Horror as 19-Year-Old Worker Dies After Being Sucked Into Meat Grinder at Tina's Burrito Plant

A 19-year-old sanitation worker has died in a horrific workplace accident at a Tina's Burrito factory in California after being pulled into an industrial meat grinder during a late-night cleaning shift. The incident, which took place on 13 July in Vernon, has sparked widespread outrage and raised serious questions about workplace safety protocols.

19-year-Old Sucked Into Meat Grinder at Tina's Burrito Plant

The Vernon Police Department said that the horrifying accident happened on Sunday 13 July 2025, as per the Daily Mail. Authorities stated that the unnamed worker was doing a night shift. He was cleaning the industrial meat grinder.

However, the deadly machine suddenly turned on, pulling him. Other members of the after-hours sanitation crew saw what happened. His colleagues said that the 19-year-old cried for help, but they were not able to help the employee since the equipment couldn't be shut down.

No Foul Play in Tina's Burrito Incident

The police didn't suspect any foul play in the incident. As of press time, the California Division of Occupational Safety and Health is still investigating the horrific death to identify what triggered the meat grinder.

'Our thoughts are with the family, friends, and coworkers affected by this tragedy,' said Sgt. Daniel Onopa of the Vernon Police Department.

As of writing, Tina's Burritos—famous for its single-serve frozen burritos—hasn't released an official statement regarding the fatal accident at its California plant.

Importance of Industrial Safety Procedures

The latest meat grinder incident in California shows how important it is to have proper industrial safety procedures. In 2019, a similar accident happened in Pennsylvania. A 35-year-old worker also died after falling into a meat grinder.

The police took around 45 minutes to dismantle the machine and extract the female employee's mangled body from the meat grinder. Aside from this, a physical therapist was burned to death this July in Arizona. The incident happened when a hyperbaric chamber burst into flames.

In October 2025, a tree worker lost his legs in a woodchipper during his first day on the job. Luckily, he survived the horrifying incident. In another case, Caterpillar Inc. was fined by the Department of Labour after one of its employees died in 2022 after falling into a vat of molten iron.

If the investigation discovers that the Tina's Burrito meat grinder accident happened due to a flaw in the machine or a lack of safety measures, there's a high chance that the burrito brand could face a hefty fine. A lawsuit could also be filed if the teenager's family decided to pursue it.