Authorities in Raleigh, North Carolina, said the body of a supermarket employee was found in a freezer on Tuesday, September 10.

In an email to PEOPLE, Raleigh police said their officers responded to a report of a deceased person at the Food Lion supermarket at 4510 Capital Blvd. Police confirmed the body of an adult male in the freezer, adding that the incident is being treated as a death investigation.

A Food Lion spokesperson shared a statement with PEOPLE about the death of its employee, whose name was not disclosed. “Food Lion is deeply saddened by the unexpected loss of our employee,” the spokesperson said. “We extend our deepest condolences to the employee’s family and friends.”

“Food Lion is working with local authorities to investigate this unfortunate incident,” the statement continued.

“As always, the safety and well-being of customers and employees is Food Lion’s top priority every day and we are committed to ensuring a safe workplace and shopping environment. We are providing resources to support our employees during this difficult time,” the spokesperson concluded.

Founded in 1957 in Salisbury, North Carolina, Food Lion operates 1,000 grocery stores in 10 states in the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic region, according to the company’s website. The company also employs 82,000 people and serves over 10 million customers weekly.

In recent years, deaths have been reported among workers related to working on freezers.

On May 11, 2023, the body of an Arby’s employee was found in a walk-in freezer at the restaurant in New Iberia, Louisiana, Fox affiliate KADN reported. The death of the victim, later identified as 63-year-old Nguyet Le, was likely the result of an accident, authorities said at the time.

According to a lawsuit her family filed against Arby’s on May 25 of that year, Le was trapped in the freezer when the restaurant opened. Miami-Herald reported.

The lawsuit added that she “panicked when she locked herself in and beat her hands bloody as she tried to escape or get anyone’s attention.” Her son, Nguyen Le, who also worked at Arby’s, found her body when he arrived for his shift, the lawsuit said.

Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE’s free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

In a statement issued with McClatchy NewsA spokesman for the fast-food chain said the New Iberia franchisee was “fully cooperating with local authorities in their investigation.” Herald reported.

In Brooklyn, NY, a 33-year-old bakery employee died after being found locked in the bakery’s walk-in freezer on November 3, 2022. According to the New York City Police Department (NYPD), authorities responded to a 911 call and found the man “unconscious and unresponsive” at Beigel’s Bakery in Canarsie.

According to the New York TimesThe man was trapped in the freezer in the early hours of the morning and was pronounced dead after police arrived at the scene. The newspaper reported, citing police, that the death appeared to be an accident.