Ammonia Leak Forces Evacuation at Florida Coca-Cola Bottling Plant

March 15, 2023

A 20,000-pound ammonia tank at a Coca-Cola facility in Auburndale, Fla., sprung a leak this morning, forcing the evacuation of the bottling facility and shelter-in-place decree for the surrounding area.

Emergency hazmat crews were called to the plant around 10:15 local time, after reports of the leak were called in, and some vapors escaping to the surrounding neighborhood, according to local news reports. The leak was stopped after nearly three hours of work.

A shelter-in-place order was issued for nearby residents and businesses, and although no one in the plant was injured, a statement from the company stated that “a few electrical employees working nearby” sought medical attention for “minor eye and throat irritations.”

About the Author

Andy Hanacek | Senior Editor

Andy Hanacek has covered meat, poultry, bakery and snack foods as a B2B editor for nearly 20 years, and has toured hundreds of processing plants and food companies, sharing stories of innovation and technological advancement throughout the food supply chain. In 2018, he won a Folio:Eddie Award for his unique "From the Editor's Desk" video blogs, and he has brought home additional awards from Folio and ASBPE over the years. In addition, Hanacek led the Meat Industry Hall of Fame for several years and was vice president of communications for We R Food Safety, a food safety software and consulting company.