Mana Nutrition to resume operations; BioLab gets federal investigation

Summary

Georgia Today Podcast Summary Episode: Mana Nutrition to Resume Operations; BioLab Gets Federal Investigation
Release Date: August 14, 2025
Host: Peter Biello, Georgia Public Broadcasting

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Introduction

In this episode of Georgia Today, host Peter Biello covers a range of impactful stories affecting Georgia communities. From the resurgence of a crucial emergency food manufacturer to a federal investigation into a chemical plant fire, the episode delves into issues of public safety, political accountability, economic stability, and community health.

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Manna Nutrition Resumes Operations

Segment Overview:
The episode opens with positive news about Manna Nutrition, a South Georgia-based manufacturer of peanut-based emergency food designed to aid starving children worldwide. Previously impacted by funding cuts, Manna is poised to resume full operations with new contracts.

Key Points:

• Grant Blankenship from GPB explains that Manna Nutrition had a steady contract with USAID, which was recently reduced, leaving 400,000 boxes of Manna in storage.

• CEO Mark Moore expresses optimism about new orders:

  “[...] The kids who are most critically in need are, it appears, being served by this administration.”
  (00:55 - 01:25)

• Manna has already begun shipping supplies, including recent airlift donations to Gaza through a non-governmental charity.

Conclusion:
With the State Department's new request for 800,000 additional boxes, Manna Nutrition is ready to expand its support for malnourished children globally.

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Defamation Lawsuit Against Senator Sean Still

Segment Overview:
Former state Senate candidate Democrat Ashwin Ramaswamy is suing Republican State Senator Sean Still for defamation, alleging that false statements were made during the 2024 election campaign that damaged his reputation.

Key Points:

• Ramaswamy claims Landmark Communications, Still’s political consulting firm, disseminated mailers accusing him of soliciting children for sex. He maintains these allegations are baseless, referring to his legitimate activities in seeking voter information.
• Ramaswamy seeks damages for the defamatory statements.
• Peter Biello notes that Senator Still has not responded to the lawsuit, and Landmark Communications has declined to comment.

Conclusion:
The lawsuit highlights the intense political battles and the serious implications of defamation in electoral politics.

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Atlanta Metro Home Prices Stable

Segment Overview:
A report by First American Financial Corporation reveals that home prices in the Atlanta metro area have remained relatively stable compared to national trends.

Key Points:

• In cities like Sandy Springs and Alpharetta, the home price index decreased slightly by 0.3% year-over-year.
• Nationally, home prices saw an increase of 1.5%.
• Mark Fleming, chief economist for First American, attributes the stability to limited affordability, economic uncertainty, and homeowners' reluctance to relinquish low mortgage rates.

Conclusion:
While national markets show growth, the Atlanta metro area's housing market remains steady, reflecting broader economic challenges.

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Health: Dementia Awareness Following Gene Hackman's Death

Segment Overview:
Following the passing of actor Gene Hackman, Family Hospice and the Georgia chapter of the Alzheimer's Association emphasize the importance of regularly checking in on loved ones with dementia.

Key Points:

• Ellen Eldredge reports on Hackman's struggle with dementia after his wife, his primary caregiver, died unexpectedly.

• Paige Powell from Family Hospice underscores the campaign's goals:

  “[...] checking in on our neighbors and our loved ones.”
  (03:18 - 03:32)

• The "I Checked In" campaign aims to reduce isolation and build connections within communities.

Conclusion:
The segment serves as a poignant reminder to support individuals living with dementia, highlighting the need for community vigilance and compassion.

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GE Appliances Shifting Production to Southern States

Segment Overview:
GE Appliances announces a strategic shift in its production lines, moving manufacturing from China and Mexico to Southern U.S. states, including Georgia, as part of a $3 billion investment initiative.

Key Points:

• Gas ranges will be relocated from Mexico to Lafayette, Georgia.
• Six refrigerator models currently produced in China will move to Alabama.
• The initial phase targets plants in Georgia, Alabama, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Kentucky.

Conclusion:
This move aims to enhance production efficiency and reduce dependency on international manufacturing, boosting local economies in the Southern United States.

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Georgia to Create State Office for Climate Change Planning

Segment Overview:
A new report advocates for the establishment of a dedicated state office to plan and mitigate the effects of climate change in Georgia.

