Latest news with #PerdueFarms
CBS News
6 days ago
- Business
- CBS News
Federal judge denies Perdue Farm's request to drop lawsuit alleging PFAS contamination in Maryland
A federal judge in Maryland denied Perdue Farm's request Wednesday to dismiss a lawsuit that alleges the company contaminated a community with PFAS, or forever chemicals. The lawsuit, filed in early August on behalf of five Salisbury residents, claims that the agribusiness giant dumped wastewater that contained PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) into the ground near its facility. In response, Perdue denied any wrongdoing and said it believes the lawsuit is more about the law firm's financial gain rather than the alleged contamination. "Perdue AgriBusiness remains focused on transparency, accountability, and identifying the true source of contamination, since PFAS is not part of our manufacturing process," the company said in a previous statement. On Wednesday, U.S. District Judge Stephanie Gallagher denied the company's request to throw out the lawsuit. However, she did throw out two of the seven charges, including one that called for the company to stop its alleged dumping and pay for environmental cleanup measures. "We welcome the Court's decision to dismiss parts of the plaintiffs' case, including unsubstantiated claims attempting to link alleged health conditions to our operations," the company said in a statement. "We're confident the facts will speak for themselves as the case moves forward." According to the lawsuit, filed by the Brockstedt Mandalas Federico law firm, the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) discovered in September 2023 that Perdue's wastewater contained high levels of PFAS chemicals. The water was being disposed of on cropland and forest near Peggy's Branch stream. Nearly 500 homes within two miles of Perdue's wastewater disposal field use private wells for potable water, according to the lawsuit. The lawsuit also claims that Perdue had not tested for those specific substances but began testing for them around September 2023. In the lawsuit, the Salisbury residents claim that the company waited until October 2024 to notify neighbors about the PFAS chemicals. A spokesperson for Perdue told WJZ that it had already taken steps to address the high PFAS levels before the lawsuit was filed, including testing well water at 673 properties, installing PFAS treatment systems at impacted sites and removing potential sources of PFAS from its facility. "In late 2023, a state-wide sampling effort revealed elevated concentrations of PFAS at the facility and MDE requested additional testing to determine the nature, source and extent of any PFAS," Perdue said in a statement. "In September 2024, MDE notified us that further testing, remediation and public notification would be required. We immediately began identifying the impacted area and, following MDE's guidance, swiftly notified the community in late September and early October 2024." The residents named in the lawsuit claim they "suffered, and continue to suffer, from a variety of health effects that are known to be caused by exposure" to PFAS chemicals. "Today's ruling marks an important milestone in this community's effort to obtain accountability and justice regarding Perdue's extensive PFAS pollution of the area's groundwater," a spokesperson for the law firm said in a statement. "Perdue has known about this public health crisis for nearly two years and concealed it until the community came together and filed this lawsuit. Unfortunately, Perdue is failing to meaningfully address the contamination while it continues production for its own profit." Judge Gallager said the case will proceed as MDE continues its investigation. Perdue has continued to deny any wrongdoing and said it is cooperating with state regulators. "Perdue AgriBusiness has worked closely and openly with the Maryland Department of the Environment—the only agency empowered to oversee remediation and assess impacts," the company said. "Our commitment to our neighbors remains unchanged," the company said Wednesday. "We are continuing to work closely with the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) on a comprehensive response plan, which is already well underway."
