The Associated Press reported that Jarratt, Virginia, factory is set to resume operations in the coming months. It will face at least 90 days of heightened monitoring and inspections by federal Food Safety and Inspection Service officials. Previously, inspections were conducted by state officials who operated on behalf of the agency.
The Jarratt, Virginia, factory is set to resume operations in the coming months. It will face at least 90 days of heightened monitoring and inspections by federal Food Safety and Inspection Service officials. Previously, inspections were conducted by state officials who operated on behalf of the agency.
The change aims to “ensure the establishment consistently and effectively implements its corrected food safety plans,” USDA officials said in a statement. It calls for stricter enforcement if lapses occur.
The shift to direct federal oversight underscores the severity of the problems at the Boar’s Head plant, said Sandra Eskin, a former USDA official who now heads STOP Foodborne Illness, a consumer advocacy group. It raises concerns about communication between state and federal officials when problems occur, she added.
“Given its history, it’s particularly important that there be robust oversight of that plant,” Eskin said.
AP reported that Boar’s Head officials said in a statement that they have worked with state and federal regulators “to ensure the successful and safe reopening of the Jarratt facility.”
Boar’s Head Brand announced the appointment of Natalie Dyenson as its new Chief Food Safety Officer, effective May 12, 2025. This hire follows a series of food safety initiatives taken across the organization.
In her new role, Dyenson will spearhead the company’s comprehensive food safety program, leveraging her extensive expertise to ensure the continued integrity of Boar’s Head products. She will also work closely with the Boar’s Head Food Safety Advisory Council on continuous innovations and enhancements to the Company’s safety and quality processes.
Dyenson brings nearly three decades of distinguished experience in food safety to Boar’s Head, marked by a proven track record of developing and implementing robust food safety programs. Her deep understanding of the regulatory landscape, industry best practices, and innovative food safety technologies will be instrumental in reinforcing Boar’s Head’s commitment to consumer safety and well-being.
“We are delighted to welcome Natalie Dyenson to the Boar’s Head family,” stated Frank Carzo, Chief Human Resources Officer. “Her expertise and unwavering dedication to food safety perfectly align with our mission to provide consumers with premium, trustworthy products. We look forward to benefitting from Natalie’s leadership as we further elevate our already stringent food safety protocols and reinforce our commitment to excellence.”
Prior to joining Boar’s Head, Dyenson served as the Chief Regulatory and Food Safety Officer for the International Fresh Produce Association. Her career also includes leadership roles as Vice President of Food Safety and Quality at Dole Food Company, as well as significant positions at Walmart and Walt Disney World. Her experience also spans roles at Silliker, Kash n’ Karry Supermarkets, and Harris Teeter, providing a comprehensive understanding of the food supply chain.
“I am honored to join Boar’s Head, a company with a long-standing reputation for quality and a dedication to high standards,” said Dyenson. “I am passionate about ensuring the safety of our food supply, and I look forward to working with the team at Boar’s Head to further enhance its food safety programs and maintain the trust of consumers.”
Frank Yiannas, Chief Food Safety Advisor at Boar’s Head posted in in LinkedIn “Delighted that Natalie Dyenson is joining Boar’s Head Brand as their new Chief Food Safety Officer. Advancing food safety requires both – food safety leadership & food safety management – and Natalie will do a great job along with their team there at doing both.”
Today, my daughter-in-law dropped off our five month old granddaughter along with a bottle of Abbott Nutrition’s Similac baby formula to supplement the breast milk she pumps. You may remember three years ago, the Similac brand had a major food safety recall due to Cronobacter sakazakii contamination that killed two babies. My wife raised a proverbial red flag questioning whether to feed our granddaughter that brand of formula. Should we trust that brand?
So, I reached out to my some of my food safety network of friends and asked the question “would you feed that brand of formula to your family?” The responses I received were evenly divided with these two being fairly representative :
“Yes – I would – but everyone’s entitled to their opinion / feelings. I get it. We’ve got to TRUST the system is working.
“No – I would not. Too many companies give lip service to food safety and just go back to business as usual.”
My effort to get guidance from my food safety network was of no help. Neither answer gave us much confidence or trust in the brand.
Continuing the discussion, I challenged my wife, why do still you buy Boar’s Head cold cuts, even after the Listeria outbreak? She replied “because I know that Boar’s Head set up a Food Safety Council, lead by people we know really well. I trust them.”
I’m not making this up, literally, three hours later I receive a Linked In notification of a post from Frank Yiannas, “Today, Boar’s Head paused production at all of their plants to hold what they’re calling Food Safety Promise Day. Yes, they had a tragic incident &, of course, our thoughts will always remain with those hurt & harmed and their families. I agreed to help investigate the root cause & find solutions to prevent something like this from happening again – not to serve as a defense expert witness. And they’ve allowed me to do just that. In many outbreaks, the reality of what occurred remains elusive & substantive corrective actions are rarely shared with the public. Here’s an attempt to do things differently. ”
Frank and I messaged each other and he told me “While prevention must always be our primary focus, if significant events do occur, I hope what we’ve done serves as the new playbook and expectation – conduct a proper and thorough root cause investigation to determine with specificity what happened, implement science-based and effective controls, and tell that public what you’ve done to prevent it from ever happening again.”
Frank is right and the food industry should learn from this. I would add that the transparency Boar’s Head has demonstrated today will significantly increase consumer’s trust of the brand. Boar’s Head posted this page to their company’s website: https://boarshead.com/foodsafety
Post Script, my daughter-in-law decided against the formula and bought their competitor’s brand. It’s all about trust.
Frank Yiannas and Rick Biros at the Food Safety Consortium Conference.
Boar’s Head Brand announced on October 3 the appointment of Frank Yiannas, MPH, as Chief Food Safety Advisor on an interim basis, effective immediately. In this leadership role, Mr. Yiannas will be responsible for helping to ensure leading standards of food safety and quality across the organization. He will also oversee the nationwide search for a Chief Food Safety Officer to succeed him.
In addition to his responsibilities as Chief Food Safety Advisor, Mr. Yiannas will chair the “Boar’s Head Food Safety Advisory Council,” which is comprised of independent industry-leading food safety experts. The council will provide guidance and support to the company’s adoption and implementation of enhanced quality food safety programs. As previously announced, additional founding council members include Dr. David Acheson, Dr. Mindy Brashears, and Dr. Martin Wiedmann.
Frank Yiannas will deliver the Closing Keynote at the Food Safety Consortium Conference October 20-22 in Washington DC.
Editors Note: in addition to Mr. Yiannas, Dr. Martin Wiedmann is presenting at the Food Safety Consortium Conference and will address the threat of Listeria monocytogenes, a significant pathogen often associated with food processing environments. He will share his passion and experience, which includes addressing microbial food safety and quality challenges from farm to table and emphasize the importance of disassembly and breakdown in food processing equipment. Martin will also present his research findings on reducing foodborne illnesses, explaining how this dangerous microorganism can persist in food environments, and outline the critical steps required to control and eliminate Listeria contamination.
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