Boar’s Head announced on Friday that it will permanently shut down its plant in Jarratt, Virginia, in the latest development concerning a widespread listeria outbreak that has resulted in nine deaths.

This deadly outbreak was first reported on July 19 by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Soon after, Boar’s Head recalled around 7.2 million pounds of products. The outbreak has led to at least 57 hospitalizations across 18 states, corresponding to nine fatalities as of August 28, according to the CDC investigation.

The Jarratt facility was identified as the source of the contamination, leading to its closure and displacing roughly 500 workers. This development is a significant chapter in an ongoing situation that has prompted a multi-agency investigation, numerous lawsuits, and calls for congressional inquiry.

Below is a timeline detailing what has transpired so far regarding the outbreak.

July 19: CDC Warns of Listeria Outbreak

The CDC informed the public that health authorities in various states and the U.S. Department of Agriculture were collaborating with the CDC to track the multistate outbreak of Listeria monocytogenes infections, commonly known as listeriosis.

Initially, the CDC indicated that the outbreak seemed linked to deli meats but lacked further information regarding the source.

By July 19, the CDC had reported 28 illness cases across 12 states, including two fatalities and one case involving a pregnant woman. The deaths were recorded in Illinois and New Jersey.

July 26: Boar’s Head Liverwurst Recall & CDC Update

Boar’s Head Provisions Co., Inc. issued a recall exceeding 207,528 pounds of product, including all liverwurst items due to potential listeria contamination.

The ready-to-eat liverwurst products were made between June 11, 2024, and July 17, 2024, and they have a shelf life of 44 days. These products were sold nationwide and were marked with the establishment number “EST. 12612.”

In addition to liverwurst, Boar’s Head recalled other deli meats produced on the same day and line, including ready-to-eat deli items with the establishment number “EST. 12612,” manufactured on June 27, 20424.

July 26: First Legal Action Initiated

A Missouri couple filed a lawsuit in St. Louis Circuit Court against Boar’s Head Provisions, Co., Inc. and Schnucks Markets, Inc., represented by the law firm OFT Food Safety & Injury Lawyers.

The lawsuit claimed that Patrick and Sue Fleming bought Boar’s Head liverwurst from their local Schnucks grocery in June, resulting in Sue, 88, suffering a life-threatening listeria infection.

The complaint stated that Fleming was hospitalized for nine days to receive intensive care before moving to a rehabilitation center for another 11 days. The couple claimed damages related to medical expenses, physical and emotional distress, loss of life enjoyment, reduced life expectancy, and adverse effects on their marital relationship.

They sought $25,000 for injuries and damages, alleging multiple counts of negligence against Boar’s Head and Schnucks, along with claims of manufacturing defects and breach of implied warranty.

July 30: Boar’s Head Expands Recall

Boar’s Head expanded its recall to all products manufactured at the Jarratt, Virginia plant linked to the contaminated liverwurst.

This expansion added about 7 million pounds of various meat and poultry products, including beef, bologna, ham, liverwurst, and salami. The total recall now included around 71 Boar’s Head and Old Country products made between May 10 and July 29, totaling approximately 7.2 million pounds.

July 31: CDC Issues Update

The CDC released an update alongside Boar’s Head’s recall, confirming 43 illnesses, which included one fatality.

August 1: Class Action Lawsuit Launched in New York

A potential class action lawsuit against Boar’s Head Provisions, Co. Inc. was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York, alleging the company misrepresented and misleadingly advertised its products by failing to adequately warn consumers about potential listeria contamination.

The plaintiff, Rita Torres, asserted that she and other consumers would not have bought Boar’s Head liverwurst and similar products had the company properly disclosed the risk of bacterial contamination. The lawsuit labeled the initial recall on July 26 as insufficient and claimed it was purposely designed to prevent most customers from being properly informed.

