Boar’s Head faces multiple lawsuits after deadly listeria outbreak

Boar’s Head faces at least seven lawsuits following the August recall of millions of pounds of its deli meat after the food company’s products were linked to a deadly listeria outbreak. 
The latest listeria outbreak has grown to 57 hospitalizations in 18 states linked to recalled products from Boar’s Head plant in Jarratt, Virginia. At least nine deaths have been reported: two in South Carolina and one each in Illinois, New Jersey, Virginia, Florida, Tennessee, New Mexico and New York.
The actual number of people sickened during the outbreak is likely higher than what has been reported, while people in other states also may have been affected, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Federal food inspectors found dozens of violations at Boar’s Head Virginia facility, including mold, mildew and insects throughout the site, CBS News’ Alex Tin reported.
“We are conducting an extensive investigation, working closely with the USDA and government regulatory agencies, as well as with the industry’s leading food safety experts, to determine how our liverwurst produced at our Jarratt, Virginia, facility was adulterated and to prevent it from happening again,” Boar’s Head said in an Aug. 29 statement, noting that its has suspended production at the plant. 
“We will not resume operations at this facility until we are confident that it meets USDA regulatory standards and Boar’s Head’s highest quality and safety standards,” the company added.
Listeria monocytogenes is a bacterium that can spread through water, mist, on workers clothes and hands and improperly sanitized equipment. The threat of listeria has been well-known and documented in the industry for decades. In 2002, for example, a listeria outbreak in turkey deli meat was linked to eight deaths and three “fetal deaths” among pregnant women, according to an account published by the National Library of Medicine. 
The USDA has a “zero tolerance” policy for listeria in ready-to-eat meats, meaning any amount of contamination renders the product unsafe for consumption. 
The lawsuits against Boar’s Head, involving claims of personal injuries, wrongful death, and deceptive marketing practices, seek damages ranging from $25,000 to over $5 million. The following people around the U.S. have filed suit against the company: