Customers are requested to discard all Boar’s Head meat products whose packaging contains ‘EST. 12612’ or ‘P-12612’|Sean Dreilinger|CC BY-NC-SA 2.0

A Boar’s Head deli meat plant in Virginia is linked to a nationwide listeria outbreak, leading to 57 hospitalizations and at least nine deaths in 18 states. It is the largest listeriosis outbreak since 2011.

The manufacturing plant at the center of the outbreak had a history of violations, including mold, insects, “dirty” machinery, a “rancid smell,” and other unsanitary conditions. US Agriculture Department (USDA) inspectors noted issues on 57 days over the past year.

Despite these warnings, the plant continued its operations.

However, on July 29, it recalled all products from the Virginia plant, including 7 million pounds of over 70 products. Officials also traced some listeria cases to the deli meats produced there, prompting the plant to pause operations.

Customers are requested to discard all Boar’s Head meat products whose packaging contains “EST. 12612” or “P-12612.”

Experts criticize the plant’s management and the USDA for not taking action sooner to prevent the outbreak. The facility has since been closed for further investigation.