The Boar's Head deli meat plant at the heart of a deadly food poisoning outbreak is set to reopen in the coming months. Federal health officials lifted a forced suspension at the company's Jarratt, Virginia, site. However, new documents show that sanitation problems similar to those that led to listeria contamination persist at three other company sites — in Forrest City, Arkansas; New Castle, Indiana; and Petersburg, Virginia. The outbreak that began in July 2024 killed 10 people and sickened dozens more. The company recalled 7 million pounds of deli products nationwide, discontinued liverwurst and shut down the Jarratt site.
Federal health officials say at least 45 people in 18 states have been sickened in an expanding salmonella outbreak tied to recalled cucumbers. The cucumbers were produced by Florida-based Bedner Growers and distributed to restaurants, hospitals, cruise ships and grocery stores. Health authorities said Friday at least 16 people have been hospitalized to date. The outbreak includes reports of illness from people aboard six different cruise ships that departed from Florida ports between late March and mid-April. The outbreak was detected as part of a follow-up inspection to a 2024 outbreak linked to the same company.
U.S. health officials have announced a recall of some Boar's Head liverwurst and other deli meats as they investigate a listeria outbreak. The outbreak has sickened nearly three dozen people and caused two deaths since late May. The Agriculture Department said Friday that a tainted sample of Boar Head's liverwurst was found at a Maryland store as part of the investigation. The company is recalling liverwurst made at a Virginia plant as well as other deli meats made the same day in June as the tainted sample. Testing is underway to determine whether the company's products are linked to the outbreak.
By FELICIA MELLO and WENDY FRY/CalMatters CalMatters
With a significant rise in the number of agricultural guest workers, California regulators have struggled to ensure that farms are providing safe housing for them. The state's Department of Housing and Community Development employs three inspectors to oversee all employer-provided dwellings. The department conducts routine housing inspections before workers move in, which makes it difficult to catch such issues as overcrowding. In a few cases, inspectors awarded permits to employer-provided housing after conducting a video call. Agency officials said increased state funding has allowed them to step up enforcement. They say more inspectors are being hired and that they are striking the appropriate balance between protecting workers and ensuring due process for businesses.
