28 employees sickened at Willmar turkey plant
Published 4:51 pm Saturday, October 18, 2014
WILLMAR, Minn. (AP) — A Willmar turkey processing plant had to be evacuated after 28 employees fell sick.
The employees at the Jennie-O plant had flu-like symptoms on Friday evening, and 21 of them were treated at a hospital, according to the Star Tribune (http://strib.mn/11ICQ6o ).
Police and firefighters had brought in extra ambulances and a bus to transport workers to Rice Memorial Hospital in Willmar Friday night.
One person was admitted and the plant was again up and running Saturday, according to the newspaper.
Willmar Fire Chief Gary Hendrickson said there were no readings of any type of noxious gases or fumes.
“Everything was normal operations, as it would be on any other day,” he said.
Jennie-O is owned by Hormel Foods of Austin, Minnesota.
“We are working with local authorities and investigating the matter thoroughly,” according to a statement Friday night.
“The health and well-being of our employees is our top concern during this time.”
Employees had called authorities at about 7:15 p.m. Friday after a woman was unresponsive at times at the plant. Within moments there was another call of a second employee vomiting, and soon more were vomiting and coughing.