GARNER, N.C.—The June 9 explosion that killed three employees and injured others at a ConAgra Foods plant that produced Slim Jim meat snacks was caused by a natural gas leak in a room with vacuum pumps for sealing the snacks, reported Meatingplace.
The U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) believe the gas was ignited by a piece of equipment such as a fan motor or thermostat, causing the explosion. ATF, which is still investigating how the leak occurred, has ruled the explosion accidental.