OSHA Investigating Death at Abbyland Foods

Friday, January 16th, 2026 -- 11:00 AM

(Caitlin Shuda, USA TODAY NETWORK - Wisconsin) Colby-Abbotsford Police Department and Occupational Safety and Health Administration officials are investigating a death at Abbyland Foods Inc. in Abbotsford.

Lt. James Wagner with the Colby-Abbotsford Police Department confirmed to a USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin reporter the department responded to a call at about 7:35 a.m. Jan. 14 and an employee at Abbyland Foods Inc. died.

According to a Colby-Abbotsford Police Department press release issued Jan. 15, when officers arrived to Abbyland Foods on Linden Street, an officer was told an employee fell into a dip tank in the waste treatment facility.

Fire department and EMS personnel found the person in the tank and determined the employee had died and recovered the body. According to the release, an initial investigation determined the death was not suspicious and has been determined to be a work-related incident. The Marathon County Medical Examiner's Office said the death was from drowning, according to the release.

A representative for OSHA confirmed to a USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin reporter Jan. 15 OSHA has opened an investigation into the incident and has six months to complete the investigation.

No additional information will be provided while the investigation is active, the OSHA representative said. According to the company website, Abbyland Foods opened in 1977 as Harland Schraufnagel, a custom beef processing plant and retail store.

The company has grown to employ more than 1,000 workers across eight divisions. Abbyland Foods manufactures a wide variety of cooked meat products like beef, pork, specialty meats and more.

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