Following a deadly listeria outbreak in 18 states that has killed at least nine people, Boar’s Head will “indefinitely close” the Jarratt, Virginia, meat plant linked to the outbreak.

The delicatessen manufacturer announced this in a press release on its website on Friday, emphasizing the “regret” and “pain” caused by the outbreak and the subsequent factory closure.

“We deeply regret and apologize for the recent Listeria monocytogenes Contamination in our liver sausage product,” the press release begins. “We recognize the severity of this situation and the profound impact it has had on the families affected. Comprehensive measures are being taken to prevent such an incident from ever happening again.”

Among these measures, Boar’s Head is permanently stopping the production of liver sausage. The product was recalled because it caused the listeria outbreak. The “root cause of the contamination” was “a special production process that only existed at the Jarratt facility and was only used for liver sausage,” the company said.

Other measures include the “establishment of a ‘Boar’s Head Food Safety Council’ comprised of independent, industry-leading food safety experts,” the “creation of an enhanced company-wide food safety and quality assurance program” and the “appointment of a new Chief Food Safety & Quality Assurance Officer,” the company said in the press release.

You should see a doctor and tell him or her that you may have eaten contaminated food if you have a fever and other symptoms of possible listeriosis.

The most drastic measure is the closure of the plant in Virginia.

“Given the severity of the outbreak and the fact that it originated in Jarratt, we have made the difficult decision to close this location indefinitelywhich has been out of operation since the end of July 2024,” the company said in a press release.

That press release also includes a link to a U.S. Department of Agriculture “suspension notice” halting production at the plant. It states that the department will “withhold the federal certification marks” that are typically printed on packaging to prove that the plant produces food in a safe manner.

Documents obtained by the Associated Press through federal Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests showed that the plant had “violated federal regulations on multiple occasions,” the AP wrote in late August.

Violations included mold, insects, liquids dripping from the ceiling, and meat and grease residue on walls, floors, and appliances.

Between August 1, 2023, and August 2, 2024, inspectors discovered “heavily discolored meat deposits” and “meat mist on the walls and large chunks of meat on the floor.” They also documented flies “flying in and out of the curing bins” and “black mold spots” on a ceiling. One inspector described pools of blood on the floor and “a rancid odor in the cooler.” According to the documents, plant staff were repeatedly told they were not meeting requirements.

Inspections at the factory have been suspended and it will remain closed “until the facility can demonstrate its ability to produce safe products,” U.S. Department of Agriculture officials said Thursday. Boar’s Head officials halted production at the Jarratt, Virginia, factory in late July.

Since Boar’s Head has announced its indefinite closure, the plant may never reopen.

The union representing workers at the Virginia plant, United Food and Commercial Workers Local 400, released a statement Friday about the plant closure.

“Everyone agrees that this unprecedented tragedy was not the fault of the workforce. It is therefore particularly unfortunate that the Jarratt plant will have to close indefinitely and so many men and women will lose their jobs,” the statement said. Fortunately, these workers have a union they can rely on to always have their backs. We appreciate the extraordinary efforts made by Boar’s Head to keep our members on the job for as long as possible and to ensure that everyone is taken care of during this process.”

The union said its members at the plant had the option of transferring to other plants in Boar’s Head or “accepting severance pay well in excess of what is required by law.”

The Associated Press contributed to this report.