Following a recall of products in December 2023, the Quaker Oats Company a subsidiary of PepsiCo will permanently close the 55-year-old plant and transfer production to other facilities. The recall was due to contamination of granola bars and cereals with Salmonella. A review of the plant indicated the need for extensive refurbishment and installation of new equipment that would have required a prolonged down time.
Brand image and reputation were considerations in the decision to close the plant given the potential for a reoccurrence of infection despite decontamination and upgrading.
Subscribers are referred to an extensive recall of infant formula from 83 nations in 2017. The product was contaminated with S. Agona resulting in multiple cases and fatalities. The plant involved was located in Craon, France, and was operated by Lactalis, a multinational dairy producer. The plant was out of operation for over a year during cleaning and upgrading of food safety equipment and installations.