August 7: Lawsuit Filed by Pregnant Victim

A pregnant woman from Minnesota, who “nearly lost her unborn child,” took legal action against Boar’s Head after contracting listeria from the company’s deli meat purchased at a Publix in Florida, as reported by OFT Food Safety & Injury Lawyers.

This lawsuit, filed in the District of Minnesota, sought damages exceeding $75,000 along with “any other relief that the court deems appropriate.”

August 8: CDC Reports Increase in Illness and Death

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) shared an update revealing that 43 individuals have been infected and hospitalized in 13 states, with three confirmed deaths, including one victim each from Illinois, New Jersey, and Virginia.

The outbreak’s source has been linked to Boar’s Head liverwurst, according to the CDC’s confirmation of the outbreak’s epidemiology.

August 20: Latest CDC Statistics

In just 12 days, the CDC reported six additional fatalities and 14 more hospitalizations across 18 states, raising the death toll to nine and the number of sick individuals to 57.

The new deaths included one each from Florida, Tennessee, New Mexico, New York, and two from South Carolina. Additionally, new cases were identified in five more states, specifically Florida, Arizona, New Mexico, South Carolina, and Tennessee.

These figures represent the most recent data shared by the CDC in connection with this ongoing investigation.

August 29: Inspection Reports Released for Boar’s Head

Inspection reports from 2023 and 2024 at the Boar’s Head facility in Jarratt, Virginia, were acquired by CBS News and other media via a Freedom of Information Act request.

The reports revealed 69 instances of “noncompliance” at the plant, highlighting issues such as live and dead insects, black and green mold, mildew, water accumulation, and other unsanitary conditions leading up to the July recall.

Further FSIS records dating back to January 2022 detailed leaks and condensation dripping on product areas, “sludge,” “black smudges,” slimy substance, and unpleasant odors alongside rust and debris found throughout the facility.

August 30: First Wrongful Death Lawsuit Filed

The first lawsuit for wrongful death was filed against Boar’s Head on behalf of an 88-year-old Virginia man, a father of three and Holocaust survivor, who passed away after consuming tainted liverwurst.

The lawsuit, submitted in Sarasota, Florida, stated that the deceased, Morgenstein, had bought the recalled liverwurst on June 30, 2024, and experienced illness soon after consumption.

He was admitted to the hospital on July 8, diagnosed with sepsis and listeriosis associated with Boar’s Head products, as established by the CDC. Despite aggressive treatment, he succumbed to his illnesses on July 18, surrounded by his loved ones.

September 6: Major Lawsuit Against Boar’s Head

A significant multi-million dollar lawsuit was filed by food safety attorney Bill Marler on behalf of Barbara Schmidt, a Virginia resident.

The lawsuit claimed that after consuming Boar’s Head liverwurst, Schmidt became severely ill, necessitating hospitalization and several weeks of recovery, including an ICU stay for invasive procedures to save her life.

Court documents confirmed that public health officials traced Schmidt’s listeria infection to the Boar’s Head outbreak. The lawsuit accused the company of several counts of negligence and breaches of various consumer protection laws, seeking $1 million in compensatory damages and $10 million in punitive damages.

September 13: Boar’s Head Announces Permanent Closure of Jarratt, Virginia Plant

Boar’s Head has declared that its facility in Jarratt, Virginia, which is associated with the current outbreak, will close permanently.

Approximately 500 union employees will be affected by this closure, according to United Food and Commercial Workers Local 400 Union spokesman Jonathan Williams, who spoke with YSL News. He noted that additional management staff would likely also be impacted, but he was unable to specify the exact numbers.

In a statement, Boar’s Head explained, “Considering the severity of the outbreak, which began at Jarratt, we have opted to make the hard choice to close this site indefinitely, as it has not been operational since late July 2024.”

The company further indicated it will cease the production of its liverwurst products permanently, following investigations that revealed the contamination issues were exclusively linked to the liverwurst production at the Jarratt plant.