Boar's Head Reopens Virginia Facility Linked to 2024 Listeria Outbreak

Boar’s Head Brand, a provider of delicatessen foods, resumed operations at its facility in Jarratt, Virginia, Feb. 2. The facility has been closed since July 2024, when a multistate Listeria outbreak linked to liverwurst produced at the Jarratt facility sickened 61 and killed 10.

The reopening follows a series of facility enhancements and the implementation of enhanced product manufacturing protocols, said the company.

“Since I joined Boar's Head in May 2025, it has been clear to me from day one that Boar's Head is a company that puts food safety and quality first,” said Boar’s Head Chief Food Safety Officer Natalie Dyenson. “The extensive enhancements and stringent protocols implemented at the Jarratt facility, as well as the advancements and the actions we've taken across our organization, ensure we uphold rigorous safety standards. We are committed to building on our more than 120-year history of delivering products that consumers love and can eat with confidence.”

Following the 2024 outbreak, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) investigated the Jarratt facility and determined that inadequate sanitation practices contributed to the outbreak. Observations by the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services inspection personnel documented in noncompliance records demonstrated multiple instances of noncompliance with Sanitation Standard Operating Procedures and Sanitation Performance Standards.

Over the past year, the Jarratt facility has undergone renovation that the company said reflects its commitment to safety and quality throughout the food preparation process. Beyond these enhancements, Boar's Head has made investments in implementing more stringent requirements across all facilities, including the reopened Jarratt location.

Enhancements include:

• Providing additional layers of protection by implementing controls consistent with the USDA’s Alternative 2 Listeria control program. The Jarratt facility is reopening under the USDA Alt 2 Listeria control program. Alt 2 is a step in the food preparation process that reduces foodborne pathogens and results in higher food safety standards across the company’s ready-to-eat meat and poultry product portfolio, said Boar’s Head.
• Intensified environmental monitoring and analysis technologies. Boar's Head has enhanced Listeria sampling across all its facilities and invested in cutting-edge laboratory testing and analysis technologies, the company said.
• Strengthened sanitation protocols. The Boar's Head sanitation team has undergone additional third-party training, and the company has bolstered daily cleaning and sanitation procedures, Boar’s Head said. Regular audits help ensure the effectiveness of these practices.
• Continuous training for team members. Boar's Head has retrained team members across all facilities on updated and comprehensive food safety procedures, the company said. This ensures employees are equipped to operate with the utmost care and attention to detail, said Boar’s Head. The company has also implemented a continuous training program to ensure that employees are consistently educated on the latest food safety procedures.
• New leadership and expert guidance. Dyenson joined the company in May 2025 as chief food safety officer. She brings nearly three decades of food safety experience and knowledge to the organization. Additionally, Boar's Head relies on the expertise of its Food Safety Advisory Council, led by Frank Yiannas as chief food safety advisor. The council also includes food safety experts Dr. David Acheson and Dr. Martin Wiedmann.
• Cultivating a strong food safety culture. The entire Boar's Head team, at all levels, continues to promote a culture of safety, said the company.

Boar's Head has been part of the Jarratt community for more than 35 years. The company recently donated $50,000 to Greensville County and Sussex County public schools to support the region.

More details about Boar's Head's commitment to food safety can be found at boarshead.com/FoodSafety.

Editor’s Note: Read more about Dyenson’s food safety leadership in QA’s September/October 2025 Life Lessons profile, and watch the video below to hear Dyenson talk about her role at Boar’s Head and the importance of food safety culture in protecting the food supply.