The Guardian
11-08-2025
- Business
- The Guardian
Waste from agricultural plant poisoned US town's water with Pfas, lawsuits allege
Wastewater from an industrial soya bean farm and processor has poisoned a Maryland town's drinking water with Pfas, several lawsuits allege, raising questions about residents' health and 'forever chemical' pollution from industrial agricultural operations nationwide. Perdue Farms acknowledged that its 300-acre Salisbury, Maryland, operation is polluting local waters, but the chemicals' sources have not been confirmed. It appears the Pfas is in part also coming from some combination of sludge used as fertilizer and pesticides, attorneys for plaintiffs say. The latest suit was filed in late July under the nation's Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), which requires toxic waste to be disposed of in a way that doesn't harm human health. Some residents say the contaminated drinking water has sickened them, and the attorneys charge that Perdue, a company with $11bn in revenues, is not acting quickly enough, or taking proper measures to rein in the pollution since it was discovered in 2023. 'The fact that they've had two years to do an investigation and they have not … is exceedingly frustrating,' said Phil Federico, an attorney for the plaintiffs in the RCRA lawsuit. '[Pfas] are a carcinogen for God's sake – they cause cancer.' Pfas are a class of about 15,000 compounds most frequently used to make products water-, stain- and grease-resistant. They have been linked to cancer, birth defects, decreased immunity, high cholesterol, kidney disease and a range of other serious health problems. They are dubbed 'forever chemicals' because they do not naturally break down in the environment. The suit alleges Perdue's operation, 100 miles (161km) south-east of Baltimore, is spitting approximately 180,000 gallons of Pfas-contaminated wastewater daily into local waters, emitting Pfas into the air and contaminating groundwater. Perdue's operation includes cropland, a soya bean processing facility, grain storage and an oilseed refinery, among other facilities. The company in 2023 applied for a permit to increase the level of contaminated wastewater it discharges. The RCRA lawsuit comes after the Maryland department of environment in 2023 discovered the Pfas during routine testing of waterways and initiated regulatory action to force Perdue to rein in its pollution. Early 2024 testing showed levels of some Pfas compounds in local streams and rivers that were as much as 350 times higher than federal limits for drinking water. State regulators also identified a massive Pfas plume in the groundwater likely stemming from the property. A class action lawsuit filed in late 2024 on behalf of 500 nearby residents alleges Perdue learned of its pollution but did not warn area residents about the potential contamination of their water for over a year. The company showed 'reckless indifference to the health and safety of the public', according to the complaint, and it demands the company pay for clean water and health monitoring. In a 28 February motion to dismiss the class action suit, Perdue wrote: ''PFAS' is not a magic word that can be invoked to open automatically the doors to federal litigation.' The lawsuit has not been dismissed. The company did not respond to the Guardian's request for comment, but has previously said it completed testing at about 700 residential properties and had installed about 400 water treatment systems. Federico said the number of homes affected is almost certainly much higher – he estimates as many as 3,000 people in the region are drinking contaminated water. The best public interest journalism relies on first-hand accounts from people in the know. If you have something to share on this subject you can contact us confidentially using the following methods. Secure Messaging in the Guardian app The Guardian app has a tool to send tips about stories. Messages are end to end encrypted and concealed within the routine activity that every Guardian mobile app performs. This prevents an observer from knowing that you are communicating with us at all, let alone what is being said. If you don't already have the Guardian app, download it (iOS/Android) and go to the menu. Select 'Secure Messaging'. SecureDrop, instant messengers, email, telephone and post See our guide at for alternative methods and the pros and cons of each. Part of the motivation for the new RCRA lawsuit, Federico said, is the very slow pace at which Perdue has moved to identify the sources. Pesticides used on crops often contain Pfas, and sewage sludge used as fertilizer is virtually always contaminated with concerning levels of the chemicals. Unlined lagoons on the property that store wastewater and sludge are likely contaminating the groundwater, Federico said, and Pfas-laden firefighting foam may also have spilled or been used on the property. Meanwhile, there is evidence that the facility's stacks or lagoons may be emitting Pfas air pollution, Federico said. The RCRA suit asks the courts to allow independent wastewater experts onsite to evaluate the potential sources, and to order Perdue to install a wastewater treatment plant that removes Pfas onsite, among other measures. The legal fight comes at a moment when public health advocates are starting to consider how industrial agriculture operations could be major sources of Pfas contamination, said Laura Orlando, a waste management engineer with the Just Zero non-profit. Sewage sludge has long been a concern, but advocates are also calling attention to other sources of Pfas, like pesticides, firefighting foam and other agricultural products. 'Perhaps widening the stage will help strengthen the chorus that Pfas does not belong on the farm, from any source,' Orlando said. Perdue, in a statement to a local outlet, said the lawsuit was 'motivated more by the law firm's financial gain than by meaningful progress for communities affected by Pfas'. Federico dismissed the accusation. 'If you want to keep doing what you're doing in terms of production, then you've got to do it in an environmentally safe way – just spend the money and fix the problem,' Federico said.
