The Campbell Soup Supply Company, a division of The Campbell’s Company, has acknowledged its legal responsibility for discharging waste into the Maumee River in Ohio from its canning plant located in Napoleon. The admission was filed with the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio on September 15, 2025.
Between April 2018 and December 2024, the plant exceeded legal pollutant limits more than 5,400 times, including phosphorus, ammonia, E. coli, oils, fats, and suspended solids. These discharges reached the Maumee River and subsequently Lake Erie, contributing to the proliferation of harmful algae that affect water quality and public health.
The lawsuit was filed in March 2024 by the U.S. Department of Justice ., representing the EPA, along with the organizations Environment Ohio and Lake Erie Waterkeeper. According to the court agreement, Campbell Soup Supply Co. will not present defenses regarding liability for these violations, and the case will proceed to trial to define the corrective measures and corresponding sanctions.
This incident underscores the importance of the Clean Water Act and corporate responsibility in protecting water resources and the environment.
