Bil Mar Lays Off 241 After Listeria Outbreak

Bil Mar Foods (Zeeland, MI) has laid off 241 employees, or 19% of its work force, because of problems associated with a listeria outbreak linked to the plant. The layoffs were announced Tuesday as part of what the company says will be a yearlong ``reconfiguration'' of the plant.

``The reconfiguration is voluntary,'' Sara Lee spokeswoman Theresa Herlevsen said today. ``It's a technology issue ... we're always looking at the best processes for our plants.''

The plant temporarily laid off part of its 1,275 work force in December both because of a voluntary recall of hot dogs and deli meats made there and a previously scheduled shutdown of some parts of the plant. Herlevsen said today she did not know how many people were laid off in December, but said the cuts announced Tuesday make 241 of those layoffs permanent.

In July, Sara Lee officials had decided to move the plant's turkey boning and slaughtering operations to a facility in Storm Lake, IA.

Bil Mar voluntarily recalled 15 million pounds of hot dogs and other packaged meats following a federal investigation into an outbreak of listeria, which has now been found in 16 states.