Inadequate sanitary practices at Boar’s Head were the main cause cited in a multistate listeria outbreak with 61 people infected and 10 deaths, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) reported.
The company withdrew approximately 207,528 pounds of meat products. Listeria symptoms include fever, muscle aches, headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance, and convulsions, with certain individuals affected by diarrhea or other gastrointestinal symptoms.
“A notable contributing factor was the facility’s inadequate sanitation practices,” the agency said.
Inspectors discovered product residues in the company’s Virginia plant, indicating inadequate cleaning procedures. There was the “presence of meat and fat residue from the previous day’s production on equipment, including packaging equipment and in the RTE [ready-to-eat] processing area during pre-operational sanitation checks.”
The residue forms thin layers of bacteria called biofilms, which spread on equipment and other surfaces.
Inspectors also found “multiple instances of condensation in the RTE environment,” which points to deficient quality controls. The condensate matter would drip, with a fan blowing the condensate directly on the products, the report said.
FSIS noted structural problems in the food facility, with cracks, holes, and broken flooring that could spread moisture. “Additional conditions documented included rust, beaded condensation, and peeling caulk,” the report said.
Dangers of Listeriosis
The bacterial contamination, Listeriosis, is most commonly associated with consuming ready-to-eat foods like raw dairy products, unpasteurized soft cheeses, smoked fish, sprouts, and deli meats. These foods are typically ingested without cooking, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).Antibiotics are administered to patients suffering from intestinal illness who are very ill or at risk of becoming very ill.
Listeria survives and grows at cool temperatures as low as 34°F (1°C). Heating the food products above an internal temperature of 165°F can effectively eliminate the bacterial infection.
The CDC warns that listeria can grow on food kept in the refrigerator and advises consumers who had bought the recalled meat products to thoroughly clean all surfaces with which the meat came into contact.
The agency advises people with weakened immunity to avoid consuming deli meats without heating them properly.
As for Boar’s Head, the FSIS suspended inspection on all production lines at the Virginia plant after discovering widespread contamination. The company subsequently expanded its recall, which involved over seven million pounds of RTE meat and poultry products.
On Sept. 13, Boar’s Head announced that it would indefinitely close the Virginia plant.
Earlier in September, the FSIS broadened its inspections to other facilities owned by the company in Arkansas, Indiana, Michigan, and Virginia.
According to the report, the agency took samples and “ensured any identified deficiencies were corrected and monitored in both the short- and long-term” in these facilities.
The Boar’s Head outbreak also triggered an internal investigation on how the USDA handled the incident, Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) said in October.
USDA Inspector General Phyllis Fong was looking into whether officials in Virginia took appropriate steps after receiving reports of issues at the Virginia plant, including mold, meat residue, and dripping water on floors, walls, and equipment.
Some of the reports from two years back suggested that conditions at the plant posed an “imminent” food safety threat.
An ingredient used in the sandwiches was cited by the supplier as being likely contaminated with the bacteria.