The Guardian
11-08-2025
- Business
- The Guardian
Waste from agricultural plant poisoned US town's water with Pfas, lawsuits allege
Wastewater from an industrial soya bean farm and processor has poisoned a Maryland town's drinking water with Pfas, several lawsuits allege, raising questions about residents' health and 'forever chemical' pollution from industrial agricultural operations nationwide. Perdue Farms acknowledged that its 300-acre Salisbury, Maryland, operation is polluting local waters, but the chemicals' sources have not been confirmed. It appears the Pfas is in part also coming from some combination of sludge used as fertilizer and pesticides, attorneys for plaintiffs say. The latest suit was filed in late July under the nation's Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), which requires toxic waste to be disposed of in a way that doesn't harm human health. Some residents say the contaminated drinking water has sickened them, and the attorneys charge that Perdue, a company with $11bn in revenues, is not acting quickly enough, or taking proper measures to rein in the pollution since it was discovered in 2023. 'The fact that they've had two years to do an investigation and they have not … is exceedingly frustrating,' said Phil Federico, an attorney for the plaintiffs in the RCRA lawsuit. '[Pfas] are a carcinogen for God's sake – they cause cancer.' Pfas are a class of about 15,000 compounds most frequently used to make products water-, stain- and grease-resistant. They have been linked to cancer, birth defects, decreased immunity, high cholesterol, kidney disease and a range of other serious health problems. They are dubbed 'forever chemicals' because they do not naturally break down in the environment. The suit alleges Perdue's operation, 100 miles (161km) south-east of Baltimore, is spitting approximately 180,000 gallons of Pfas-contaminated wastewater daily into local waters, emitting Pfas into the air and contaminating groundwater. Perdue's operation includes cropland, a soya bean processing facility, grain storage and an oilseed refinery, among other facilities. The company in 2023 applied for a permit to increase the level of contaminated wastewater it discharges. The RCRA lawsuit comes after the Maryland department of environment in 2023 discovered the Pfas during routine testing of waterways and initiated regulatory action to force Perdue to rein in its pollution. Early 2024 testing showed levels of some Pfas compounds in local streams and rivers that were as much as 350 times higher than federal limits for drinking water. State regulators also identified a massive Pfas plume in the groundwater likely stemming from the property. A class action lawsuit filed in late 2024 on behalf of 500 nearby residents alleges Perdue learned of its pollution but did not warn area residents about the potential contamination of their water for over a year. The company showed 'reckless indifference to the health and safety of the public', according to the complaint, and it demands the company pay for clean water and health monitoring. In a 28 February motion to dismiss the class action suit, Perdue wrote: ''PFAS' is not a magic word that can be invoked to open automatically the doors to federal litigation.' The lawsuit has not been dismissed. The company did not respond to the Guardian's request for comment, but has previously said it completed testing at about 700 residential properties and had installed about 400 water treatment systems. Federico said the number of homes affected is almost certainly much higher – he estimates as many as 3,000 people in the region are drinking contaminated water. Part of the motivation for the new RCRA lawsuit, Federico said, is the very slow pace at which Perdue has moved to identify the sources. Pesticides used on crops often contain Pfas, and sewage sludge used as fertilizer is virtually always contaminated with concerning levels of the chemicals. Unlined lagoons on the property that store wastewater and sludge are likely contaminating the groundwater, Federico said, and Pfas-laden firefighting foam may also have spilled or been used on the property. Meanwhile, there is evidence that the facility's stacks or lagoons may be emitting Pfas air pollution, Federico said. The RCRA suit asks the courts to allow independent wastewater experts onsite to evaluate the potential sources, and to order Perdue to install a wastewater treatment plant that removes Pfas onsite, among other measures. The legal fight comes at a moment when public health advocates are starting to consider how industrial agriculture operations could be major sources of Pfas contamination, said Laura Orlando, a waste management engineer with the Just Zero non-profit. Sewage sludge has long been a concern, but advocates are also calling attention to other sources of Pfas, like pesticides, firefighting foam and other agricultural products. 'Perhaps widening the stage will help strengthen the chorus that Pfas does not belong on the farm, from any source,' Orlando said. Perdue, in a statement to a local outlet, said the lawsuit was 'motivated more by the law firm's financial gain than by meaningful progress for communities affected by Pfas'. Federico dismissed the accusation. 'If you want to keep doing what you're doing in terms of production, then you've got to do it in an environmentally safe way – just spend the money and fix the problem,' Federico said.
