Jennie-O plant operations resume after evacuation

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  Andrea Gantz

  Operations have returned to normal at a Jennie-O Turkey Store plant where employees had reportedly become ill.

  From WATTAgNet:
  Operations have returned to normal at a Jennie-O Turkey Store processing plant in Willmar, Minnesota, after more than two dozen workers there had shown symptoms of illness including coughing and vomiting.
  Willmar police responded to a call around 7:23 p.m. on October 17 of a possible chemical leak at the Jennie-O Turkey Store facility that was making employees sick, Willmar Police Sgt. Michael Jahnke said.
  However, after the company and local fire officials inspected the plant, which was evacuated, no chemical leaks or other causes for illnesses were found. Testing was conducted for carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide and ammonia.
  Thirty-one patients from the Jennie-O plant were examined at Rice Memorial Hospital, with one being admitted. Some were transported by ambulance, while others were taken by bus, according to news reports.
  After the Jennie-O and fire officials conducted what the company referred to as a “thorough plant inspection,” operations at the plant resumed to normal.
  The Willmar Police Department assisted fire and EMS officials with the situation.
  Jennie-O Turkey Store is a subsidiary of Hormel Foods. According to the WATT Global Media Top Companies Database, the company operates four slaughter plants and five cooking plants. It also has three hatcheries, eight feed mills and 200 growout houses.