A liquid nitrogen leak at a Gainesville, GA, poultry plant on Jan. 28 left six people dead and sent 11 to the hospital.
The plant, previously known as Prime Pak Foods, is now part of Foundation Food Group, a privately held company with four Gainesville-area locations. The plant processes raw chicken into chicken cuts, partially cooks them and freezes them for the restaurant and foodservice industry.
An investigation is ongoing into the cause of the accident and will take several weeks. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports significant portions of the plant’s liquid nitrogen’s interior and exterior system were installed and commissioned in the past four to six weeks.
Company spokesman Weston Burleson said the state fire marshal has ruled out a shut-off valve on piping that connects a nitrogen storage tank outside the building to equipment inside.