Miami Herald
06-07-2025
- General
- Miami Herald
Forget Iams, dog owners have new affordable real meat option
My dog Bentley is 11 years old, but you wouldn't know it by looking at him. He still prances through Boston like he owns the place, always ready for his morning chicken jerky and a long walk. I've always been picky about what I eat. And like a lot of dog owners, I try to extend that same care to Bentley. If a bag says "chicken," I assume it's real chicken. If it says "healthy," I assume it means something. Related: A growing number of shoppers are avoiding this ingredient But hearing how most pet food is actually made still made me do a double take. Because when Ryan Perdue, founder of Full Moon Pet and a fourth-generation member of the Perdue Farms family, told me there's a "big gap between what people think they're buying and what they're actually buying," it hit me. It turns out even the dog food aisle isn't safe from marketing spin. And most pet parents don't even realize it. If you've ever assumed the label tells the whole story, you may want to keep reading. When Perdue started Full Moon over a decade ago, most pet treats were just grain-based fillers made to look like meat. And the few meat-based options available? Often made overseas, with questionable quality. That disconnect between perception and reality is what drove him to build something different. Full Moon only uses 100% human-grade ingredients. Every treat and meal is made in USDA-certified food facilities, using the same quality standards you'd expect for your own dinner. Yes, technically you could eat it. That commitment is now extending into a new category: air-dried dog food. Related: The diet mistake 71% of Americans are trying to fix Their latest launch, Pure Protein, is 90% meat and liver, made without fillers, preservatives, or artificial anything. Unlike raw or freeze-dried options, it's shelf-stable and scoop-and-serve. Most importantly, it's priced to compete with kibble - removing one of the biggest barriers for pet parents who want to feed better but can't afford $70 bags of boutique food. And early reviews suggest it might just be working. In fact, Full Moon recently conducted a palatability study comparing Pure Protein to a leading competitor's air-dried dog food-and the dogs made their preferences clear. "We were really happy to see that they prefer it two times over," said Aeliya Mohsin, Senior Director of Marketing at Full Moon. That's the kind of result that speaks for itself. The air-dried dog food category is gaining traction, but for many pet owners, it still feels out of reach. Most products are expensive, hard to find, or overly complicated. That creates a window of opportunity for Full Moon. By vertically integrating with Perdue Farms, the brand controls every step-from sourcing to production. That control allows them to deliver a premium, human-grade product at a much more accessible price point. Pure Protein starts at $13.99 for a 1lb bag and is already available at major retailers like Walmart, Target, and Meijer. "Everything that goes into the product is human edible, and it's cooked to the exact same standards," said Ryan Perdue. While many brands chase buzzwords, Full Moon is betting on something simpler: real food, made right. The company isn't just trying to win shelf space. It wants to reshape expectations around what pet food can be. For dogs like my boy Bentley, it's not just better a better future. Related: Nike's latest announcement has fans scratching their heads The Arena Media Brands, LLC THESTREET is a registered trademark of TheStreet, Inc.
