Mountaire: Allegations of ill employees without merit

Allegations that Mountaire Farms is using chemicals at its poultry plant in Lumber Bridge, North Carolina, are unfounded, the company stated in a message on its website.

Roy Graber Headshot
(Mountaire Farms)
(Mountaire Farms)

Allegations that Mountaire Farms is using chemicals at its poultry plant in Lumber Bridge, North Carolina, are unfounded, the company stated in a message on its website.

The company is under scrutiny after the North Carolina Justice Center (NCJC) filed a complaint with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), alleging Mountaire “either increased or changed its use of chemicals in response to a Salmonella issue.”

The complaint further alleges that people working at the plant are experiencing symptoms that include sore throats, persistent coughs, chest pains, swollen tongues, headaches, dizziness and fainting.

In the message on its website, Mountaire addressed stories that have circulated in recent weeks.

“Recently, our company has been the target of negative ‘news’ stories focused on some mysterious chemical in our Lumber Bridge facility making our workers sick. These ‘news’ stories are filled with anonymous sources, rumor and speculation, and are completely without merit. They even suggest our employees have been quitting in large numbers as a result,” the statement read.

But Mountaire said it conducted an internal investigation after the first report came out, and has since made these points:

  • The Lumber Bridge plant is fully staffed, making allegations of a mass employee exodous “ludicrous.”
  • There have been no changes in ammonia and/or bleach at the plant, and there have been no leaks of those substances.
  • The company is not aware of any injuries or fatalities related to chemical exposure.
  • During a late August visit from OSHA, the agency did not suggest any changes to any operations in Lumber Bridge.
  • Employees are encouraged to visit the human resources teams or onsite medical teams if there are any concerns related to the workplace. Employees may also request reassignment to other jobs within the facility or greater company.
  • A Code of Conduct and Compliance Hotline has been established so employees can make their concerns known anonymously if necessary. The company said it has not received any such complaints.
  • To assure food safety, air quality is monitored inside Mountaire facilities, and a recent investment in air filtration systems in Lumber Bridge are able to remove 99% of microorganisms in the air.
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