Democrats Demand Criminal Inquiry into Listeria-Linked Deaths at Boar's Head, Impacting 10 Individuals
Two elected officials from the Democratic party have requested federal law enforcement agencies to probe the listeria outbreak at Boar's Head that has claimed ten lives and hospitalized fifty-nine individuals in nineteen states. According to CBS News, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has indeed initiated an investigation, but it's unclear if it's a civil or criminal case at this juncture.
Senator Richard Blumenthal and Representative Rosa DeLauro, both Democrats representing Connecticut, penned a letter to the U.S. Department of Justice and USDA on September 27th, urging a criminal investigation into the recall of over 7 million pounds of contaminated Boar's Head food products. The USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) had discovered unsanitary and hazardous conditions that violated federal safety standards at numerous instances, culminating in this deadly outbreak.
CBS News reports the USDA has indeed opened an investigation, though it’s not clear if it’s a civil or criminal matter at this point.
Blumenthal said during a press conference interior to the matter: "The violations of standards here were repeated, reckless, and seemingly willful, and that’s why I think there ought to be a criminal investigation and potential action against Boar’s Head."
news conference Friday about Boar’s Head, saying that the deaths and illnesses were “fully preventable” and a result of “unsanitary, unsafe conditions that involved repeated violations of federal safety standards.” Blumenthal sits on a number of important Senate committees and serves as Chairman of the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations.
CBS News made a Freedom of Information Act request regarding Boar's Head to the USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service. It received a reply indicating that paperwork could not be published as they were being collated for law enforcement purposes. The nature of the law enforcement probe remains unspecified—whether it is a criminal or civil investigation.
CBS News.
The Virginia-based meat-processing plant involved in the outbreak shut down when the recall was first announced in July, and Boar's Head scrapped its liverwurst product, deemed responsible for the ten deaths. In mid-September, Boar’s Head announced the construction of a new internal safety council and the appointment of a Chief Food Safety & Quality Assurance Officer reporting directly to their President.
earlier this month that it would be permanently shuttering the facility. Boar’s Head also announced it would be discontinuing its liverwurst product, which is believed to be the food that killed 10 people from listeria contamination.
The New York Times published a shocking examination of health inspection failures at the Jarratt plant, including the discovery of rust, deli meats exposed to wet ceilings, and green mold. In spite of these lapses, the U.S. Department of Agriculture failed to impose stringent health regulations.
New York Times published a rather revolting expose on health inspection failures at the meat plant in Jarrat, including how health inspectors found rust, meats exposed to wet ceilings, and the presence of green mold. Incredibly, the U.S. Department of Agriculture failed to institute strict health measures, despite finding these lapses.
Given that listeria symptoms don't manifest immediately, it's conceivable that the number of affected individuals may rise beyond the current tally of ten deceased and fifty-nine hospitalized. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) notes on its website that, on average, three to four weeks are required to determine if a sick person belongs to an outbreak. Moreover, some may be asymptomatic for up to twelve weeks.
points out on its website about the recall, it typically takes 3 to 4 weeks to determine if a sick person is part of an outbreak. Even more concerning for consumers who ate Boar’s Head products months ago and think they’re out of the woods, it can reportedly take 10 weeks for some people to develop symptoms from their exposure.
The states harboring listeria-related fatalities include Illinois, New Jersey, Virginia, Florida, Tennessee, New Mexico, New York, and South Carolina. Extremely concerned about the elderly, the CDC has identified this demographic as a particular target due to their vulnerability to listeria infections.
The Democrats, Blumenthal and DeLauro, urged a criminal investigation into Boar's Head due to repeat violations of safety standards. The potential legal action could be criminal, as Blumenthal suggested, given the supposed willful disregard of federal standards. Despite the recall of contaminated food products, listeria symptoms can take up to twelve weeks to appear, according to the CDC, potentially affecting more individuals than currently reported. The USDA's investigation into Boar's Head's meat plant shutdown and product discontinuation is ongoing, but its nature remains unclear, whether it's criminal or civil.