforcement officials, the US Agriculture Department discꦜlosed in response to gov💎ernment records requests.
Officials with USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service refused to share documents regarding the agency’s inspections and enforcement at the Boar’s Head plant in Jarratt, Va., plus inspection reports from ei🔯ght other company facto✤ries across the US.
The records — which FSIS acknowledged include dozens of pages of documentation — ꦍwere withh♔eld because they were compiled “for a law enforcement purpose, which includes both civil and criminal statutes,” according to a letter sent Friday in response to Freedom of Information Act requests submitted by The Associated Press.
Releasing the records could “interfere with” and “hinder” the government’𒁏s investigation, the letter said.
The AP asked for records regarding the listeria outbreak that, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, has killed 10 people and sickeneไd at least 50 in 19 states since May.
Listeria ba✱cteria were initially detected in samples of Boar’s Head liverwurst an𝔍d later traced to illnesses in people.
Previously released records revealed problems including mold, insects, dripping water and meat and fat residue on walls, floors and equipment dating back at least two💧 years.
Boar’s Head earlier recalled more than 7 million pounds of deli meat distributed to stores across the country.
This month, the Sarasota, Florida-based company said it has closed the Virginia plant&൩nbsp;and permanently stopped making liverwurst.
Boar’s Head is facing several lawsuits filed by victims and their fami🌄lies.
FSIS officials did not respond to AP’s emails seeking additional comment about 💮the records.
Justice Department officials declined to comment on poten๊tial legal actions against Boar’s Head.
This week, Sen. Richard Blumenthal and Rep. Rosa DeLauro called on the ꦐAgriculture and Justice departments to “work closely” to determine whether to bring criminal charges against Boar’s Head in connection with the crisis.
In response, USDA’s own internal investigators are reviewing the agency’s work and will decide by the end of the ඣyear whether to open an inquiry, according to 📖Blumenthal’s office.
Past food poisoning outbreaks have resulted in criminal and civilཧ penalties.
In 2020, Chipotle agre𒉰ed to pay to resolve crimin🍷al charges over tainted food that sickened more than 1,100 people in outbreaks between 2015 and 2018.
In 2015, former Peanut Corporation of America executive Stewart Parnel𒐪l was after an outbreak of salmonella in his company’s peanut butter killed nine people and sickened more than 700.
