ruth
According to the USDA, beef facilities are operating at 98% capacity, pork facilities are operating at 95%, and poultry facilities are operating at 98% of their capacity compared to the same time last year.
Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue applauded the data, attributing the operations to the safe reopening of the facilities, and thanked industry and its workers. The meatpacking closure caused shortages at grocery stores and a backlog of animals ready to slaughter, creating depressed prices for farmers, yet higher prices for consumers. @ https://salinapost.com/posts/5ee11120ebfb13423b27701d
Workers wearing protective clothing -Photo courtesy Tyson Foods
WASHIN
ruth
Although the Pacific Northwest seafood companies drafted rigorous plans to eliminate the spread of coronavirus in the industry, where processors also work in close quarters, an outbreak just erupted. The industry just saw its first outbreak aboard a large vessel with an onboard fish processing factory. Seattle-based American Seafoods verified that 92 crew from its American Dynasty ship had tested positive for COVID, nearly 3/4 of the 126 people on board. American Seafoods says it tested workers before they were allowed on board, but its minimum advance quarantine was just five days, not the 14 days for infected people to show symptoms. The new measures taken to prevent an outbreak included masks, temperature checks, and screenings before boarding did not seem to prevent the outbreak. This outbreak isn’t the first coronavirus case among seafood workers. Bristol Seafood closed its processing plant in Maine for two days after five workers tested positive for coronavirus, and a Trident Seafood worker in Alaska tested positive last month. But this is the first outbreak at sea. American Seafoods reported that 25 crew members tested positive on two different fishing vessels, the Northern Jaeger and the American Triumph. Each ship has more than 110 workers. Most of the crew on the ships tested negative, but there were four positives on Triumph and 21 on Northern Jaeger. @ https://www.npr.org/sections/coronavirus-live-updates/2020/06/05/870312092/pacific-northwest-seafood-industry-faces-covid-19-outbreak-as-season-ramps-up
Most of the crew on one massive seafood trawler has tested positive for COVID-19. Other vessels also have cases, despite sweeping measures to try and prevent the spread of coronavirus.
ruth
As of June 9, 2020, the CDC declared that the outbreak of Listeria monocytogenes linked to Enoki mushrooms from Green Co, LTD. of the Republic of Korea, is over. The recalled Enoki mushrooms from Sun Hong Foods, Inc., Guan’s Mushroom Co., and H&C Food, Inc. are past their shelf-life and should no longer be available. This outbreak included 36 illnesses with 31 hospitalizations and four deaths. States with Cases: AZ (2), CA (9), FL (2), HI (3), IN (1), KY (1), MA (2), MD (2), MI (1), MO (1), NC (1), NJ (1), NY (4), RI (1), TN (1), VA (3), WA (1)Product Distribution*: CA, FL, IL, NY, MD, OR, PA, TX, VA, and WA. Sun Hong Foods Inc. sold its mushrooms to J&L Supermarket, Jusgo Supermarket, ZTao Market, New Sang Supermarket, Galleria Market, Distributors in CA, FL, IL, OR, TX, and, WA. Guan’s Mushroom Co. Sold to Distributors and Wholesalers in CA, NY, PA. H&C Foods Inc. sold its products to Great Wall Supermarket in NY, MD, and VA. @ https://www.fda.gov/food/outbreaks-foodborne-illness/outbreak-investigation-listeria-monocytogenes-enoki-mushrooms-march-2020?utm_campaign=Outbreak_Listeria_Monocytogenes_Mushrooms_06%2F09%2F2020&utm_medium=email&utm_source=Eloqua
FDA’s investigation is complete. CDC declares outbreak over.