Beyond Meat Plant’s Dirty Conditions Revealed in Photos, Documents
The facility in Pennsylvania illustrates the alt-meat maker’s ongoing difficulties.
A package of Beyond Meat burger patties.
Photographer: Gabby Jones/BloombergPhotos and internal documents from a Beyond Meat Inc. plant in Pennsylvania show apparent mold, Listeria and other food-safety issues, compounding problems at a factory the company had expected to play a major role in its future.
Products from the plant tested positive for Listeria, a harmful bacteria, on at least 11 occasions during the second half of last year and the first half of 2022, according to an internal document provided by a former employee concerned about conditions at the plant. The occurrence of the bacteria at the facility was confirmed by two former employees, who asked not to be named discussing private information about the company. While Listeria is frequently present at food plants, it’s more unusual for it to be found in the products themselves.