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Oct 20, 2024

Blood, bugs and mold found in Boar's Head plant linked to listeria outbreak that's killed at least 9 people

Health inspectors discovered dozens of disturbing violations including the presence of bugs, pools of blood on the floor and growing mold on equipment inside the Boar’s Head plant linked to a deadly

Health inspectors discovered dozens of disturbing violations including the presence of bugs, pools of blood on the floor and growing mold on equipment inside the Boar’s Head plant linked to a deadly nationwide listeria outbreak.

Deli meats produced at the Boar’s Head factory in Jarratt, Virginia, were recalled last month after officials identified it as the source of the listeria outbreak — which led to 57 hospitalizations and at least nine deaths, according to the CDC.

New York has seen the most cases with 17 residents getting sick from the contaminated deli meats. Two people died in South Carolina and there has been one death each in New York, New Jersey, Virginia, Illinois, Florida, Tennessee and New Mexico.

The company recalled more than 7 million pounds of ready-to-eat meat and poultry products as infections have spread across 18 states.

“We deeply regret the impact this recall has had on affected families. No words can fully express our sympathies and the sincere and deep hurt we feel for those who have suffered losses or endured illness,” a Boar’s Head spokesperson said in a statement Thursday.

Customers and businesses should check that they do not have any of the recalled products in their fridges and stores and thoroughly clean any surfaces touched by the meats.

In addition to the bacterial contamination, the Jarratt plant received 69 records of “noncompliance” issued by inspectors over the past year, according to USDA records obtained by CBS News through a Freedom of Information Act request.

The records released by the Food Safety and Inspection Service reveal troubling conditions.

An inspector noted “a rancid smell” in the raw receiving cooler with “ample amounts of blood in puddles on the floor” during a Feb. 21 visit.

A “black mold-like substance” was seen throughout another holding cooler on Jan. 9 and again on the outside of four steel vats along with one to two inches of meat on June 1. Inspectors noted seeing mold in different places during six visits in total.

On June 10, an inspector spotted “approximately 15-20 flies … going in and out of 4 vats of pickle left in the room.”

“Small flying gnat-like insects were observed crawling on the walls and flying around the room,” the inspector reported. “The room’s walls had heavy meat buildup, pink/orange discoloration, and denaturant over spray on them.”

All operations at the Jarratt plant have been suspended since the July recall and Boar’s Head is working with food safety experts to find out the source of the outbreak and the conditions that led to it.

“Food safety is our absolute priority, as is the health and well-being of our consumers,” the company spokesperson said. “As a USDA-inspected food producer, the agency has inspectors in our Jarratt, Virginia plant every day and if at any time inspectors identify something that needs to be addressed, our team does so immediately, as was the case with each and every issue raised by USDA in this report.”

The USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service did not immediately return a request for comment.