The Iowa Department of Natural Resources is considering taking action against a kosher beef and poultry processor in Postville after the company discharged over 250,000 gallons of untreated food processing waste into the city’s sewer system last week.
The wastewater, which contained blood from Agri Star’s beef processing facility, entered Williams Creek before city staff intervened, diverting the waste into a holding tank. Postville officials noticed an unusual odor and observed red-tinted water in the plant and nearby creek.
Agri Star was promptly notified, but it took them at least two days to realize the severity of the issue. The company attributed the problem to a blocked sewer line, causing flooding in their basement and sending untreated water to the city treatment plant.
During the incident, Agri Star continued production unabated, exacerbating the flow of untreated waste to the city plant. Postville estimates it will take a month and incur additional costs for recovery efforts.
In response, the city recommends installing flow monitoring systems and enhancing staff training to prevent future incidents. Agri Star, which specializes in kosher meat processing, did not comment immediately.
Founded in 2009, Agri Star replaced Agriprocessors Inc. and underwent significant modernization. Despite the recent incident, the company maintains a commitment to kosher dietary standards and quality meat processing.
