Boar’s Head is closing the Virginia plant at the center of a deadly listeria outbreak, describing the decision as a ‘dark moment in our company’s history.’
The deli plant will also permanently discontinue the production of liverwurst, which was the product responsible for the July scandal which left nine people dead and a further 57 hospitalized.
‘Given the seriousness of the outbreak, and the fact that it originated at Jarratt, we have made the difficult decision to indefinitely close this location, which has not been operational since late July 2024,’ Boar’s Head said in a statement on Friday.
The closure will impact up to 200 employees at the plant, the New York Times reports.
Boar’s Head is closing the Virginia plant which was at the center of a deadly listeria outbreak
The contamination was caused specifically within the production process of liverwurst at the Jarratt facility, and no other products were affected
‘It pains us to impact the livelihoods of hundreds of hard-working employees. We do not take lightly our responsibility as one of the area’s largest employers.
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‘But, under these circumstances, we feel that a plant closure is the most prudent course. We will work to assist each of our employees in the transition process.’
The contamination was caused specifically within the production process of liverwurst at the Jarratt facility, and no other products were affected.
It prompted a mass recall over listeria concerns on July 26, including liverwurst produced between June 11 and July 17.
The outbreak was later linked to nine deaths and 57 hospitalizations across 18 states.
Pictured above is the plant in Jarratt, Virginia, at the center of the Listeria outbreak
The plant described the incident, and the subsequent decision to shutter the doors, as a ‘dark moment in our company’s history.’
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Boar’s Head vowed to use this as a lesson and ‘opportunity to enhance food safety… for the entire industry.’
The Department of Agriculture issued a notice of suspension on July 31 to the plant, revealing it would ‘withhold the federal marks of inspection and suspend the operations of Ready-to-Eat products.’
In the notice, it was determined the establishment ‘failed to maintain sanitary conditions.’
Reports from the USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service showed the $1billion company was warned of 69 violations at the plant in Jarratt, Virginia, in the past year.
Concerns were raised before Boar’s Head deli meat triggered the biggest listeria outbreak in the US in over a decade — with dozens of its products contaminated.
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The above map shows the states where illnesses linked to the deli meat listeria outbreak have been reported
This is the outside of the plant, which has now been indefinitely closed
In one report, inspectors said they saw flies going in and out of a vat of pickles, while a trail of ants were witnessed crawling up walls nearby.
Inspectors also detailed how mold and mildew had built up on surfaces — and that, in some areas of the factory, there was a ‘rancid smell’ and ‘ample blood’ covering sections of the floor.
It was the biggest food-borne disease outbreak to hit the US since the cantaloupe outbreak in 2011, when cantaloupe contaminated with listeria sickened 147 people and lead to 33 deaths.
Among those to die was father-of-three and Holocaust survivor Gunter Morgenstein, who had regularly consumed the company’s liverwurst because it reminded him of his native Germany.
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Boar’s Head closes Virginia plant at center of listeria scandal
For the first time since 2012, the border rivalry between Virginia and Maryland returns to Scott Stadium for a Saturday night primetime showdown. The Cavaliers are looking to improve to 3-0 for the first time since 2019, but they’ll have to avenge last season’s 28-point loss to the Terrapins in College Park.
As these two old ACC foes get set to renew their rivalry once again, read on for a full preview of Virginia vs. Maryland with everything you need to know, including game details and notes, an opponent scouting report, what to watch for, and a score prediction.
Who: Virginia Cavaliers (2-0, 1-0 ACC) vs. Maryland Terrapins (1-1, 0-1 Big Ten)
When: Saturday, September 14th at 8pm ET
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Where: Scott Stadium (61,500) in Charlottesville, Virginia
How to watch: ACC Network
How to listen: SiriusXM 119 or 193, SXM App 955 | Virginia Sports Radio Network
All-time series: Maryland leads 45-32-2
Last meeting: Maryland defeated Virginia 42-14 on September 15th, 2023 in College Park.
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Read Virginia’s injury report for the Maryland game here: Virginia Football Injury Report: Updates on Kam Robinson, McKale Boley
See below for UVA’s week 3 depth chart for the Maryland game.
Virginia football depth chart for week 3 vs. Maryland. / Virginia Athletics
2023: 8-5, 4-5 Big Ten 2024: 1-1, 0-1 Big Ten
It remains to be seen how Maryland will fare in the post-Taulia Tagovailoa era. The Terrapins never quite reached the heights they had aspired to under Tagovailoa, who went 23-18 as Maryland’s starting quarterback, but they were at least .500 in all four seasons with him under center and Tagovailoa ended his career as the Big Ten’s all-time passing leader with 11,256 passing yards.
Now, the Maryland offense is in the hands of redshirt junior Billy Edwards Jr., a native of Springfield, Virginia who began his career at Wake Forest before transferring to Maryland in 2022. Though he waited in the wings behind Tagovailoa, Edwards has a significant amount of playing experience, having played in 17 games and logging three starts, including Maryland’s victory over Auburn in the TransPerfect Music City Bowl. Edwards was named the MVP of that bowl game, throwing for 126 yards and a touchdown and rushing for 50 more yards and another score.
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Edwards and the Maryland offense got off to a strong start in 2024, hanging 70 points on what is probably a bad UConn team. But that bubble of momentum might have burst last week as the Terps struggled and suffered a 27-24 home loss to Michigan State at home. Maryland intercepted the opposing quarterback twice and recovered a fumble, but still got carved up for 484 yards of total offense, including 363 yards through the air. All three of Michigan State’s touchdowns were passing scores, perhaps indicating some vulnerabilities in the Maryland secondary.
