Dioxin scandal: Fat supplier files for bankruptcy

The feed company Harles and Jentzsch, which is accused of causing the German dioxin scandal, has filed for bankruptcy.

Harles & Jentzsch from Uetersen in Schleswig-Holstein on Wednesday afternoon at the District Court of Pinneberg submitted an application for insolvency. As a provisional liquidator, the court had appointed a lawyer from Hamburg.

The company is suspected of having marketed dioxin-contaminated industrial fats as feed fats and thus caused the recent dioxin scandal where thousands of farms are involved that have received contaminated feeds.

Last week already the GMP+ accreditation of the company was withdrawn. Sources said Harles & Jentzsch had GMP+ certification for its major processing unit, but the contaminated fats were processed at a different location which was not audited.