Key Points:

• Orlando Montoya presents insights from Eric Fosmeier of the South Carolina Office of Resilience, emphasizing the need for an apolitical approach to climate resilience.
• The report, released by the University of Georgia's Institute for Resilient Infrastructure Systems and the Pew Trust, aligns with previous recommendations to enhance Georgia's resilience against severe weather events.
• The proposed resilience office would coordinate disaster mitigation and recovery efforts across various government levels.

Conclusion:
Creating a state office focused on climate resilience is seen as a proactive step to safeguard Georgia's infrastructure and communities against increasing severe weather incidents.

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Chancellor Sonny Perdue's Proposed Salary Raise

Segment Overview:
Sonny Perdue, Chancellor of the University System of Georgia, may receive a significant salary increase, raising his annual compensation to over $572,000.

Key Points:

• The Georgia Board of Regents proposed the $50,000 raise after a closed-door session.
• The raise is pending a 30-day waiting period before a final vote.
• While Perdue's salary is among the highest in state government, it remains below some neighboring states' counterparts.

Conclusion:
The proposed salary increase for Chancellor Perdue sparks discussions on compensation levels within state government leadership roles.

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Federal Investigation into Biolab Fire in Conyers

Segment Overview:
A federal investigation has been launched into a devastating chemical fire at the Biolab plant in Conyers, Georgia, which released a toxic cloud into Rockdale County. The incident raises serious concerns about chemical safety and regulatory oversight.

Key Points:

Background of the Biolab Fire

• In September 2024, a fire at Biolab’s storage warehouse in Conyers resulted in a massive toxic smoke cloud.
• Randy Garcia, the only onsite engineer before the fire, expressed concerns about the facility’s use of sprinkler systems despite storing water-reactive chemicals like trichloroisocyanuric acid (TCCA):

  “They should have known what kind of chemicals were in that plant. They inspect everything else. They inspect the schools, they inspect the churches. They put labels on everything else. Why didn't they make them accountable?”
  (08:33 - 08:49)

Witness Accounts and Previous Safety Issues

• Gene Sadler, a resident, highlighted the plant’s history of chemical accidents:

  “Known what kind of chemicals were in that plant. [...] Why didn't they make them accountable?”
  (08:33 - 08:49)

• Garcia and other former employees reported persistent safety issues, including problematic sprinkler heads and insufficient protective measures:

  “....someone's suffering. [...] if this was a predominantly white community, oh, I'm pretty sure it'll still be in the news.”
  (12:33 - 12:52)

Federal Investigation Findings

• The U.S. Chemical Safety Board (CSB) investigation revealed that Biolab stored nearly 14 million pounds of water-reactive chemicals, double the amount officially reported.

• Pamela Polay, a chemistry professor, criticized the oversight gap:

  “They kind of fell into the crack because OSHA does not require those management plans in the way. And this is, to me, this is really the problem.”
  (11:41 - 11:55)

• The CSB identified significant oversights, including the lack of adequate fire suppression systems for reactive chemicals and insufficient regulatory enforcement.

Community Impact and Concerns

• Residents, particularly in the majority Black community of Rockdale County, feel neglected and unheard regarding ongoing safety concerns.

• Randy Garcia voiced fears of environmental injustice:

  “My fear is that [...] if this was a predominantly white community, oh, I'm pretty sure it'll still be in the news.”
  (12:33 - 12:52)

• Gene Sadler lamented the lack of accountability and urgency from authorities:

  “All we were were voices to a brick wall because nobody is listening.”
  (13:02 - 13:14)

• Despite multiple accidents over two decades, Biolab has not adequately addressed safety warnings, leading to repeated disasters.

Conclusion:
The Biolab fire investigation underscores critical failures in chemical safety management and regulatory oversight, highlighting issues of environmental justice and community vulnerability. As the CSB continues its probe, residents demand accountability and meaningful action to prevent future tragedies.

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Conclusion

This episode of Georgia Today provides a comprehensive look at significant issues impacting Georgia residents, from humanitarian efforts and political disputes to economic trends and public safety concerns. The detailed coverage, especially of the Biolab fire investigation, emphasizes the importance of accountability, community support, and proactive governance in addressing the state's diverse challenges.

