In the news

An employee at the Smithfield Foods pork processing plant in Tar Heel, North Carolina, tested positive for the coronavirus, days after the company closed several plants because of outbreaks among workers.  Health authorities are making sure that the virus does not spread in the plant. The county is confirming there are positive cases, and the company is not. Smithfield said that it closed two other plants in Cudahy, Missouri, and Martin City, Wisconsin that rely on the Sioux Falls processing plant. The Cudahy dry sausage and bacon plant will be closed for two weeks, while the Martin City plant will be closed indefinitely. The Martin City plant receives its raw materials from the company’s Sioux Falls SD, processing plant, which Smithfield Foods closed indefinitely.  Without the materials from the Sioux Falls plant, the Martin City plant cannot continue to function, the statement said. Kenneth Sullivan, president and CEO of Smithfield Foods said in a statement that the closure of the plants represents a “domino effect. The closure of our Martin City plant is part of the domino effect.  It highlights the interdependence and interconnectivity of our food supply chain. Without plants like Sioux Falls running, other further processing facilities like Martin City cannot function.” Meat shortage is expected from these closures. @ https://www.usnews.com/news/health-news/articles/2020-04-16/meat-processor-smithfield-foods-closes-two-more-plants-following-coronavirus-concerns

According to Food Safety News, the Canadian government announced that $20 million additional funds would go to inspectors during the Coronavirus pandemic. The money, going to the CFIA, is to be used for hiring and training, as well as equipping staff so food inspections. The plan also includes training of provincial food inspectors. In the US, inspections have been scaled down to reduce the danger of infection to inspectors and workers. Only inspection related to foodborne illness outbreaks or Class I recalls would continue as usual. There has not been any association between food or food packaging and the transmission of COVID-19. However, the World Health Organization, the CDC, and many health agencies around the world advise precautionary measures for food handling and preparation. The close proximity on assembly lines in food plants from fresh produce to processed meats provides easy transmission of the virus between workers. @ https://www.foodsafetynews.com/2020/04/canada-differs-from-u-s-on-inspection-approach-during-coronavirus-pandemic/

The meatingplace reports that an employee at Cargill’s Fort Morgan, Colo., beef plant has died due to COVID-19 illness, with 18 others sick, and JBS USA’s Greeley, Colo., the plant has four of its employees died from respiratory disease, with 102 infected. Cargill has reduced production at Fort Morgan to one shift, and JBS has closed its Greeley facility for two weeks due to the outbreaks.  In Camilla, Ga., Tyson Foods’ poultry plant a third worker succumbed to COVID-19. Tyson is encouraging team members to practice social distancing at home and on the job. Chicago’s Rose Packing confirmed that 21 of its employees are now sick with the virus. Meatpackers and processors are caught in the crosshairs of running an essential business while trying to keep their employees from getting sick, but the virus is proving to be overwhelming. Last weekend, Tyson deployed face coverings for workers at the company’s facilities nationwide and expected the supply to last up to four months. @ https://www.meatingplace.com/Industry/News/Details/91587

Smithfield Foods will temporarily close additional plants due to the Coronavirus. It is closing its plants in Cudahy, Wisconsin, and Martin City, Missouri. The Wisconsin plant near Milwaukee will be closed for two weeks, while the facility in Missouri is closed indefinitely. The Missouri plant receives raw material from the company’s Sioux Falls, South Dakota facility, which is also closed. Smithfield Foods has reported 518 infections in employees in Sioux Falls and another 126 in people connected to them. Smithfield said a small number of employees at the Wisconsin and Missouri plants have tested positive for COVID-19. The company is based in Smithfield, Virginia, and employs over 1,000 workers at the Cudahy plant. All the plant closings endanger the pork supply.@ https://www.startribune.com/smithfield-foods-closes-plants-in-wisconsin-missouri/569687722/