Food Distributor to Pay $1.1 Million Over Deadly Ammonia Release

The U.S. Environmental Safety Company (EPA) has reached a $1.1 million civil penalty settlement with a wholesale meals and snack distributor in Massachusetts.

The EPA stated House Market Meals violated federal Clear Air Act (CAA) chemical security necessities at its meals processing plant in Norwood and its chilly storage warehouse in Norton. The violations concerned the secure dealing with of anhydrous ammonia, a hazardous chemical used for cooling and refrigeration.

This enforcement motion follows a chemical launch on the Norwood facility on December 19, 2022. Whereas contractors have been working close to refrigeration equipment, anhydrous ammonia was by chance launched, leading to one contractor being killed and one other badly injured.

EPA stated it inspected the amenities and reviewed the corporate’s danger administration program, discovering that the corporate had not met a number of of the CAA’s accident prevention necessities.

EPA additionally discovered that the corporate didn’t rapidly report the December 2022 launch and one other ammonia launch in 2024 to the correct federal officers.

In response to the EPA, for the reason that accident the corporate has made vital security enhancements at each amenities. The EPA stated the corporate accomplished a number of security enhancements below compliance orders issued in 2024 and 2025. Beneath the 2025 order, House Market Meals can be required to rent an unbiased professional to examine the situation and security of key refrigeration techniques at each places.

House Market Good merchandise embrace Cooked Good meatballs, Eisenberg scorching canines and sausages, and RollerBites for comfort shops.