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Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Boar’s Head’s Jarratt, Virginia plant is no longer closed: the company said it resumed operations on February 2, 2026, and the Associated Press reported a limited restart. The facility had closed in September 2024 after an outbreak linked to deli-counter meats, including Boar’s Head liverwurst. The CDC’s final count was 61 reported cases across 19 states and 10 deaths.
Why did Boar’s Head close its Jarratt plant?
The company closed its Jarratt, Virginia facility in September 2024 after public-health investigators linked an outbreak of Listeria infections to contaminated deli-counter meats, including Boar’s Head liverwurst. CDC says epidemiologic, laboratory, and traceback evidence connected the illnesses to deli-counter products. Maryland and Baltimore public-health authorities found Listeria in an unopened Boar’s Head liverwurst product, and whole genome sequencing identified the outbreak strain in it. CDC’s final investigation describes the evidence.
In July 2024, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (USDA-FSIS) announced a recall of liverwurst and other ready-to-eat deli products made at the Jarratt establishment because they could be contaminated with Listeria. CDC later said all deli products made at the facility were recalled. Those products are past their shelf life; the recall is a historical safety action, not a reason to use or consume any product that may remain in a freezer. The USDA-FSIS recall notice records the action.
How many people died in the Boar’s Head Listeria outbreak?
CDC reported 61 people infected in 19 states and 10 deaths. Among patients for whom hospitalization information was available, 60 were hospitalized. The samples from confirmed cases were collected from May 29 through September 13, 2024. CDC cautions that the actual number of infections was likely higher because some people recover without seeking medical care or being tested. CDC’s final update declared the outbreak over.
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What investigators learned from interviews
Among interviewed outbreak patients, 45 of 48 said they had eaten deli meats; 43 of those 45 reported deli-sliced meats. Of the 44 people who answered the liverwurst question, 27 said they had eaten deli-sliced liverwurst, and 20 specifically reported Boar’s Head. These are findings among interviewed patients, not estimates of exposure among the general public.
Is the Boar’s Head plant still closed?
No. Boar’s Head announced that the Jarratt facility resumed operations on February 2, 2026, following facility enhancements and changes to manufacturing protocols. Those descriptions come from the company. The Associated Press also reported the restart as limited operations. Neither source establishes independent verification of the plant’s subsequent safety performance, and the sources available here do not provide current inspection findings. Boar’s Head’s announcement and the AP report describe the restart.
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What Boar’s Head deli meat was recalled?
The July 2024 recall covered liverwurst and other ready-to-eat deli products made at the Jarratt facility because of possible Listeria contamination. CDC says all deli products made there were recalled and that the products are now past shelf life. The CDC also reported that contaminated deli-counter meats, including Boar’s Head brand liverwurst, were linked to the outbreak. The recall should not be confused with general advice about handling or reheating deli meats: do not eat a recalled product, even if reheating is otherwise advised for some consumers.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Is the Listeria outbreak over?
Yes. CDC’s final investigation update states, “This outbreak is over.” That status applies to the outbreak investigation; it does not mean that every deli meat is risk-free or that the recall can be disregarded.
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CDC advises people who are pregnant, aged 65 or older, or have a weakened immune system to avoid deli meats or heat them before consuming. This general guidance does not make recalled food safe to eat.
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