Beyond Meat has kicked again towards a media report claiming unsanitary situations on the alternative-meat firm’s Pennsylvania manufacturing unit.
A leaked inside doc offered to Bloomberg by a former Past Meat worker claimed merchandise made on the Devault, Pennsylvania plant had reportedly examined constructive for listeria on round eleven events for the reason that center of final yr, the US-headquartered information company claimed.
Bloomberg stated the incidence of the micro organism on the facility was confirmed by two former staff, who requested to not be named.
Past Meat, which has seen its share worth drop by two-thirds since final summer time on the back of dwindling sales, stated it was “conscious of current media protection concerning our Devault, Pennsylvania, facility”.
In an announcement posted on the Past Burger maker’s web site, the Nasdaq-listed enterprise added: “Our food-safety protocols go above trade and regulatory requirements and we’re assured that the meals we produce is protected.
“The newest Pennsylvania Division of Agriculture inspections of the ability (in March 2022 and September 2022) discovered no cases of non-conformance with relevant laws. As well as, exterior third-party audits, together with our most up-to-date third-party audit in Might 2022, gave the plant the very best doable score in every of the final three years.
“We’re in good standing with the Pennsylvania Division of Agriculture.”
Past Meat’s share worth closed greater than 4% decrease at US$12.72 yesterday (22 November) having declined from round $150 in July final yr.
Whereas plateauing plant-based meat progress within the US is just not distinctive to the California-based enterprise, the corporate has lower its gross sales outlook twice this yr. Earlier this month, CEO Ethan Brown reported a 22% drop in third-quarter income, citing a “difficult interval” within the wider market context of supply-chain disruption and elevated enter prices. Losses, in the meantime, greater than doubled.
Brown prompt this month that affordability for Past Meat’s merchandise may be a problem because the enterprise seeks to speed up efforts to succeed in parity with animal meat. And in October, the corporate revealed more than 200 job cuts amid plans to consolidate manufacturing.
Past Meat was once more within the highlight in October, when COO Doug Ramsey left the corporate after being arrested in reference to a fracas at a US soccer recreation.
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