Boar's Head has announced the permanent closure of its Jarratt, Virginia deli meat plant following a deadly listeria outbreak linked to its liverwurst product.

This outbreak has resulted in at least nine deaths and approximately 57 hospitalizations across 18 states, prompting the recall of over 7 million pounds of affected products.

An internal investigation revealed that the contamination stemmed from a specific production process unique to the Jarratt facility, which was used solely for liverwurst.

The CDC has labeled this outbreak as the largest listeriosis outbreak since a 2011 incident, advising consumers to sanitize their refrigerators and return recalled products.

Inspection records prior to the closure indicated a troubling history of compliance issues at the plant, including 69 instances of noncompliance related to unsanitary conditions.

The USDA is currently investigating the outbreak and reviewing food safety practices at Boar's Head facilities nationwide to prevent future incidents.

Boar's Head expressed deep regret over the impact on approximately 500 employees, offering severance packages and relocation options.

The company has publicly apologized for the contamination and is implementing measures to enhance food safety protocols across its operations.

To strengthen its food safety measures, Boar's Head is appointing a new chief food safety officer and forming a safety council with independent experts.

Despite numerous violations noted in USDA inspections, the Jarratt plant continued operations until the outbreak prompted immediate action.

Boar's Head has committed to investigating how the listeria contamination occurred and taking corrective actions to resolve compliance issues.

The company has expressed its commitment to improving food safety not only within its operations but also across the industry.