Rubashkin Food Safety, Worker Safety and Pollution Violations Detailed

The Des Moines Register has a long list of all Agriprocessors violations of safety, food safety and pollution regulations over the past two years. As regular FailedMessiah.com readers certainly know, the article stresses Agriprocessors has a…

…much longer history of noncompliance than those two years:

Agriprocessors safety problems
BY CLARK KAUFFMAN
MAY 14, 2008

Agriprocessors Inc. has a history of noncompliance with state and federal regulations related to food safety, pollution and workplace safety at its Postville facility, government records show. Here are some actions government regulators have taken in the past 2years:

FEBRUARY 2006: U.S. Department of Labor fines the company $2,000 for a serious workplace-safety violation. The fine is later reduced to $1,000. Two weeks later, the plant is fined $2,500 for a serious worker-safety violation involving machinery. That fine is later reduced to $1,250.

MARCH 2006: Agriprocessors is cited for worker-safety violations related to respiratory protection. No fine is imposed.

AUGUST 2006: The company agrees to pay $603,086 to settle a complaint by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Federal prosecutors had accused the owners of discharging pollutants into Postville's city water treatment system.

SEPTEMBER 2006: The U.S. Department of Agriculture issues a "letter of warning" to the plant, based on failure to meet minimum requirements for sanitary conditions. Rodents had been seen in offices, and other unsanitary conditions were noted outside the plant. The letter noted multiple instances of unsanitary conditions that had gone uncorrected over the previous 90 days.

DECEMBER 2006: USDA inspectors find fecal contamination of chickens being processed. In one case, an inspector has to intervene three times to correct the problem. A day later, an inspector finds that about half the chickens he observes being processed are contaminated with feces and bile. A week later, inspectors note that at least 70 percent of the chickens are contaminated with feces. Two days later, inspectors report finding two pallets of beef that had "a rancid smell and (were) slimy to the touch." Hydraulic oil is seen dripping from an overhead motor onto raw chickens being processed. A few days later, inspectors see the same problem.

JANUARY 2007: USDA inspectors find "a large amount of fecal and bile contamination" on chickens being processed. Three areas are deemed "out of compliance, with fecal material sprayed everywhere around them." An inspector halts the meat-processing line and raises the issue with a worker who wanted to restart the line without taking corrective action.

JANUARY 2007: The USDA announces that Agriprocessors is recalling 2,700 pounds of frankfurters because of possible underprocessing.

JULY 2007: The USDA announces that Agriprocessors is recalling 35,860 pounds of frozen beef and chicken products because they may contain egg albumen, a known allergen, which is not declared on the label.

MARCH 2008: The Iowa Division of Labor Services cites Agriprocessors for 39 violations of workplace safety rules and proposes a $182,000 fine. The sanctions are based on inspections that took place in October 2007 and February 2008. Inspectors say the violations relate to hazardous chemicals and inadequate emergency response plans. Federal officials put the case "on hold," according to Kerry Koonce of Iowa Workforce Development. As of Tuesday, the matter remained unresolved.

You'll find links to posts on all of these problems here:

Rubashkin Kosher Meat Scandal. (Main index.)
Rubashkin Worker Abuse. (Incomplete – you'll find other, older posts in other sections.)
Rubashkin EPA Troubles (incomplete – you'll find other, older posts in other sections).
Rubashkin Food Safety Troubles.
Rubashkin summary page with links to major individual posts.

Comments

[Wandering Wonderer]

I'm not Jewish, but I have to say, I appreciate the information that you have on this site about the Rubashkins. Through friends that have previously worked for this family, at the Postville plant, I have to complement you on the accuracy of the information posted on here. Keep up the great work! It's really sad when people who claim to love God, end up not listening to anything but the money that they can gain...no matter how it's gained, or who gets hurt in the process. Unfortunately this family seems to be just that way.

[Yochanan Lavie]

Wandering: Please don't judge all Orthodox Jews by the actions of these rogues. They are violating the ethical standards of their own religion (unless one could argue they have a different religion, since they think their late rabbi is the messiah).

[Wandering Wonderer]

Yochanan: Oh my no! I'm not doing that at all!! I understand that you can't generalize ALL people, because of one group...or one person. Please forgive me if I implied that. I have no issue with anyone, unless they're hurting someone purposefully, as this family seems to be doing. I don't care what race, religion, nationality or whatever you are...there's a thing called morals and values...Including Ethical morals and values...obviously they don't care about that.

