JARRATT, Va. (WWBT) – The Boar’s Head, Virginia facility linked to a deadly listeria outbreak said Friday it is closed “indefinitely.”
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, at least nine people have died since the disease was first reported in the spring.
The Jarratt plant has been out of operation since the end of July.
“Our investigation has determined that the cause of the contamination is a specific production process that existed only at the Jarratt plant and was used only for liver sausage,” the company said on its website. “Due to this discovery, we have decided to permanently discontinue production of liver sausage.”
The union representing workers at Boar’s Head said it had reached an agreement with the company for employees to be transferred to other plants or accept severance pay.
“We will continue to respond to the needs of our members and help them get back on their feet. This includes coordinating with management and the state to provide job placement and other support services for those who choose not to stay with the company,” the United Food and Commercial Workers Local 400 union said in a statement.
In its statement on Friday, Boar’s Head said it was a “dark moment” for the company.
“We intend to use this as an opportunity to improve food safety programs not only for our company, but for the entire industry,” Boar’s Head said.
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