Fresh Express Agrees to Pay $280,000 for Exposing Over 80 Employees to Noxious Bleach Odors

 

SALINAS, California – Monterey County District Attorney Jeannine M. Pacioni announced on March 15

that her Environmental Protection Unit entered into a stipulated judgment with Fresh Express

Incorporated for violations of pesticide-related laws that exposed its employees to noxious odors

resulting from the use of sodium hypochlorite (commonly known as bleach) for approximately one

month in early 2020. Over 80 Fresh Express employees complained of symptoms consistent with

exposure to the strong chlorine-like smell resulting from use of sodium hypochlorite during this

time period at their Salinas processing plant located at 900 E. Blanco Road in Salinas. Reported

symptoms included coughing, eye irritation, blurred vision, and chest pain, among others.

Fresh Express ultimately determined that equipment leaks and calibration of its sodium

hypochlorite injection system in its produce washing equipment was causing these symptoms to

various employees. Ultimately, following these incidents, Fresh Express repaired its sodium

hypochlorite and citric acid injection system to help ensure the systems are fully operational and in

good working order.

The judgment requires Fresh Express Incorporated to pay a $280,000 in civil penalties and

investigative costs and includes injunctive terms prohibiting future violations.

The Monterey County Agricultural Commissioner’s Office investigated this incident and referred

the case to the District Attorney’s Office as a “priority investigation,” pursuant to 3 CCR section

6128, subdivision (e), because the incident caused over five persons to become ill. Fresh Express

cooperated with the District Attorney’s Office during its investigation.