Overview

• Rep. Rosa DeLauro and nine other Democrats sent a Sept. 15 letter asking COO Larry Helfant to appear before the Congressional Food Safety Caucus.
• The lawmakers wrote that they are less than confident the Jarratt, Virginia, plant can reopen safely, pointing to what they called a repeated pattern of food safety negligence.
• Citing an Associated Press report that the Jarratt facility is slated to reopen in the coming months, the letter seeks answers on the company’s readiness and oversight plans.
• A January USDA report found inadequate sanitation at the Jarratt plant was a major factor in the 2024 listeria outbreak that killed 10 and sickened 61, with inspectors documenting 69 noncompliance findings including insects and mold.
• Boar’s Head said the Jarratt episode was unprecedented for the company and that it worked with regulators and experts to identify the root cause and implement nationwide safety enhancements.