Blood, bugs and mold found in Boar's Head plant linked to listeria outbreak that's killed at least 9 people

Follow up to this post: https://rdrama.net/h/mnn/post/296234/boars-head-listeria-outbreak-9-people

An inspector noted "a rancid smell" in the raw receiving cooler with "ample amounts of blood in puddles on the floor" during a Feb. 21 visit.

A "black mold-like substance" was seen throughout another holding cooler on Jan. 9 and again on the outside of four steel vats along with one to two inches of meat on June 1. Inspectors noted seeing mold in different places during six visits in total.

On June 10, an inspector spotted "approximately 15-20 flies … going in and out of 4 vats of pickle left in the room."

"Small flying gnat-like insects were observed crawling on the walls and flying around the room," the inspector reported. "The room's walls had heavy meat buildup, pink/orange discoloration, and denaturant over spray on them."

All operations at the Jarratt plant have been suspended since the July recall and Boar's Head is working with food safety experts to find out the source of the outbreak and the conditions that led to it.

Real mystery.