Cargill lays off 130 workers at its Springdale, Arkansas, plant; company has been unable to produce ground turkey at the plant since recall last month

Cindy Allen

SPRINGDALE, Arkansas , October 4, 2011 (Associated Press) – Cargill Inc. has laid off 130 people at its Springdale plant because the company hasn't been able to produce ground turkey since a recall last month.

Cargill spokesman Mike Martin said Monday the company couldn't find work for all the employees assigned to that area since production stopped Sept. 9. Martin says the U.S. Department of Agriculture informed company officials that a test taken of sample was positive for salmonella.

The company initiated a voluntary recall in August after a salmonella outbreak killed one person and sickened more than 100. A second recall was initiated Sept. 11.

Martin says officials have been working with the Agriculture Department to restart ground turkey production.

Some ground turkey production workers were reassigned to other areas of the plant, which employs more than 1,200.

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