The Boar’s Head meat plant in Jarratt is closing indefinitely amid listeria outbreaks and lawsuits, the plant’s union confirmed Friday.
On July 26, Boar Head Provisions Co., based in Jarratt — about 75 miles west of Norfolk — recalled the Boar’s Head Strassburger Brand Liverwurst, made at the plant between mid-June and mid-July. The meat has a shelf life of 44 days, with “sell by” dates ranging from late July to late August.
The company also recalled ham and bologna products made on the same line, with more than 200,000 pounds of meat ultimately recalled.
“It pains us to impact the livelihoods of hundreds of hard-working employees,” a statement from the company said. “We do not take lightly our responsibility as one of the area’s largest employers. But, under these circumstances, we feel that a plant closure is the most prudent course. We will work to assist each of our employees in the transition process.”
Boar’s Head will also permanently discontinue liverwurst.
United Food & Commercial Workers Local 400, which represents workers at the Jarratt plant, said in a statement that workers will have the opportunity to transfer to other facilities during the closure or accept a severance package.
“Everyone agrees this unprecedented tragedy was not the fault of the workforce, so it is especially unfortunate that the Jarratt plant must close indefinitely and put so many men and women out of work,” the statement said. “Thankfully these workers have a union they can count on to always have their backs. We appreciate the extraordinary efforts Boar’s Head has made to keep our members on the job as long as possible and to ensure everyone is taken care of during this process.”
The family of a Newport News man who died after eating contaminated deli meat in late July said this month it would sue the meat manufacturer. Gunter “Garshon” Morgenstein, 88, bought Boar’s Head liverwurst June 30 from a Newport News Harris Teeter, and consumed some of it over the next several days. Though the hospital took “aggressive measures” to save him, he died July 18 at Riverside Medical Center.
A Williamsburg woman also filed a lawsuit against the company. It alleges she spent several days in intensive care after she consumed liverwurst purchased at a Harris Teeter.
“This is a dark moment in our company’s history, but we intend to use this as an opportunity to enhance food safety programs not just for our company, but for the entire industry.,” Boar’s Head’s statement continued.
Eliza Noe, eliza.noe@virginiamedia.com
