Boar’s Head Virginia Plant Shut Down Following Deadly Listeria Outbreak

The deli meat company Boar’s Head announced Friday that it’s closing its Virginia plant following a listeria outbreak in its products that resulted in multiple deaths and dozens of hospitalizations.

“We regret and deeply apologize for the recent Listeria monocytogenes contamination in our liverwurst product. We understand the gravity of this situation and the profound impact it has had on affected families,” the company said in a statement, adding that “comprehensive measures are being implemented to prevent such an incident from ever happening again.”

At least nine people in various states died from being infected with listeria after consuming Boar’sHead deli meats last month, and at least 57 people have been hospitalized since May, prompting the company to recall more than 7 million pounds of its products.

The listeria outbreak is the largest in the U.S. since 2011. The bacterial infection can cause mild symptoms such as fever, muscle aches, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. In more severe cases, it can lead to headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance, convulsions and even death, according to the Food and Drug Administration.

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