Photo: Bill Pugliano / Getty Images
The Eggo waffle maker will have to pay a fine of $85,000 dollars after conviction for releasing toxic ammonia from a factory in San Jose, California in January of 2022, prosecutors reported.
Kellogg’s spokesman Kris Bahner said In a statement Wednesday: “At Kellogg’s, the safety of our workers and the environment are top priorities. Fortunately, no one was injured in the incident last year.
“Since then, we have conducted 
a number of significant improvements to our processes and protocols to ensure we have the safest possible environment for our employees and neighbors,” Bahner added.
According to the Santa Clara, California district attorney’s office, the incident occurred when a subcontractor damaged a pipeline which began to leak anhydrous ammonia. Eggo managers did not call 911 until over an hour had passed, believing they had stopped the leak.
During the delay, 3, 400 pounds of anhydrous ammonia leaked from the factory into the neighborhood, causing residents to take shelter for several hours until the leak was stopped, prosecutors said.
The company was criminally charged with negligently discharging a pollutant from the air, failing to immediately report the release, providing inadequate training to contractors, and failing to implement a recovery plan. appropriate emergency action.
“Public safety and the environment are threatened with every minute that passes in these cases,” said the prosecutor of Jason Bussey Deputy District. “When companies do not report a leak immediately, they face dire consequences .”
Eggo has cooperated with regulatory authorities since the incident and is updating its systems and procedures to prevent future gas emissions, prosecutors said.
How dangerous was the incident
Although no injuries were reported, authorities noted that anhydrous ammonia is a toxic gas that can cause “ serious injury or death ”.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration notes that this substance is commonly used as refrigerant in industrial facilities that process meat, dairy products, alcoholic beverages and more. Eggo uses the substance at its San Jose factory to freeze waffles, the district attorney’s office said.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Disease Prevention, exposure to toxic gas or liquid can cause injuries such as burns, frostbite, lung irritation, and corrosion damage to the eyes, throat, stomach, and other parts of the body, depending on the type of exposure.
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