Swindled 132. The Mix-Up (Velsicol Chemical Company)
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Sep 28, 2025 A toxic mix-up turns disastrous in Michigan as PBB contaminates cattle feed due to a packaging error. Early reports reveal sick cows and desperate farmers. One farmer, Rick Halbert, takes matters into his own hands, leading to a shocking lab discovery. As the contamination spreads, the health effects remain uncertain, igniting public outcry and protests from farmers. The aftermath sees mass euthanasia and legal battles that leave many without adequate compensation. Long-term environmental damage plagues the region, highlighting the dire consequences of corporate negligence.
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Packaging Failure Multiplied Risk
- Michigan Chemical shipped PBB in plain brown sacks during a paper shortage, making it visually identical to magnesium oxide feed bags.
- Sloppy inventory and packaging practices enabled as much as 1,000 pounds of Firemaster to reach feed mills.
Persistence Turned A Mistake Into Statewide Crisis
- Contamination spread far beyond initial estimates because PBB clung to mill machinery and persisted across batches.
- Up to 50,000 tons of feed may have been compromised, exposing millions of animals and people.
Mass Graves Mark The Human Cost
- Authorities organized mass burial sites and allowed farmers to decide whether to euthanize contaminated herds.
- Rick Halbert lost 800 cows and thousands more were buried at remote pits like Kalkaska County.
