Bomb threat leads to Cargill Protein plant evacuation

The Cargill Protein plant in Waco, Texas, was evacuated on the afternoon of June 7, following a phone call that was described as a “credible threat.”

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(sswartz | Bigstock)
(sswartz | Bigstock)

The Cargill Protein plant in Waco, Texas, was evacuated on the afternoon of June 7, following a phone call that was described as a “credible threat.”

The call came in around 3 p.m. that day, according to a report from KXXV. The Waco Police Department responded, as did the McLennan County Sheriff’s Office Bomb Squad.

After about three hours on the premises, authorities concluded their search of the business and deemed it safe to re-enter.

The company informed authorities that it would resume operations at the Waco plant on the morning of June 8.

Cargill, in September 2019, announced that it was ending its fresh and frozen whole turkey production at the plant in Waco, but the cooked meats portion of the facility, which produces pre-sliced and other deli products, would continue to operate.

The Waco facility was honored in 2015 by the Joint Industry Safety and Health Council, which presented the plan with its Award of Distinction, the council’s highest level of recognition.

Cargill Protein is the third largest turkey company in the United States, trailing only Butterball and Jennie-O Turkey Store. In addition to Texas, Cargill’s turkey operation includes locations in Virginia, Minnesota, Arkansas, Nebraska and Missouri. Cargill Protein produces turkeys under the Honeysuckle White, Shady Brook Farms, Honest Turkey, Charter Reserve and Castlewood Reserve brands. According to the WATTPoultry.com Top Companies Database, Cargill Protein slaughtered 900 million pounds of live turkeys.

Cargill Protein is headquartered in Wichita, Kansas.

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