Controversies
Controversies tied to this brand in public sources. A listing is not a finding of fault.
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2021
Cal/OSHA cites Foster Farms over COVID-19 workplace protections
Fine or penalty
California's Division of Occupational Safety and Health cited Foster Farms for failing to protect workers during the COVID-19 pandemic and imposed penalties totaling $181,500. Cal/OSHA said the company failed to communicate outbreak and employee fatality information effectively and did not promptly report some deaths.
Source excerpt
Updated: 5:25 PM PDT May 25, 2021
In one of the penalty breakdowns, Cal/OSHA said that Foster Farms "failed to effectively communicate about COVID-19 in the workplace, including infections, outbreaks, and fatalities of employees to all workers who were exposed or potentially exposed."
California's Division of Occupational Health and Safety has cited a Foster Farms plant in Livingston for not protecting its workers during the COVID-19 pandemic.
2020
COVID-19 outbreak at Livingston plant
A large outbreak among Livingston workers resulted in hundreds of confirmed infections, multiple deaths, public criticism, and a county-ordered plant closure.
2020
Family sues Foster Farms over fatal van collision
Lawsuit filed
The family of a two-year-old boy filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Foster Farms. According to the mother's lawsuit, the vehicle that struck and killed the child was owned by a branch of Foster Farms and was used to transport employees to work. The article reported that the driver had not been charged with a crime at the time.
The family of a two-year-old boy sued Foster Farms for wrongful death. The mother's lawsuit says the vehicle that hit and killed the child was owned by a branch of Foster Farms and used to transport employees to work; the driver had not been charged with a crime, according to the article.
Source excerpt
A new lawsuit filed by Aidan's mother says the vehicle was owned by a branch of Foster Farms and was used to pick employees up for work.
The family of a little boy killed in an alleged hit-and-run crash last month in Fresno County is now suing Foster Farms for wrongful death.
2020
Boston Market files broiler price-fixing lawsuit
Lawsuit filed
Boston Market filed a federal lawsuit against poultry companies, alleging that they conspired to manipulate broiler prices from 2008 to 2017 and caused it hundreds of millions of dollars in overcharges. The allegations are presented as claims in the lawsuit, not as a court determination.
Source excerpt
The new lawsuit alleges the conspiracy included plaintiffs Tyson Foods, Pilgrim's Pride, Perdue Farms, Koch Foods, Sanderson Farms, JCG Foods, Raeford Farms, Mar-Jac Poultry, Wayne Farms, Fieldale Farms, George's Farms, Simmons Foods, O.K. Foods, Peco Foods, Harrison Poultry, Foster Farms, Claxton Poultry, Mountaire Farms, Amick Farms, Case Farms and Agri Stats Inc.
OMAHA (DTN) -- Boston Market Corp. has filed a federal lawsuit against a group of poultry companies, alleging the companies conspired to manipulate the price of broilers from 2008 to 2017, costing Boston Market Corp. hundreds of millions of dollars in overcharges.
2018
Truck crash involving chickens
A truck transporting approximately 5,000 chickens to the Kelso processing facility crashed in Washington. Animal-welfare activists sought access to surviving birds, but Foster Farms refused, citing health risks.
2013
Salmonella Heidelberg outbreak
Chicken associated with several California facilities was linked to a multistate outbreak of multidrug-resistant Salmonella Heidelberg. The USDA issued a public health alert but did not require a recall, and the company undertook corrective measures.
1998
Clean Water Act violation
Foster Poultry Farms pleaded guilty in federal court to a Clean Water Act violation involving the discharge of approximately 11 million gallons of water contaminated with chicken manure into the San Luis National Wildlife Refuge.