Edwards completed 26 of his 34 passing attempts (76.5%) for 253 yards and two touchdowns and threw one pick. The bulk of those passes went to Tai Felton, who had 11 catches for 152 yards and a touchdown. Look for the UVA secondary to key in on Felton in the passing game to avoid a repeat of last week, when Wake receiver Donavon Greene went for 11 catches, 166 yards, and a touchdown.
Maryland didn’t have much a ground game against Michigan State, just 86 total rush yards on 31 attempts (less than three yards per carry). So, like Virginia, the Terps might be pass heavy in their playcalling. If that’s the case, this game could come down to which team can best limit the opponent’s passing game. Was Virginia’s breakthrough from a pass rush standpoint against Wake Forest (six sacks) the real deal and can the Cavaliers replicate that effort against Maryland? Getting to and disrupting Billy Edwards Jr. might be the biggest key to the game for Virginia.
On the other side of the ball, Maryland’s defensive leader is senior linebacker Ruben Hyppolite II, a preseason Second-Team All-Big Ten selection who had nine tackles against Michigan State, an interception against UConn, and five solo tackles against Virginia last season.
Maryland is giving up nearly 300 passing yards per game (292.5), but opposing quarterbacks are completing just 53.5% of their passes. The Terrapins have just three sacks through the first two games (two came against Michigan State), but they’ve also recorded four interceptions, including two by defensive back Glendon Miller.
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Colandrea’s decision-making and ball security Last season against Maryland, Anthony Colandrea threw three interceptions on consecutive possessions and the Terrapins scored touchdowns following each of those picks to turn what was a one-score game into a 28-point blowout. The Wake Forest game was the opposite. Though Colandrea threw two interceptions, only one of which was his fault, and he bounced back from that bad one and orchestrated two clutch touchdown drives in the fourth quarter to lead UVA’s comeback. This game is a big opportunity for Colandrea to prove how much he has matured in his decision-making. Doing so against the Terrapins, who have four interceptions this season, but have otherwise had vulnerabilities in their pass defense, will be pivotal.
An encore for Virginia’s pass rush This was one of our keys to last week’s game and the Cavaliers responded with six sacks, five of which came from non-defensive linemen. That was a major breakthrough for a Virginia defense that had only one sack in week 1 against Richmond and only 11 sacks in the entire 2023 season. It was also a significant positive in what was otherwise a subpar performance for the UVA defense. With two games of evidence, there should be two potent passing offenses on display on Saturday night at Scott Stadium. Can the Cavaliers get a leg up in this game by putting pressure on Billy Edwards Jr. and forcing him to make a few mistakes?
Two elite pass catchers This game features two exceptional wide receivers in Virginia’s Malachi Fields and Maryland’s Tai Felton. Entering this season, Fields had yet to record a 100-yard receiving game. He’s reached the century mark in each of the first two games of the 2024 campaign, including an 11-catch, 148-yard game in the win at Wake Forest. Felton has been even better, entering week 2 as the nation’s leader in receiving with 330 yards to go along with three touchdowns. Of course, there are other playmakers on both teams’ offenses, but Fields and Felton are game-changers. If either team can successfully contain the opposing team’s WR1, that could be the difference.
This game is a massive opportunity for Virginia to prove the program is turning a corner. The Cavaliers are seeking their first 3-0 start since 2019 and doing so against an old rival who beat them down last season would make it even more special. This game could very well come down to the wire, but as the Hoos showed last week, they’re comfortable and confident in their ability to finish close games. Virginia makes a statement in front of a big home crowd at Scott Stadium and beats Maryland to remain undefeated.
Score prediction: Virginia 34, Maryland 28
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Stat Comparison: How Virginia Stacks Up Against Maryland on Paper
A Test From the Terps: What to Expect From Maryland on Saturday at Virginia
Virginia Football: Players to Watch in UVA’s Matchup Against Maryland
UVA Football: Anthony Colandrea Shows Poise Through First Two Games
Virginia Football Injury Report: Updates on Kam Robinson, McKale Boley
A linebacker at Division II West Virginia State was fatally shot during what the university said Thursday is being investigated by police as a home invasion.
The body of Jyilek Zyiare Harrington, 21, of Charlotte, North Carolina, was found inside an apartment Wednesday night in Charleston, police Lt. Tony Hazelett said in a statement.
Hazelett said several gunshots were fired during a disturbance in a hallway and inside the apartment. The statement said Harrington had multiple gunshot wounds and was pronounced dead at the scene. Police said they had no information on a possible suspect.
West Virginia State said counselors were available to students and faculty on campus.
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“Our thoughts and prayers are with Jyilek’s family as they mourn the loss of this incredible young man,” West Virginia State President Ericke S. Cage said in a letter to students and faculty.
Harrington, a senior, had eight total tackles, including a sack, in a 27-24 win at Barton College last week.
“Jyilek truly embodied what it means to be a student-athlete and was a leader not only on campus but in the community,” West Virginia State Vice President of Intercollegiate Athletics Nate Burton said. “Jyilek was a young man that, during Christmas, would create a GoFundMe to help less fortunate families.”
Burton said donations to a fund established by the athletic department in Harrington’s memory will be distributed to an organization in Charlotte to continue his charity work.
West Virginia State’s home opener against Carson-Newman, originally scheduled for Thursday night, has been rescheduled to Friday, and a private vigil involving both teams was set for Thursday night. Harrington previously attended Carson-Newman, where he made seven tackles in six games last season. He began his college career at Division II Erskine College.
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Before Friday’s game, there will be a moment of silence in honor of Harrington.
“Carson-Newman joins West Virginia State in mourning the untimely passing of former student-athlete Jyilek Harrington,” Carson-Newman Vice President of Athletics Matt Pope said in a statement. “The Harrington family and the Yellow Jackets’ campus community is in our prayers. News like this is sad to hear anytime, but today it feels worse with two teams who knew him coming together to play.”