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Food Processing Incidents

Food processing facilities handle large quantities of combustible organic materials — sugars, starches, flours, and flavoring compounds — that can accumulate as explosive dust clouds or fuel sustained deflagrations. CSB investigations in this sector have driven major regulatory attention to combustible dust hazard management and led to new NFPA standards for dust explosion prevention.

7 CSB investigations in this database cover the food processing sector, spanning 1998–2024.


Food Processing Incidents (7)

Incident Date Location Key Hazards
Millard Refrigerated Services Ammonia Release 08/23/2010 Theodore, AL Ammonia Release, Chemical Release
Cuisine Solutions Ammonia Release 07/31/2024 Sterling, VA Ammonia Release, Toxic Release
ConAgra Natural Gas Explosion and Ammonia Release 06/09/2009 Garner, NC Explosion, Ammonia Release
Didion Milling Company Explosion and Fire 05/31/2017 Cambria, WI Dust Explosion, Explosion
D.D. Williamson & Co. Catastrophic Vessel Failure 04/11/2003 Louisville, KY Overpressure, Explosion
Imperial Sugar Company Dust Explosion and Fire 02/07/2008 Port Wentworth, GA Dust Explosion, Explosion
Foundation Food Group Fatal Chemical Release 01/28/2021 Gainesville , GA Chemical Release, Asphyxiation

Frequently Involved Hazard Types

Chemical Release · Ammonia Release · Explosion · Structural Failure · Overpressure · Toxic Release


Most Common Chemicals Involved

Ammonia, Toxic Gas, Natural Gas, Combustible Dust, Methane, Flammable Gas


Data sourced from CSB.gov public investigation reports. This site is an independent project not affiliated with the U.S. CSB.