# Will anybody want to buy anything from Boar's Head again? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** food-cooking\ **Created:** [September 13, 2024, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-anybody-want-to-buy-anything-from-boars-head-again/1007232 "2024-09-13T20:07:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Dr.Winston\_OBoogie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.winston_oboogie/32/2945_2.png) [@Dr.Winston\_OBoogie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Winston_OBoogie)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2024, 1:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-anybody-want-to-buy-anything-from-boars-head-again/1007232/81 "2024-09-18T13:45:58Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > It is basically liverwurst at one plant, so pretty safe to eat other BH products … unless the cleanliness problems at one plant exist in some of their other plants. I’m sure that the head of that Virginia plant reported in to someone who has other plants reporting into them. If they can ignore problems at one plant, they can ignore problems at others. ---
**Author:** ![XOldiesJock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/ec9cab/32.png) [@XOldiesJock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XOldiesJock)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2024, 1:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-anybody-want-to-buy-anything-from-boars-head-again/1007232/82 "2024-09-21T13:44:46Z")
A brand new “natural” type of grocery store just opened not far from us. We visited. It’s nice but rather expensive. One thing we thought was rather amusing was the HUGE display of Boar’s Head meats in the deli. It couldn’t have been more obvious had it been lit with flashing neon. I’m guessing they are contractually obligated to have a large Boar’s Head section, but it struck us as odd under the present circumstances. ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2024, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-anybody-want-to-buy-anything-from-boars-head-again/1007232/83 "2024-09-21T15:30:41Z")
I found some old Boars Head ham in the fridge this morning and fried it up with some eggs. It’s expired, so I’ll probably through the remainder away. ---
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2024, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-anybody-want-to-buy-anything-from-boars-head-again/1007232/84 "2024-09-21T15:44:52Z")
It was nice knowing you. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2024, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-anybody-want-to-buy-anything-from-boars-head-again/1007232/85 "2024-09-21T20:23:27Z")
> [@XOldiesJock](#): > > I’m guessing they are contractually obligated to have a large Boar’s Head section, but it struck us as odd under the present circumstances. Why? It was ONE product- liverwurst, from ONE of a dozen plants. > [@Procrustus](#): > > I found some old Boars Head ham in the fridge this morning and fried it up with some eggs. It’s expired, so I’ll probably through the remainder away. Ham? Ham I trust long after and date. ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2024, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-anybody-want-to-buy-anything-from-boars-head-again/1007232/86 "2024-09-22T01:24:18Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > Why? It was ONE product- liverwurst, from ONE of a dozen plants. And anyone who died from eating it was _one_ person. ---
**Author:** ![nightshadea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/7ba0ec/32.png) [@nightshadea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nightshadea)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2024, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-anybody-want-to-buy-anything-from-boars-head-again/1007232/87 "2024-09-22T01:29:20Z")
you know I think I bought a couple of pounds of it like 15 years ago at a and didn’t think it was much different than Farmer John’s Liverwurst…i think the deli used it in their sandwiches also but that place is long gone … ---
**Author:** ![Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eyebrows_0f_doom/32/3119_2.png) [@Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eyebrows_0f_Doom)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2024, 1:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-anybody-want-to-buy-anything-from-boars-head-again/1007232/88 "2024-09-22T01:36:44Z")
> [@bobot](#): > > > [@DrDeth](#): > > > > Why? It was ONE product- liverwurst, from ONE of a dozen plants. > > And anyone who died from eating it was _one_ person. I don’t see how that is relevant. The issue was only at one plant. Meats from other facilities were not affected. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2024, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-anybody-want-to-buy-anything-from-boars-head-again/1007232/89 "2024-09-22T01:39:59Z")
> [@bobot](#): > > And anyone who died from eating it was _one_ person. So, dont eat the liverwurst. ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2024, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-anybody-want-to-buy-anything-from-boars-head-again/1007232/90 "2024-09-22T01:45:28Z")
That should be their new motto. ---
**Author:** ![ParallelLines](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/parallellines/32/3575_2.png) [@ParallelLines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ParallelLines)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2024, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-anybody-want-to-buy-anything-from-boars-head-again/1007232/91 "2024-09-22T02:18:31Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > > [@bobot](#): > > > > And anyone who died from eating it was _one_ person. > > So, dont eat the liverwurst. [The Salmon Mousse!](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jMBsZC-FJNE) ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2024, 5:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-anybody-want-to-buy-anything-from-boars-head-again/1007232/92 "2024-09-22T05:17:18Z")
> [@ParallelLines](#): > > The Salmon Mousse! But- I didnt eat the salmon mousse!?! ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2024, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-anybody-want-to-buy-anything-from-boars-head-again/1007232/93 "2024-09-22T15:51:11Z")
