You’re standing at the deli counter, and that familiar red-and-black logo is staring back at you. For decades, Boar’s Head was the "safe" bet, the premium choice you didn't have to think twice about. Then 2024 happened. A massive Listeria outbreak, nine deaths, and millions of pounds of meat tossed into landfills. It was a mess. Even now, in early 2026, the question is Boar's Head safe now continues to hang over the refrigerator case like a bad smell.
Honestly, the answer isn't a simple "yes" or "no." It’s more of a "yes, but watch the news."
The company has spent the last year and a half trying to scrub its image as clean as its slicers. They’ve shuttered the "problem child" plant in Jarratt, Virginia—the place where federal inspectors found everything from mold to "beaded condensation" dripping off the ceiling. They’ve hired fancy new food safety officers and created an elite council of experts. But just as people were starting to feel comfortable ordering that half-pound of honey maple turkey again, a fresh Class I recall on Boar’s Head cheese hit the wires in January 2026.
The 2026 Reality Check: New Recalls and Old Ghosts
If you’re asking about safety today, we have to talk about the Pecorino Romano situation. This isn't a repeat of the 2024 liverwurst catastrophe, but it’s definitely a wake-up call. In November 2025, a supplier called The Ambriola Company realized some of its cheese was contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. Boar’s Head was one of several brands affected.
By January 6, 2026, the FDA bumped this to a Class I recall. That’s the "serious danger" category.
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The specific products you need to look out for are the 6-ounce cups and bags of Boar's Head Grated Pecorino Romano with expiration dates in March 2026. If you have a bag with a "3/3/2026" or "3/12/2026" date, do not eat it. Toss it. It’s not worth the risk. The good news? No one has been reported sick from this specific cheese batch yet. The bad news? It proves that even with "industry-leading" protocols, the supply chain is still a fickle beast.
Why the Jarratt Plant Closure Mattered
Let's go back a bit. The 2024 outbreak was a systemic failure. When the USDA released its reports, they were stomach-turning. We're talking about a facility that had been flagged dozens of times for "major deficiencies." There was rust on the equipment. There was meat residue left over from previous days. There were insects.
Boar's Head eventually did the only thing they could: they killed the facility.
- Permanent Closure: The Jarratt, Virginia plant is gone. It will never produce meat again.
- Liverwurst is Dead: The company permanently discontinued liverwurst, which was the "root cause" product of the 2024 outbreak.
- A New Sheriff in Town: They hired a Chief Food Safety Officer who reports directly to the president.
They basically tried to excise the "cancer" from their production line. Most of the meat you see in stores now comes from other facilities in places like Arkansas, Indiana, and Michigan.
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Is the Meat Actually Safe to Eat?
If you're looking for a slice of EverRoast Chicken or some Bold Ichiban Teriyaki, the short answer is that Boar's Head is as safe as any other major commercial deli brand right now. In fact, after the 2024 disaster, their remaining plants have been under a microscope.
The USDA and FSIS (Food Safety and Inspection Service) have been crawling all over their other facilities. In mid-2025, reports surfaced that some of these other plants had their own "minor" sanitation issues, which sounds scary but is actually fairly common in massive food production. The difference is that now, the feds are actually enforcing the rules instead of just writing them down and moving on.
But here is the thing: Listeria loves deli counters.
It doesn't just live in the factory; it lives in the slicers at your local grocery store. Even if Boar's Head sends a perfectly clean ham to your supermarket, if the person behind the counter isn't cleaning that slicer every four hours, you’ve got a problem. This is a risk with any brand—Boar's Head, Dietz & Watson, or the generic store brand.
How to Protect Yourself (The Expert Strategy)
Stop thinking of "safety" as a brand name and start thinking of it as a process. Even in 2026, Listeria remains a threat because it can grow in cold temperatures—like your fridge.
1. Check the Dates—Twice
The current Pecorino Romano recall involves products that don't expire until mid-2026. Just because it’s "fresh" doesn't mean it’s safe. Keep a sticky note or a mental tab on the FDA's recall database.
2. High-Risk Groups Should Heat It Up
If you’re pregnant, over 65, or have a weakened immune system, the CDC’s advice hasn't changed. You should heat deli meats to an internal temperature of 165°F (steaming hot) before eating. I know, a hot turkey sandwich isn't always the vibe, but it kills Listeria instantly.
3. The "Store" Factor
Look at your deli counter. Is it clean? Are the workers wearing gloves? Do they change them? Listeria can hide in the nooks and crannies of a slicer and jump from a cheap ham to a premium Boar’s Head turkey in seconds. If the deli looks grimy, go buy the pre-packaged stuff. It’s actually safer because it was sealed in a controlled environment.
The Verdict on Boar's Head Safety
The company is definitely trying. They’ve spent millions of dollars on a "Food Safety Council" featuring heavy hitters like Frank Yiannas (former FDA Deputy Commissioner). They’ve changed how they move equipment between "raw" and "ready-to-eat" areas of their plants.
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But trust is hard to rebuild. The 2026 cheese recall, while technically the fault of a supplier (Ambriola), keeps the "Boar's Head + Listeria" association alive in the public's mind.
Actionable Next Steps:
- Audit your fridge: Look for any Boar's Head Grated Pecorino Romano (6 oz cups or bags) with 2026 expiration dates.
- Sign up for alerts: Go to the USDA FSIS website and sign up for email notifications. It’s the only way to stay ahead of the "lag" in the news cycle.
- Ask your deli manager: Don't be shy. Ask when the slicers were last broken down and sanitized. A good deli will have a log.
- Diversify: If you're nervous, stick to whole cuts of meat you roast yourself at home, or switch to pre-packaged options that have undergone HPP (High-Pressure Processing), which is a "cold pasteurization" that kills bacteria.
Boar's Head has survived for over 120 years. They are doing everything in the corporate playbook to ensure the meat is safe, but as the recent cheese recall shows, "safe" is always a moving target in the world of industrial food.