Yah. Not Jewish. Just happened to come across your post right after it was posted.

Uh ha.

[Wandering Wonderer]

Actually I'm not Jewish..I"m Seventh Day Adventist. I apologize for posting, if this is an issue..I won't do it again. I just wanted to show my appreciation of this site, and the accuracy of the information shown. Again, my apologies. Have a great day.

[Yochanan Lavie]

Wandering: I did not infer that you were implying that. I am just embarassed, that's all. (And I'm not even Orthodox). In NYC, there are so many Jews that the good balances out the bad. I'm sure Iowans are fair-minded, but it is a shame that you guys had such a negative encounter, when there are so few Jews out there.

Keep checking in on this blog. It is mostly about things that need improvement in our communities, but the posters give you different perspectives.

[Yochanan Lavie]

We have Jim the Catholic as a regular poster. Why not Wandering the 7th Day Adventist? No need to feel apologetic.

[formely frum]

I think more telling of the whole Rubaschkin affair is the lack
of outrage in the Jewish frum community. I do not see any
condemnation from the frum press, rabbis etc. about Rubaschkin.
Lets put aside the illegal alien issue, what about that one must pay
a worker so he/she can live, what about workers being abused. In the
Torah one cannot abuse ones gentile slaves. Talk about a Chulil
Hasem, how does this look to the world, that all this (workers
being abused , environmental, and health issues) was going on with
rabbinical supervision. It seems the only concern is where are we
going to get our meat for shaboss chulent.

The Rabbis OU etc. really have no excuse, are are just as guilty
as Rubaskin, they are facilitating these abuses by continuing giving
Rubashkin an Haschacha and the community by buying the products.
How could this happen have we/ the rabbis forgotten the famous
excuses of many Germans. I am not guilty I just drove the train, I
just built the camp, I was a guard but did not hurt anybody etc. no
we held them all accountable. (please no attacks I am not comparing
the two just using it as an analogy) Now we must hold ourselves and
the rabbis accountable too. It seems if people would really be
outraged they would stop buying Rubaskin products. And all the
Rabbis have to, is tell Rubashkin clean up your act or no Haschacha.

Question to ponder, what would be the community/Rabbis reaction
if the abused workers where Jewish/Yiddin and they where dumping
contaminated water in and around Boro park.
I know and you do too, and I am sorry that is a very sad commentary
of the Jewish people.

[Wandering Wonderer]

Thank you Yochanan. And I can understand your feelings about what's going on. We have some of the same issues and embarrassments in our religion as well...I think every religion does. And it is a shame, because it does leave a bad impression to others...and unfortunately people do have a tendency to generalize and then consider the whole to be as one party has acted.

Uh huh. Seventh Day Adventist. Ome of the same issues in his religion. Uh huh. Problems with shochtim, bodkim, mashgichim, hechshairim.

Uh huh.

[Wandering Wonderer]

Well, I don't know what those words mean, I simply meant that we have bad examples of our religion as well.

Oh. I must have read wrong.

Nope, I went back to check. You wrote that you have the same problems.

I guess you didn't mean exactly the same.

Maybe you aren't exactly Seventh Day Adventist either.

BTW not understanding those words does not at all mean that you do not fit in around here. There are 'experts' posting here who don't know what they mean and cannot read them in Hebrew.

[Yochanan Lavie]

shochtim: kosher slaughterers
bodkim: inspectors
mashgichim: kosher supervisors
hechshairim: "Brands" of supervision, such as OU (Orthodox Union, etc.).

Anonymous wiseguy: 7th Adventist have similar diety restrictions to ours.

[Wandering Wonderer]

Thank you for the definitions. I was really lost. Tried to google them, and sort of got an idea, but not of all the words. And you're right Yochanan, we do have similar dietary restrictions. Another thing we have in common, is that our Sabbath is from sundown Friday night, until sundown Saturday night. And in all honesty, I'm not the best example of my religion..I have at times, really messed up. But I am trying now to do what I should, and raise my daughter to love God.

[John Paul III]

Uh Huh. Seventh Day Adventist.

And I'd aprreciate your addressing me as His Holiness and not as "Anonymous Wiseguy".

Bless you my son.

