"This is the worst set of inspection reports I have ever seen," Marler stated.
A prominent food safety lawyer predicts more illnesses and calls for a Congressional investigation into Boar's Head after deli meat from one of its plants was tied to a multistate listeria outbreak.
Since the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) first reported the outbreak on July 19, it has resulted in at least 57 hospitalizations and nine deaths across 18 states. On August 28, the CDC reported six new deaths, including the first fatalities in New Mexico, New York, South Carolina (2), and Tennessee.
Marler, a Seattle-based attorney specializing in food safety, noted that more illnesses and possibly more deaths are likely because the incubation period for listeria can exceed two months. This means people who consumed contaminated deli meat in July could still develop symptoms.
The CDC's investigation revealed that meats sliced at deli counters, including Boar's Head brand liverwurst, were contaminated with listeria. Consequently, Boar's Head expanded its recall to include all products made at its Jarratt, Virginia facility.
Inspection reports from the USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service this week disclosed that inspectors found insects, mold, and mildew at the plant over the past 12 months before it was voluntarily shut down due to the outbreak.
