On the night of Sunday, July 13, a 19-year-old employee at Tina’s Burritos – a well-known name in the frozen food business was cleaning a meat grinder at the company’s facility in California. During the task, the machine unexpectedly turned on.
In a horrifying turn of events, the teen was pulled into the equipment. Despite his calls for help, his coworkers were unable to rescue him in time. The incident, which happened around 9:30 p.m., ultimately claimed his life.
Sgt. Daniel Onopa offered his sympathies to those closest to the victim, releasing a statement that read: “Our thoughts are with the family, friends, and coworkers affected by this tragedy.”
Currently, the California Division of Occupational Safety and Health is working closely with the District Attorney’s Office to get to the bottom of what happened. Both agencies reportedly visited the factory the very next day, on July 14, to begin their investigation.
One user commented, “Surely these machines need to be unplugged before it gets cleaned? What a horrible way to go.”
Another person shared their thoughts on Facebook, writing: “Tina’s Burritos will never be the same. Getting caught in a food mixer is a pretty terrible way to go.”
“What a horrendous way to die. Poor kid,” added another person who was clearly shaken by the news.
The company where the accident happened, Tina’s Burritos, later released an official statement that said: “We are heartbroken to confirm that a sanitation worker lost his life on Sunday night, July 13, 2025, while performing sanitation duties at our Vernon facility.”
“Our hearts are with his family, friends, and all who knew and worked alongside him. This is a devastating loss for everyone at Tina’s. We are cooperating fully with local authorities and Cal/OSHA in the ongoing investigation, and our focus remains on honoring his life, supporting those who are grieving, and maintaining the highest safety standards in our facility.”
Unfortunately, this kind of industrial accident has happened before, showing just how dangerous food processing machinery can be.
According to UPF’s website, their operations rely on several heavy-duty machines, including a grinder, high-capacity blender, and a bowl chopper.
In response to the tragic incident, UPF’s CEO Ken Mayer said: “We are devastated by the loss of our longtime employee, who was a beloved member of our company. Our deepest condolences go out to her daughter at this difficult time.”