On Aug.28 2004 one of our local corporate giants, ConAgra, recalled over 120,000 pounds of fresh chicken that may contain glass or metal as reported by the Lincoln Journal Star.
This is not the first large recall of a meat product by our neighbors ConAgra. In 2002 they recalled 18 million pounds of ground beef that was infected with E.coli, the second largest meat recall in American history. The vast majority of the meat was never accounted for. The meat produced at a plant in Colorado was linked to an outbreak of E. coli that caused 46 illnesses in 16 states, according to the USDA’s Office of Inspector General. The bacteria, which can be deadly for the elderly and very young, was found in at least 63 tests conducted by the plant in 2002. But federal meat inspectors did not intervene because they believed the FSIS had no authority to review tests conducted by the plant.
Even more shocking than the over site of the outbreak at such a late stage in the consumer cycle is what ConAgra did with the meat that was actually recovered. According to FDA regulations, once the meat has been recovered it can then be put back on the market into products such as canned chili, spaghetti sauce, or beef ravioli. And no product that contains the meat has to be labeled as containing an E.coli contaminated beef product. When asked how contaminated products could be put back on the market, ConAgra spokesperson Jim Herlihy said: “I think we can say any product that is cooked per the guidelines established by the USDA and recommended by the Colorado Department of Health is perfectly safe for human consumption and to indicate otherwise is irresponsible,” But here is what Patti Klocker, assistant director of the Colorado Department of Health had to say: “By definition of the federal recall, it’s not fit for human consumption, We recommend that humans don’t consume it and that it shouldn’t be turned into something edible.” The independent arm of the USDA prepared an investigative report at the request of California Rep. Henry Waxman and other Democrats. Last year the lawmakers criticized the USDA, saying that weeks before the July recall, federal meat inspectors knew the plant repeatedly tested positive for E.coli but did nothing.
And it’s not just meat. Genetically Modified corn that the FDA has not approved for human consumption has found it’s way into ConAgra silo’s. StarLink corn had federal approval for use as livestock feed and in non-food industrial products such as the production of ethanol. But regulators were not sure whether people should eat it because it contains a special protein, Cry9C, that is slow to break down in the digestive system and could theoretically cause allergic reactions. Like other GM corn, StarLink is implanted with a soil bacterium that kills a destructive bug called the corn borer. Unlike some other GM corn, it also contains implanted genes that allow it to stand up to popular weed-killing chemicals. StarLink first got public attention when it was found in Taco Bell brand taco shells sold by Phillip Morris co.’s Kraft food units.
The products that ConAgra produce is just the tip of a very large corporate iceberg. In April of 2001 George Williams filed a lawsuit against ConAgra for maintaining a hostile work environment. Williams had worked at ConAgra in El Dorado Arkansas for 32 years as a supervisor for ConAgra’s poultry operations. Williams lawyer’s said that ConAgra had employed a system of “don’t ask, don’t tell” concerning complaints made to management about hostile treatment of black employees. The jury awarded Williams nearly $930,000 in lost wages and benefits, plus $6.06 million in punitive damages.
CoAgra also engages in Union busting and employee surveillance locally in Omaha, NE. In 2000 & 2001 employees for ConAgra tried and successfully got UFCW representation (United Food and Commercial Workers International Union). But not without a fight. “Our religious traditions teach us that the dignity of all workers must be respected and recognizes workers’ right to organize on the job in order to have a voice,” said Father Damien, Pastor at Our Lady of Guadalupe and a leader with Omaha Together/One Community (OTOC). The UFCW worked with Omaha Together/One Community to help 4,000 meatpacking workers in the Omaha area gain a voice on the job. ConAgra responded to workers organizing by trying to intimidate them over the load speaker at a south Omaha meat packing plant. “Corporate executives including General Manager Stan Wells made unprecedented continuous statements to workers over the loud speakers in the plant intimidating workers with last minute scare tactics” according to Voices United.
ConAgra’s environmental record ain’t so hot either. ConAgra agreed to spend more than $3.5 million,$1 million in a cash penalty and the rest for environmental improvements, to settle a complaint in federal court alleging that ConAgra’s Armour Fresh Meats slaughterhouse and meat packing plant in Nampa, Idaho, committed more than 600 violations of the Clean Water Act between 1992 and 1996. The EPA was concerned about ConAgra’s operations in Nampa because of the shallow ground water that lies beneath the slaughter house. Groundwater in the immediate area flows into creeks, through the soil and through “french drains” installed by ConAgra to control groundwater elevation. The industrial run off promotes algae growth in fisheries depleting the oxygen levels in waters causing fish die off’s.
ConAgra brand names include Armour, Banquet, Butterball, Chef Boyardee, Healthy Choice, Hunt’s, Orville Redenbacher’s, PAM, and Slim Jim. The world headquarters for ConAgra is located in downtown Omaha. It is our responsibility as Omaha citizens to make sure the corporations that call our community home are responsible ones. Call ConAgra today and tell them if they are going to call Omaha home they need to be accountable.
One ConAgra Drive
Omaha, NEBRASKA 68102-5001
402 595-4000
402 595-4702