[one of many]

ok lets not be rude to any Gentiles??
Hashem requires all to love your neighbour as one self regardless of there religion and to be a good example a light...any ways
I was wondering and i think this is a good question to ask and know..

how many people have been reported to have gotten sick from eating any meat or chicken from this plant?? over these years and i wonder also would anyone come out that has gotten sick from eating there meats, chickens that was not reported?

Maybe you can put a post out there or article asking anyone to come forward and tell us if they have been effected with anykind of illness from the consumption of these products

and also,
perhaps they lied about the recall in here

JULY 2007: The USDA announces that Agriprocessors is recalling 35,860 pounds of frozen beef and chicken products because they may contain egg albumen, a known allergen, which is not declared on the label.

was that tested for what they have claimed?
or is this a cover up becuase it really has E_coli?? think about this if it really did have the E-coli infection, then, they would never be trusted again and they will loose there business completely and have a massive law suits by every Jew left and right out there you cant even emagine...

so was this recalled beef tested for e-coli??
next question, who is being paid off for the SILENCE???
I say we test the meat NOW!
Peace
C

[Wandering Wonderer]

Well, John, I'm so glad that you've graced us with your presence, though I'm not going to call you anything other than John, as God is the one that deserves the title "His Holiness". Sorry for your luck. You can believe the religion I follow or not, it doesn't really matter to me. At least some people on here, aren't rude to others, and are more accepting of holding a discussion with someone out of their faith/religion. THAT is a good example.

[Wandering Wonderer]

One of Many: Those are very good questions, and I wish I knew the answers. I do know from a friend who is an x-employee, that some of the meat that they claim to be fresh, is actually frozen...and has been frozen for over 3 years. Doesn't mean the meat is bad, just that it's not fresh as they've advertised. My friend actually saw them taking it out of the freezer and put in a cooler to thaw.

[shmuel]

Wandering Wonderer, you're always welcome on this blog. Keep reading and posting.
Question: how are your dietary restrictions similar to that of us Jews?

[Wandering Wonderer]

Thank you Shmuel...Honestly, I don't know all your restrictions. I do know that your meats have to be blessed? And if I remember right, you don't eat unclean meats..like pork/ham? In my religion, we don't have a Rabbi or anything bless it, but we don't eat unclean meats. No scroungers, or ham/pork etc...shell fish...Personally I don't eat meat..guess you could call me a rabbit.

[Wandering Wonderer]

Beef is ok, Turkey, Chicken...don't know much about fish that's ok, other than has to have fins and gills...can't be clams, crab, lobster...things like that. My family raised me vegetarian, I did venture out and eat beef and chicken and turkey for awhile, but with all the diseases and things, I decided it would be best not to even try to mess with it. And I don't want my 3 yr old getting sick, because of this stuff. And now knowing what's going on with Agri...I can honestly say, I'm glad that I don't eat meat..it's just not safe.

[state of the Jews]

I know the UFCW did test Rubashkin turkey's bought at Trader Joe's for sodium levels and found they were 2x or 3x the amount of sodium listed on the label.
I also saw a report from Food and Water Watch which list salmonella findings from poultry plants across the country and Agriprocessors was in the top 15% for Salmonella contamination - Shmarya reported on this as well.
Unless the Jewish community - read certifyers - force changes in the industry I am afraid these abuses will continue and everyone will suffer -- the workers, the towns and people where the plants are located, everyone.
If we do not police ourselves we invite others to do it for us. The OU says it depends on OSHA and the labor department to enforce labor laws. Since the OU has abbrogated its responsibility to enforce Torah law regarding workers, maybe they should abbrogate responsibility for enforcing the rest of Jewish law - including shechita - to the USDA. They certainly couldn't do worse then the job done by our "hechsher" agencies which have done great harm to the concept of kashrut. By continuing to grant certification to these people the OU is complicit in the crimes committed by Rubashkin etal. The have demeaned the Jewish community. They have demeaned the kosher consumer. And, they have made kosher certification meaningless. What does kashrut mean?? That we believe children should be making kosher meat?

[one of many]

Wandering Wonderer, good to see you hear!

[one of many]

your name isnt Trance is it?
i know someone by that name he is an artist musician, jsut wondering,,
oh and i wrote a song called Wondering wandering..good day!
ps have you studied Torah yet?
I would recomend it!
It truly is enlightening!!!
you can get it on aish.com
613 laws and download it and read it,
after all it is the first 5 books of the bible!!
Great wonderful fantastic!!!

