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Natural gas causes ConAgra plant explosion

FoodProcessing.com
06/23/2009

According to ConAgra Foods Inc., the North Carolina Slim Jim plant where an explosion killed three people last week is closed for now, with production not resuming until some time in August.

Federal investigators determined that the explosion was the result of an accidental natural gas release and not deliberate, the company said. A new natural gas-fired hot water system was being installed at the facility at the time.

While production will resume in August, the packaging part of the plant will be closed for the foreseeable future, a spokeswoman said.

Three workers died and more than 40 were injured on June 9 when an explosion caused a roof collapse at the plant in Garner, North Carolina, south of the state capital in Raleigh.

Read Damaged ConAgra plant to resume output in August for the full report