A food company has admitted failures that led to one of its workers being strangled on a machine that makes carrot batons. Remigiusz Cyrek was choked unconscious after being dragged into the machine and trapped by a giant roller. Kettle Produce admitted failing to ensure the safety of staff at its Orkie Farm facility near Freuchie, Fife, from August 2017 to June 2018. The company, which has a £150m turnover, faces a substantial fine. The prosecutor told the court that Mr Cyrek was treated by paramedics and taken to hospital with severe swelling and bruising to his neck. He suffered a loss of feeling in his fingertips. Ms Adair said the firm failed to have a safe system of work. Counsel for the company, Barry Smith, said Kettle Produce "very sincerely regret this accident occurred" and that Mr Cyrek was a "valued employee". He said the company, which was founded in 1976 and has 1,100 staff, was a market leader in the prepared vegetable sector and was a "large company" in terms of turnover. He urged the court to take Covid-affected losses of over £4m over the last two financial years into account when deciding the scale of the fine to impose.
