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USDA Sued Over Withheld Toxic Chemical Records
18 Apr
Summary
- Lawsuit alleges USDA withheld records on food contamination after Ohio train derailment.
- Nonprofit claims USDA knew about potential food supply risks from toxic chemicals.
- The lawsuit seeks release of heavily redacted documents from the agency.
A federal lawsuit was filed against the U.S. Department of Agriculture on April 17, 2026, by the Government Accountability Project. The nonprofit alleges that the USDA improperly withheld records pertaining to potential food supply contamination by toxic chemicals after the February 3, 2023, Norfolk Southern train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio. The organization published a report indicating that USDA officials were aware of contamination risks to the food supply near the disaster site.
Despite this awareness, the lawsuit claims the Environmental Protection Agency failed to conduct targeted testing for dioxins in agricultural products and wild game. The Government Accountability Project stated that records obtained through a FOIA request were heavily redacted, with some documents entirely withheld. The group is seeking the release of these documents, asserting that the existing records show the USDA recognized "very realistic and concerning" contamination pathways but did not implement comprehensive testing or inform residents of the risks.
