News snippets: We round-up some bite-size feed industry stories about Bunge, Tyson Foods and Blue Ridge Beef
Bunge soy processing plant closure
Bunge reveals the reason for the recent shut down of its Indiana soy plant.
A soybean processing facility in Decatur, operated by the US agribusiness giant, stopped operations last week due to a damaged natural gas pipeline that feeds the plant, the company told Reuters.
A spokesperson for Bunge told FeedNavigator today that it expects to have the plant operational soon.
“All appropriate precautions are being taken to ensure the safety of employees and the community.
“We are proactively working with all the appropriate parties to repair the pipeline, while doing our best to continue to serve our customers.”
Legal proceedings against Tyson Foods
A consortium of poultry farmers has initiated legal proceedings against Tyson Foods, mere months after the corporation ceased operations at a processing plant in southern Missouri.
The lawsuit contends that Tyson Foods engaged in false representation and breached contractual obligations leading up to the closure of the Dexter, Missouri facility.
The legal action asserts that Tyson Foods failed to disclose the potential closure of the plant, referring to arrangements established as early as November 2021. The lawsuit maintains that Tyson deliberately concealed plans to shutter the facility, leaving several Missouri-based poultry farmers, who had invested substantial capital, in the dark. These farmers allege that they were persuaded to invest millions in raising chickens under the presumption of a prolonged relationship with Tyson companies.
A minimum of five poultry farmers claim significant financial losses; they are collectively seeking $25,000 in damages each, alongside additional relief pertaining to the adverse effects stemming from the abrupt closure of the plant.
Tyson Foods has not responded, as of yet, to our request for comment.
Recall of puppy and kitten food
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is notifying consumers of an expansion of a recall over salmonella and listeria concerns in puppy and kitten food manufactured by Blue Ridge Beef, which contains raw beef.
In December, the company issued a voluntary recall for several of its pet food products.
Blue Ridge Beef is widening the recall to include more batches of its 2lb log of Kitten Grind, its 2lb log of Kitten Mix and its 2lb log of Puppy Mix produced in November and December last year, as per an FDA statement.
The expanded recall states include Connecticut, Florida, Iowa, Illinois, Massachusetts, Maryland, North Carolina, New York, Michigan, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Virginia. and Wisconsin.
The products were distributed between November 14, 2023, and December 20, 2023, and sold primarily in retail stores.
Salmonella and Listeria monocytogenes can affect animals eating the products, and there is a risk to people from handling contaminated pet products.
No illnesses have been reported to date, according to the FDA.
