The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is investigating the death of a worker at Darling Ingredients' rendering plant in Bastrop County, Texas. Darling Ingredients is one of the largest renderers in the U.S. and a major collector and processor of used cooking oil (UCO) and animal fats.
The worker — identified by family members as 59-year-old Antony "Bubba" Cada — had been employed at the plant for about a month and had recently moved to the night shift as a truck dumper, according to KVUE. The family told reporters that only partial remains were recovered. OSHA said its review could take up to six months.
In a statement, Darling Ingredients said an incident occurred at its Bastrop facility in the early morning of April 25, 2026, and that the company is investigating and working with all relevant authorities. No further information is available at this time, the company said.
Cada's widow, Anissa Cada, told reporters she has "a whole lot of questions on how, why. Where's the safety?"
The Bastrop facility processes animal byproducts — including chicken bones, feathers, and used cooking oil — into fuel and animal feed.