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Notable Quotes:

• Mark Moore on Manna Nutrition:

  “The kids who are most critically in need are, it appears, being served by this administration.”
  (00:55 - 01:25)

• Gene Sadler on chemical plant accountability:

  “Known what kind of chemicals were in that plant. [...] Why didn't they make them accountable?”
  (08:33 - 08:49)

• Randy Garcia on community neglect:

  “My fear is that [...] if this was a predominantly white community, oh, I'm pretty sure it'll still be in the news.”
  (12:33 - 12:52)

---

Stay Informed:
For more detailed stories and updates, subscribe to the Georgia Today podcast available on your preferred platform.

Transcript

[Peter Biello]

Welcome to the Georgia Today Podcast. Here we bring you the latest reports from the GPB newsroom. On today's episode, a manufacturer of emergency food for starving children will resume operations. A Republican state senator is sued for defamation and federal investigators look into last year's fire at the Biolab chemical plant in Conyers.

[Gene Sadler]

They should have known what kind of chemicals were in that plant. They inspect everything else. They inspect the schools, they inspect the churches. They put labels on everything else. Why didn't they make them accountable?

[Peter Biello]

Today is Thursday, August 14th. I'm Peter Biello and this is Georgia Today. The South Georgia manufacturer of a peanut based emergency food for starving children is expecting new production orders from the US State Department. GPB's Grant Blankenship explains Fitzgerald based Manna.

[Grant Blankenship]

Nutrition had a steady contract with the U.S. agency for international Aid, which sent Manna's vitamin fortified peanut paste to the most malnourished kids on the globe. But when Doge cut usaid, Manna got cut too. A new contract from the diminished USAID kept people working but left 400,000 boxes of mana stuck in the warehouse. Now CEO Mark Moore says the backlog is shipping and Manna has bid on the State department's request for 800,000 more boxes. Moore sees a silver lining.

[Mark Moore]

The kids who are most critically in need are, it appears, being served by this administration.

[Grant Blankenship]

Moore says. Some Manna recently made it to children in Gaza by airlift by a non governmental charity. For GPB News, I'm Grant Blankenship in Macon.

[Peter Biello]

Former state Senate candidate Democrat Ashwin Ramaswamy is suing Republican State Senator Sean still for defamation and Ramaswamy claims during the 2024 election, still and political consulting firm Landmark Communications knowingly made false statements that damaged his character. Ramaswamy says two mailers sent to voters in the district northeast of Alpharetta claimed that Ramaswamy was soliciting children for sex. Ramaswamy says he was seeking information about potential voters from schools through an open records request which was denied. Ramaswamy is seeking damages. Senator still did not reply to a request for comment. Landmark Communications declined to comment. Home prices in the Atlanta metro area have stayed about the same year over year. That's the conclusion of a report by First American Financial Corporation, which released its Home Price Index report today. In the Atlanta Sandy Springs Alpharetta market, the home price index was down just 0.3%. Nationally, the home price index was up a percent and a half. Mark Fleming, chief economist for First American, says limited affordability, economic uncertainty and homeowners unwilling to give up low mortgage rates have brought national price appreciation quote back to reality. In the wake of actor Gene Hackman's death, Family Hospice and the Georgia chapter of the Alzheimer's association are reminding people to regularly check in on loved ones living with dementia. GPB's Ellen Eldredge has more.

[Ellen Eldredge]

Hackman's dementia left him helpless and alone in his home after his wife, who was also his primary caregiver, unexpectedly died. Paige Powell is with Family Hospice. She says the actor's story underscores the importance of community awareness.

[Mark Moore]

And so this is just a reminder of that, you know, if somebody's struggling or if somebody just needs a little bit of extra help, that we are checking in on our neighbors and our loved ones. So that's kind of the whole idea of the campaign, powell says.

[Ellen Eldredge]

The I checked in campaign is about reducing isolation, building connections and potentially saving lives. For GPB News, I'm Ellen Eldredge.

[Peter Biello]

GE Appliances plans to shift production of refrigerators, gas ranges and water heaters to states in the southern U.S. including Georgia. The effort to move production out of China and Mexico is part of a $3 billion investment. GE Appliances says it will relocate production of gas ranges from Mexico to a plant in the northwest Georgia city of Lafayette, while six refrigerator models now made in China will be manufactured at its Alabama plant. The first phase of the investment will begin at plants in Georgia, Alabama, South Carolina, Tennessee and Kentucky. A new report suggests the time is right for Georgia to create a state office aimed at planning for the effects of climate change. GPB's Orlando Montoya has more.

