Australian Doritos Factory Workers Suffer Health Issues from Spicy Seasoning, Union Claims

PepsiCo, the parent company, responds by reinforcing safety protocols and planning additional safety measures.

Workers at the Smith’s Snackfood Company factory in Adelaide, Australia, are suffering from health issues due to the spicy seasoning used to make Doritos, according to a complaint filed by the United Workers’ Union (UWU) with workplace safety regulator SafeWork SA.
The UWU alleges that the handling of the 'flaming hot seasoning' is causing health issues such as difficulty breathing, eye and skin irritation, chest discomfort, coughing, and sneezing.
Eleven out of 13 workers interviewed by the union reported health issues after the seasoning machine was used.
PepsiCo, the parent company of Smith's Snackfood Company, responded by stating that worker safety is its top priority and that it follows numerous safety protocols when working with the spicy seasoning.
PepsiCo plans to install extra fans at the Adelaide factory and enforce mandatory mask wearing during the production of products using the spicy seasoning to enhance existing safety measures.