Seven Workers Hospitalized After Gas Release at Agristo Facility in Wielsbeke
Seven workers were taken to hospital after gases were released during cleaning works at the Agristo potato processing facility in Wielsbeke, Belgium, over a 24-hour period spanning Tuesday evening and Wednesday morning. The incident, which affected both Agristo employees and workers from an external cleaning company, prompted an evacuation of the building and a partial halt to production, according to VRT NWS.
Two Incidents in Less Than 12 Hours
The first incident occurred on Tuesday evening, when one worker became unwell during cleaning operations involving a cleaning product that released gases. Agristo immediately activated its standard safety procedures and alerted emergency services. The building was evacuated, and the fire department conducted checks before the facility was declared safe and activities resumed.
However, early Wednesday morning, six more workers fell ill. The fire department returned to the site to check for any remaining danger. All affected individuals, including both Agristo staff and employees of the external cleaning company contracted to clean the machines, were transported to hospital for medical attention, as Focus-WTV reported.
Production Partially Halted
As a precautionary measure, workers assigned to the affected department were sent home, and part of the production line was halted. The incident remained confined to the company site, with authorities confirming there was never any danger to the surrounding area.
Agristo is currently investigating how the gases were released during the cleaning process. The fire department returned on Wednesday morning to conduct additional safety checks.
About Agristo
Agristo is a family-owned Belgian company specializing in frozen potato products, including fries, croquettes, and potato specialties. Founded in 1986, the company has grown into a global player with four production plants in Belgium and the Netherlands, serving more than 540 private label customers across 130 countries. The Wielsbeke facility, opened in 2017, is one of the company’s main production sites and employs more than 1,500 workers company-wide.
The company recently announced a fourth production line at the Wielsbeke site, capable of processing 25 tons of potatoes per hour, with operations scheduled to begin in September 2026, as VRT NWS reported.
A History of Safety Concerns
This is not the first serious safety incident at the Wielsbeke facility. In September 2023, a 33-year-old worker from Deerlijk was found trapped between elements of a conveyor belt during a night shift and died at the scene. Production was halted indefinitely at that time, and the labor auditor’s office launched an investigation into various aspects of workplace safety, according to VRT NWS. An earlier fatal accident occurred in May 2021 when a contractor accidentally ran over a worker during construction of a new building at the site.
The latest incident also echoes similar events elsewhere in the Belgian food industry. In October 2025, two workers at the Coca-Cola factory in Zwijnaarde became unwell after an acid and a base were mixed during cleaning, releasing a chlorine odor that led to the evacuation of 150 workers, as VRT NWS reported. More recently, chlorine gases released during a production process in Genk affected seven to eight workers.
Industry-Wide Concern
Industrial cleaning products used in food processing facilities often contain acidic and alkaline chemicals. When improperly mixed, these substances can release hazardous gases such as chlorine. Such incidents typically require building evacuation, fire department intervention, and medical evaluation of affected workers.
The recurring nature of these incidents raises questions about safety protocols for industrial cleaning operations across the Belgian food processing sector. While the immediate health impact in this case appears to have been limited, the fact that two separate incidents occurred within hours at the same facility is particularly concerning.
What to Watch For
Agristo’s investigation into the cause of the gas release will be crucial in determining whether systemic safety issues exist or whether this was an isolated procedural failure. The company’s response, including any changes to cleaning protocols or safety measures, will be closely monitored by labor authorities and industry observers alike. Workers on the affected department have been sent home pending further assessment, and the timeline for resuming full production remains unclear.