[Wandering Wonderer]

No sorry, my name isn't Trance. No I haven't read Torah. I'm sure it is enlightening, and I thank you for the invitation to read it. I find the Bible very interesting. I love the history...My father had an interest in history, and passed it on to me. That is what got me to start studying the Bible and trying to live the right way. That, and the fact I want my daughter to be brought up the right way, and to love God with all her heart.

[Wandering Wonderer]

Thank you all, for being kind to an outsider. I hope you have a wonderful day. Will be praying for all of you during this mess. Hopefully, others will realize that it's not all Jewish people, just this sad family portraying a wrong image. I wish you good health, that their incompetence and lack of ethical morals doesn't do any more damage than it has already.

[one of many]

Thanks Wandering Wonderer..
i think its good that you found this posts and that you can share with many your stand on no meat eating in your life adn the fact that you want to bring up your daughter with ethical morals is also to be commended.
feel free to email me if you need any kind of direction or guidance i have children as well, and feel your sentimanets totally!
if we can be of any help drop us a line or just say hello!!
timetobelievefoundation@yahoo.ca
take care
B_d bless
and last but not least,
Peace and Love

[one of many]

also i might add that these ones at agri processor are not really Jews, they just say they are.
they dont practice the laws of God, nor do they have regard or respect for God or people. So really these ones should not be even called Jews. They are a disgrace to Gods holy name and bring shame and dishonor to him in all these things they have been proven that they have done.

any person who calls themselves a Jew and doesnt follow God and his ways is not a good Jew.
Like i have cousins family members who say, I am Jewish, so what!! they follow not one word of the Torah, nor do they even know it.

I love my family dont get me wrong any one can have hope, but they told me they were not even interested in the Torah or God.

and they are very well to do , just like Rubashkin

big business big company big money and these ones, are not happy they have disfunctional lives many failed marriages, and problems, this way that way, but they have money...

and visitation wrights when they want to see there children that they dont even live with...

sounds messed up

yes it is,, but the good news is
Hashem says, Repent, turn back to me
and i will be your God and you will be my people thats the message yesterday and still today...

its never too late to repent and turn back to Hashem NEVER!!

Like the Tanak says, "do i take pleasure in killing you Israel? NO do what is wright repent and you shall live....

Is that so hard to do??
TIme to get into another business Rubashkin
Common get with the program, manufacture vegi burgers save your souls and many more..

youll still make money but you wont get all the harrasments anymore and you will be doing the wright thing..

You know this is not the only way to live!

So time for a change! a change for the good

thats my two cents
Thanks C

[Wandering Wonderer]

Thank you One of Many.

I will drop you a line sometime if that's ok. Is that yahoo.ca? or .com?

You're very right with what you're saying about Agri. I have been told a lot about the family, and their "ethics" by a couple of my very close friends. And in honesty, I didn't believe that people could be so ...horrid? I can't really figure out the proper word for everything they've done. I have done some research in the last couple days, on the Rubashkin family, and ...WOW!!! I'm disgustedly amazed! And I do know that they do not represent the ethics and values and beliefs of the Jewish faith. They are very poor examples. I have been reading some other blogs on a couple sites, that have been updating about this raid, and unfortunately, people are clumping it into the "Jewish" pond..not taking the time to see the differences. And that is sad..not only for the ignorance of these people, but that this is the portrait that is being painted about the Jewish people across national headlines. I would imagine that it has all your leaders, rabbi's..I'm not sure what you call them..sorry....very upset...as well as the rest of the people. It goes way past the illegal immigrants, way past the fraud, identity theft...

[one of many]

THere are many MANY good Jews and leaders out there! These are the light of God unto the nations, I perscribe to
and only these ones will I listen too for guidance and direction.
I am fortunate to have found these ones, and blessed!!
One Good Jews has enough God given power to light up an entire city!
may that happen on a larger scale in Hashems service!
Kiddush Hashem to all my brothers!
Shalom!
C

its .ca

[Wandering Wonderer]

Good! I'm glad you have been able to find the ones that truly love God and his people! It is getting harder and harder to do anymore. And you're so right...One soul that really has God's light in them, will be able to light the way for many others. It's a blessing!!

[Yochanan Lavie]

One: I will check out your website. I have always enjoyed your posts.

[one of many]

Thank you Yochanan

[one of many]

http://music.download.com/houseofisrael
i dont have a website just music for Hashem our Lord and God who saves the one who hears his words and obeys...

Peas!