USDA Shuts Down Chicken Plant Due to Roach Infestation
- 10 years ago
The USDA shut down operations at the Foster Farms chicken plant in Livingston, California after finding the facility to have severe sanitation problems.
The US Department of Agriculture shut down operations at the Foster Farms chicken plant in Livingston, California after finding the facility to have severe sanitation problems.
Among the issues was the presence of cockroaches in areas where the food is handled.
In a particularly disturbing discovery, the disease-ridden pests were found in bins that come into direct contact with the chicken.
They were also spotted in a sink located near the chicken-processing line.
Said the USDA’s report, "These recent findings of egregious unsanitary conditions… indicate that your establishment is not being operated and maintained in…a manner to ensure that product is not adulterated."
Foster Farms was among the companies blamed for two salmonella outbreaks that occurred in 2012 and 2013.
The Livingston plant specifically was linked to the latter.
Until the company can prove that they have a plan to eradicate the roaches and have blocked them from future entry, the facility will remain closed.
Foster Farms has promised to do so and said they will also put together a special council to address food safety.
They also plan to undergo what they called an ‘enhanced sanitizing’ at the shuttered plant.
The US Department of Agriculture shut down operations at the Foster Farms chicken plant in Livingston, California after finding the facility to have severe sanitation problems.
Among the issues was the presence of cockroaches in areas where the food is handled.
In a particularly disturbing discovery, the disease-ridden pests were found in bins that come into direct contact with the chicken.
They were also spotted in a sink located near the chicken-processing line.
Said the USDA’s report, "These recent findings of egregious unsanitary conditions… indicate that your establishment is not being operated and maintained in…a manner to ensure that product is not adulterated."
Foster Farms was among the companies blamed for two salmonella outbreaks that occurred in 2012 and 2013.
The Livingston plant specifically was linked to the latter.
Until the company can prove that they have a plan to eradicate the roaches and have blocked them from future entry, the facility will remain closed.
Foster Farms has promised to do so and said they will also put together a special council to address food safety.
They also plan to undergo what they called an ‘enhanced sanitizing’ at the shuttered plant.