[Eric Fosmeier]

The report was released this month by the University of Georgia's Institute for Resilient Infrastructure Systems and the Pew Trust. It echoes suggestions in a report prepared for state lawmakers last year after the devastating storms Debbie and Helene. It urges Georgia to improve its, quote, resilience. The words climate change hardly appear in the report. Eric Fosmeier of the South Carolina Office of Resilience calls that phrase the elephant in the room.

[Peter Biello]

The word climate change has been so politicized, and we just encourage folks to.

[Eric Fosmeier]

Approach it from an apolitical position, he says. Severe weather affects people regardless of politics. A resilience office would coordinate efforts across state and local agencies to plan for disaster mitigation and recovery. For GPB News, I'm Orlando Montoya.

[Peter Biello]

Chancellor Sonny Perdue, head of the University System of Georgia, could be getting a $50,000 pay raise, bringing his salary to more than $572,000. The board of Regents advanced the proposal Tuesday after a closed door session. The raise must go through a 30 day waiting period before the board takes a final vote. Perdue, a former Georgia governor and U.S. agriculture secretary, was appointed chancellor in 2022. His salary is among the highest in state government, but still trails some counterparts in neighboring states. Last fall, a chemical fire at a pool supply company in Georgia sent a toxic cloud of smoke over Rockdale county, just east of Atlanta. Now, a federal investigation into that fire has validated years of warnings from employees and raises serious questions about whether that fire could have been prevented. GPB's Pamela Kirkland has been following the accident and its aftermath. In the podcast Manufacturing the Biolab Story. She brings us this update.

[Mark Moore]

Randy Garcia says sprinkler heads were always a problem when he worked at Biolab.

[Randy Garcia]

When I first saw the fire, I assumed it was the leaky sprinklers because it was a constant issue.

[Mark Moore]

Garcia was the only on site engineer at the Conyers BioLab facility for two years before a storage warehouse at the site caught fire in September. September 2024. Rockdale Penny 911, how can I help you? We got a head bus. The company is one of the nation's largest producers of pool and spa chemicals. One of the buildings Garcia oversaw was that burned down storage warehouse. He says it was packed with giant sacks of a water reactive compound called trichloroisocyanuric acid, or tcca.

[Randy Garcia]

I mean, when you're holding that much tcca, it's very corrosive. And that was honestly the main reason why we were having so many issues with the sprinkler heads.

[Mark Moore]

It's also a highly reactive chemical that can release chlorine gas and heat enough to spark dangerous conditions. And so Garcia always wondered why the building relied on sprinklers at all.

[Randy Garcia]

I brought up questions about why do we have a water based fire system over water reactive chemicals.

[Mark Moore]

Randy Garcia left Biolab five months before his fears came to pass. The massive cloud of toxic smoke would bring federal Investigators from the U.S. chemical Safety Board or CSB to Conyers. The cause of the fire is still unknown 10 months later. CSB investigators now say nearly 14 million pounds of water reactive chemicals were inside, twice as much as what Biolab had told the county they would hold. While Biolab has declined multiple interview requests, Garcia reached out after hearing GPB's Manufacturing Danger podcast, wanting to share his firsthand experience.

[Randy Garcia]

You know, listening to different perspectives and listening to, you know, how different Kanye residents were, you know, still really fighting to get answers. It was just like, you know, I know what chemicals were in there. I was there working with them every day.

[Mark Moore]

Residents like Gene Sadler, they should have.

[Gene Sadler]

Known what kind of chemicals were in that plant. They should have inspection. They inspect everything else. They inspect the schools, they inspect the churches. They put labels on everything else. Why didn't they make them accountable, especially when it had happened before?

[Mark Moore]

Sadler has lived through five major chemical accidents at Biolab and Conyers over the past 20 years. 2004-2015-2016-2020, 24. But Randy Garcia says there were more close calls. Employees called those events smokers. Chemical reactions at the plant that didn't cause a fire, but caused concern. GPB found one such incident on November 19, 2023, and obtained the 911 call. Rockdale County 911. What is the location of your emergency?

[Randy Garcia]

So we're riding down I20 and we.

[Mark Moore]

Went through a cloud of what appeared to be chlorine with a heavy chlorine smell. It's like a chemical smell real bad.

[Gene Sadler]

I couldn't breathe and it was burning my eyes.

[Mark Moore]

Kevin, a former packaging engineer, worked off and on for Biolab for five years beginning in 2013. He said frequent turnover and limited institutional knowledge made it hard for him and his co workers to do their job safely.

