Attorney general accuses Fruitland Meat processor of polluting water

A Cape Girardeau County meat processing company is being accused by the Missouri attorney general's office of illegally polluting a stream with animal waste.

Attorney General Chris Koster filed a lawsuit Monday against Fruitland American Meat LLC, alleging the company allowed slaughterhouse waste to escape its wastewater system on numerous occasions, resulting "in dark brown or red, foamy stream water with an offensive odor," according to a news release, and water pollution that on one occasion killed 900 fish.

The company has been charged with several violations of state law, including water pollution; illegal discharge; failure to report breaches; failure to submit discharge monitoring reports; and failure to submit sample discharge.

Koster has asked the court for injunctions prohibiting the company from any further violations and up to $10,000 in fines for each day the alleged violations occurred, according to a news release.

Fruitland American Meat is off Route FF in Fruitland, and is a USDA-certified organic processor of locally raised beef, pork, bison, chicken and lamb.

The company's owner was not immediately available to comment on the lawsuit Friday.

A case review is set to be heard by Judge Benjamin Lewis at 9 a.m. Aug. 3 at the Common Pleas Courthouse in Cape Girardeau.

eragan@semissourian.com

388-3632

Pertinent address:

3006 Route FF, Jackson, Mo.