The Eggo Co., a unit of Kellogg’s, Battle Creek, Mich., was convicted and sentenced Dec. 9 for a large release of anhydrous ammonia from its waffle factory in San Jose, Calif. The company was criminally charged with negligently discharging an air contaminant, failing to immediately report that release, providing inadequate training to its contractors, and failing to implement an adequate emergency action plan.
The company was ordered to pay approximately $85,000. Eggo cooperated with regulatory authorities and is upgrading its systems and procedures to prevent future releases.
The release occurred on Jan. 22, 2021, when a subcontractor on a scissor lift damaged a pipe that began leaking the ammonia. Eggo managers did not call 911 until more than an hour had passed, mistakenly believing they had stopped the leak. An estimated 3,400 pounds of ammonia escaped into the surrounding neighborhood, and residents were forced to shelter-in-place for several hours.