I’ve followed the thread but read very little of the supporting cites. Facts I think are clearly established: BH has numerous plants making numerous products around the country. BH made bad liverwurst at Jarratt. BH said the problem was confined to specifically liverwurst production and cannot affect Jarratt’s other products. BH stopped all liverwurst production companywide. Which leads to these questions I’ve not seen answered in so many words: Do we know whether liverwurst was made in more than just the Jarratt plant? Do we know whether Jarratt made more products than just liverwurst? Do we know whether they are shuttering Jarratt completely for good or just stopping liverwurst production? ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2024, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-anybody-want-to-buy-anything-from-boars-head-again/1007232/94 "2024-09-22T15:54:23Z")
They said that the Jarratt plant is closed “indefinitely.” ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2024, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-anybody-want-to-buy-anything-from-boars-head-again/1007232/95 "2024-09-23T15:03:43Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > Do we know whether liverwurst was made in more than just the Jarratt plant? Do we know whether Jarratt made more products than just liverwurst? I’ve wondered this, too. And also, it sounds like the problems weren’t “it’s hard to make liverwurst”, but, “the plant was filthy, and the liverwurst line got unlucky”. So I wonder if they are generally lax about cleanliness, if there was a problem with the management of that plant that was so severe it was easiest to close it for good, or something else. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2024, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-anybody-want-to-buy-anything-from-boars-head-again/1007232/96 "2024-09-23T15:50:07Z")
Good questions all. Ones whose answers seem … elusive. As I noted upthread, I found top management’s words and deeds strangely out of sync. “This was a teeny tiny isolated bad actor who made a little one-time oopsie. So we nuked a whole plant and a whole national product line from orbit just to be sure.” Yeah, something about cause and effect and proportionality seem suspiciously misaligned. To me. YMMV. ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2024, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-anybody-want-to-buy-anything-from-boars-head-again/1007232/97 "2024-09-23T15:56:43Z")
FWIW I will never buy their products again. I wouldn’t be surprised if they try a name change after this or some other way to hide their involvement in making a product. ---
**Author:** ![Mighty\_Mouse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mighty_mouse/32/7776_2.png) [@Mighty\_Mouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mighty_Mouse)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2024, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-anybody-want-to-buy-anything-from-boars-head-again/1007232/98 "2024-09-23T17:53:24Z")
We have had discussions on this board before about who makes the store brand products that retailers have as an alternative to “brand name” products. I haven’t looked into whether or not Boar’s Head was producing other brands. Some chains (e.g. Publix) have their deli offerings very much co-branded with Boar’s Head. I know my kid’s tennis league put out a message saying that the match day catering should not involve any cold cut sandwiches this season. The Publix deli catering trays (I think they are 18 inch subs cut into four or six pieces) were staples on most ALTA tennis matches when we were in Atlanta. I don’t know how they can decouple themselves from Boar’s Head, even if they wanted to. Right now it seems like supermarket chains are taking a wait and see approach. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2024, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-anybody-want-to-buy-anything-from-boars-head-again/1007232/99 "2024-09-23T20:36:30Z")
Many chains have had deaths from their products- usually from Salmonella and e,coli (which usually isnt fatal, but is very common). Salmonella in eggs - who is saying they will never eat eggs again? Salmonella in cucumbers. Salmonella in Charcuterie Meats- these brands- - Aldi - Beretta - Black Bear - Busseto - Culinary Tour - Dietz and Watson - Lidl - Publix - Salumi Artigianali Anyone swearing never to touch any of those brands? I could go on. Many brands have at one time been infected with Salmonella. Listeria or e-coli. Why the over -reaction to Boars head, especially as it was one meat- liverwurst form ONE factory. ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2024, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-anybody-want-to-buy-anything-from-boars-head-again/1007232/100 "2024-09-23T20:41:32Z")
Because I am not convinced the ONE factory only produces ONE product. It also speaks to the corporate culture and their commitment to a quality product. Boar’s Head was not sold as a bargain basement cheap product. They promised quality and did not deliver on that promise. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-anybody-want-to-buy-anything-from-boars-head-again/1007232.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-anybody-want-to-buy-anything-from-boars-head-again/1007232.md?page=6)