Hamilton Spectator
30-06-2025
- Health
- Hamilton Spectator
NEW STUDY IDENTIFIES ADDITIONAL LINKS BETWEEN POULTRY ANTIBIOTIC USE AND HUMAN DRUG RESISTANCE
Salisbury, MD, June 25, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — A new study , published in mSphere, a journal of the American Society for Microbiology, suggests some antibiotics used in conventional poultry farming may contribute to the development of antibiotic resistance in humans. This research, conducted by Dr. Alex Wong, Asalia Ibrahim and Jason Au of Carleton University's Department of Biology, focuses on ionophores, a class of antibiotics commonly used in conventional poultry farming and previously described as 'not important to human medicine.' 'This research underscores the importance of understanding the interconnectedness of animal and human health,' explains Dr. Alex Wong. 'While ionophores have long been considered safe for use in poultry to prevent parasitic infections, this study suggests that ionophore use could fuel the growth of antibiotic resistance to medically relevant drugs.' This study highlights the ongoing research and critical discussion about responsible antibiotic use in animal agriculture, showcasing the potentially negative long-term human and animal health effects of using antibiotics in animal production, even those not presently deemed 'important to human medicine.' The study found: The study's findings contribute to the ongoing scientific conversation about antibiotic resistance and inform future research and policy decisions and provides evidence that the widespread use of ionophores potentially threaten human health. 'This study surprised me. Personally, I've been dismissing the use of ionophores for years because we didn't have this evidence. This study suggests that it could be driving resistance to the drugs we do care about. When animal producers use ionophores they can drive the growth of bacteria that are resistant to our most important medicines,' Lance Price, M.S. Ph.D., Professor at George Washington's (GW) Milken Institute School of Public Health and Founding Director of GW's Antibiotic Resistance Action Center. Perdue Takes No Chances with Animal or Human Health, Standing Firm on Its Decade-Long 'No Antibiotics Ever' Commitment Ionophore use in poultry has been on the rise after a reintroduction of usage by large producers—with some poultry companies relying on routine use of the drug class for preventing illness. However, Perdue Farms took a trailblazing approach by committing to No Antibiotics Ever (NAE) in 2016, shunning the use of all antibiotics including ionophores. Perdue Farms remains committed to its No Antibiotics Ever (NAE) program. 'We started our NAE transition initially due to consumer demand, however with time we have seen, and appreciate, the animal welfare and human health benefits of this approach,' states Dr. Bruce Stewart-Brown, DVM, Chief Science Officer at Perdue Farms. 'For a decade now, our No Antibiotics Ever commitment has reflected our belief that what's good for the bird is also good for people– and this study confirms that belief is well-founded. At the end of the day, it's a promise that gives consumers peace of mind and sets a higher standard for responsible poultry production.' This research was funded by the Canadian Government, Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) and Perdue Farms. Learn more about the study and Perdue Farms' commitment to NAE at . For media interested, there will be a virtual briefing today, June 25, at 10 AM ET. You can join that briefing using this link starting at 10 AM ET, or reach out to for more detail. ### About Perdue Farms We're a fourth-generation, family-owned, U.S. food and agriculture company. Through our belief in responsible food and agriculture, we are empowering consumers, customers, and farmers through trusted choices in products and services. Perdue Foods consists of a premium protein portfolio, including our flagship PERDUE® brand, Niman Ranch® , Coleman Natural® , Pasturebird® , and Yummy® , as well as our pet brands, Full Moon® and Spot Farms® , and is available through various channels including retail, foodservice, club stores and our direct-to-consumer website, . Perdue AgriBusiness is a leading merchandiser, processor, and exporter of agricultural products and the largest U.S. manufacturer of specialty, organic, and non-GMO oils. It also ranks as one of the largest suppliers of organic feed ingredients in the world. Now in our company's second century, we never use drugs for growth promotion in raising poultry and livestock, and we are actively advancing our animal welfare programs. Our brands are leaders in no-antibiotics-ever and in USDA-certified organic proteins. Learn more at . Attachment
