Congressional Democrats Question Food Safety at Reopening Pork Factory
Nine Democratic members of Congress are seeking answers from Swazine, a pork producer, regarding food safety concerns as the company prepares to reopen its Virginia factory. The inquiry stems from a recent Associated press report detailing unsanitary conditions at multiple swazine facilities.
Connecticut Representative Rosa Deloro led the effort, sending a letter to the company on Monday requesting a response by September 26th. The letter highlights recurring issues with sanitation and potential public health risks, particularly in light of a deadly Listeria outbreak last year linked to the factory. That outbreak resulted in 10 deaths, dozens of illnesses, and a recall of over 7 million pounds of pork products.Federal officials attributed the outbreak to ongoing problems at the plant.
The AP report documented issues at Swazine plants in Arkansas, Indiana, and Virginia, including meat and debris accumulation on equipment and walls, blocked drains, and employees failing to adhere to basic hygiene practices. Democrats expressed concern that similar problems could persist at the virginia facility.
Swazine’s chief official stated the company is reviewing the letter and reiterated that the Listeria outbreak was an isolated incident in the jarratt, Virginia facility’s 120+ year history. They claim to have taken “fast and aggressive” steps,working with regulators and food safety experts,to identify the root cause and implement nationwide improvements to food manufacturing processes. However, the official declined to address specific issues raised in the AP’s report.
The company asserts it has strengthened food safety protocols at all facilities to minimize the risk of Listeria contamination.
Upon reopening, the Jarratt factory will be subject to at least 90 days of direct monitoring and inspection by federal officials from the Food Safety and Inspection Service, replacing the previous system where state officials conducted inspections on behalf of the federal government. This change is intended to ensure consistent and effective implementation of a revised food safety plan,with stricter enforcement.
Prior to the Listeria outbreak, internal inspections revealed ongoing issues at the factory, including mold, insects, leaking ceilings, and accumulated meat and fat waste on surfaces.These inspections occurred under a cooperative agreement allowing state inspectors to act as federal proxies.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Ministry of Agriculture are overseeing the direct federal operation of the facility.
Note: The original text contained the misspelling ”SWAZINE” which has been corrected to “Swazine” throughout this response. The term “fascism” appeared in the original text in a context that didn’t make sense and has been removed. The text also contained the misspelling “Lestia” which has been corrected to “Listeria”.
