LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Two people died after an explosion Tuesday at the Givaudan Sense Colour factory on Payne Street in Louisville. Another explosion at the same location killed one man in 2003 when the factory was under previous ownership.
The cause of the 2024 blast is not yet known and remains under investigation.
The Louisville Air Pollution Control District (APCD) has cited the factory on two separate occasions.
Last May, the facility was cited for failing to provide proper compliance reports on monitoring, recording and inspecting air quality control operations.
Then in December, the plant was cited for the excessive release of food coloring powder into the air, which landed on neighboring homes, properties, and cars.
Givaudan agreed to pay a total of $7,500 for the violations, rather than going to court.
What is Givaudan Sense Colour?
Sense Color is a natural food coloring brand associated with Givaudan International. They're a holistic company dedicated to creating products in the food and beauty industry.
According to their website, they have over 185 locations in 52 countries, and over 79 production sites around the world. The company is based in Switzerland.
Givaudan is the largest flavor and fragrance company in the world. Its revenue for 2023 was $6.9 billion in Swiss francs, or $7.79 billion in U.S. dollars.
The plant in Louisville, Givaudan Sense Colour, is a part of the company's Taste and Wellbeing brand.
History of Givaudan Sense Colour
Previously, the factory was known as and owned by D.D. Williamson & Co. (DDW, The Color House).
DDW was originally founded in New York in 1865 to provide malt for brewing companies. They later moved to supplying caramel color for soft drinks, then expanded into making natural food colors.
In April 2003, under DDW ownership, one person was killed at the plant after a catastrophic vessel failure, according to the U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board (CSB).
According to CSB's investigative report, released in March 2004, a process vessel became over-pressurized and failed. The failure caused 26,000 pounds of aqueous ammonia (29.4% ammonia solution in water) to be released into the air.
More than 25 people were evacuated after the explosion and 1,500 neighboring residents were ordered to shelter in place. The explosion also caused extensive damage to the western end of the facility.
The root causes, the CSB said, included a lack of adequate hazard analysis systems, as well as a lack of adequate operating procedures and training.
At Wednesday's city press conference, Louisville Fire Chief Brian O'Neill talked about the difference between the 2003 explosion and Tuesday's blast.
"Secondary to that 2003 event, that dealt with a solid, anhydrous ammonia, that is no longer on site, that was not dealt with here," he said.
O'Neill also pointed out his department didn't find any problems at the plant during its own safety inspections over recent years.
In 2009, the Department of Justice with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced D.D. Williamson & Co. agreed to pay $600,000 in civil penalties.
The payment was divided equally between the federal government and the APCD.
DD Williamson & Co. remains listed on the permit with the APCD, which runs from Feb. 2021 to Feb. 2026.
According to Matt Mudd, the public information officer for the APCD, Givaudan is still considered "the same source" and they haven't been required to get a new permit.
"The permit still reflects the operations at the facility," Mudd said. "Should any changes to equipment and processes at the facility take place they would be required to acquire a construction permit."
The permit allows them to pollute 25 tons of sulfur dioxide per year, which is the chemical you smell when you light a match.
In 2021, Givaudan International acquired DDW and their portfolio of products. In 2023, DDW, The Color House officially changed its name to Givaudan Sense Colour.
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