[Randy Garcia]

Obviously, not everybody on the line making.

[Peter Biello]

$8.50 an hour is going to have.

[Mark Moore]

The intricate knowledge of chemicals. A former safety manager at Biolab who asked not to be named told GPB they left the company months before the fire because of what they saw as constant inaction. They described corroded fire extinguishers and workers without proper protection. They said, quote, it was finance that ran that company and if it didn't return benefits, they weren't going to invest in it. Randy Garcia agrees.

[Randy Garcia]

It always seemed like that was always the M.O. there is like, what can we do besides fully fixing the problem?

[Mark Moore]

And it wasn't just the Conyers plant. After a 2020 fire at BioLab in Westlake, Louisiana, the Chemical Safety Board recommended they install sensors and automated monitoring systems.

[Pamela Polay]

Seeing that this, the same issue keep recurring, happening to me is suggesting that there was no analysis of the accident. There was no corrective actions implemented.

[Mark Moore]

Pamela Polay is a chemistry professor at Georgia Tech. She reviewed the initial and most recent CSB reports.

[Pamela Polay]

Of course, what is the most worrisome is the amount of chemical that they had twice as much as what they filed for.

[Mark Moore]

When TCCA and water mix, chlorine gas is released. Chlorine by itself is tightly regulated, but TCCA is not. That is a gap in oversight. The CSB first raised concerns about more than 20 years ago. Since then, nothing has changed.

[Pamela Polay]

They kind of fell into the crack because OSHA does not require those management plan in the way. And this is, to me, this is really the problem.

[Mark Moore]

And while the CSB investigation continues, at the end of the day, that agency doesn't have any power to enforce any of its findings. In a written statement, Biolab says they, quote, disagree with many of the CSB statements. They did not clarify which parts of the report they dispute. The company says they have no plans to quit storing chemicals at their Conyers plant. Randy Garcia, the former Biolab engineer, has family not too far away. He says he's worried that like too many other environmental disasters, Biolab will quietly fade from view.

[Randy Garcia]

You know, my fear is that, you know, this is gonna be again one of those situations where at the end of the day it's just black people suffering. You know, these are stories that, you know, they're not uncommon. You know, if this was predominantly white community, oh, I'm pretty sure it'll still be in the news.

[Mark Moore]

Right now, Rockdale county is a majority black community. Residents like Gene Sadler say their calls for accountability haven't gotten the urgency they deserve.

[Gene Sadler]

All we were were voices to a brick wall because nobody is listening. And if they're listening to who after.

[Mark Moore]

Five chemical accidents in 20 years, it's a question Sadler is tired of asking. For GPB News, I'm Pamela Kirkland in Atlanta.

[NPR Host]

These days there's so much news it can be hard to keep up with what it all means for you, your family and your community. The Consider this podcast from NPR features our award winning journalism. Six days a week we bring you a deep dive on a news story and provide the context and analysis that helps you make sense of the news. We get behind the headlines. We get to the truth. Listen to the Consider this podcast from npr.

[Peter Biello]

In sports, the Atlanta Braves beat the New York mets last night 11 to 6. Powered by a nine run fourth inning, Nick Allen walked with the bases loaded to drive in a run. Juricks in Profar hit a bases clearing triple and Michael Harris II hit a grand slam to center field. Later in the game. Marcel Ozuna homered this game tied for the Braves third largest win when trailing by six or more runs in the last 125 seasons. The Braves and Mets wrap up their three game series tonight before heading to Cleveland to face the Guardians. The Braves returned to Truist park on Monday for a three game series against the Chicago White Sox. And that is it for this edition of Georgia Today. Thanks so much for tuning in. We hope you come back tomorrow. The best way to remember to do the that, of course, is to subscribe to this podcast. Then it happens automatically. We'll be there in your podcast feed tomorrow afternoon. If you've got some feedback for us, please let us know by email. The address is Georgia todaypb.org I'm Peter Biello. Thanks again for listening. We'll see you tomorrow.

[NPR Host]

These days, there's so much news, it can be hard to keep up with what it all means for you, your family, and your community. The Consider this Podcast from NPR features our award winning journalism. Six days a week, we bring you a deep dive on a news story and provide the context and analysis that helps you make sense of the news. We get behind the headlines. We get to the truth. Listen to the Consider this Podcast from NPR.