CRISIS Meat Processing Plants Suspend Operations After Workers Fall Ill

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Meat Processing Plants Suspend Operations After Workers Fall Ill
April 7, 20201:41 PM ET

DAN CHARLES
Twitter


Tyson Foods says it has suspended operations at its pork plant in Columbus Junction, Iowa, pictured in February 2013, after more than two dozen workers got sick with COVID-19.
Ryan J. Foley/AP
Several meat processing plants around the U.S. are sitting idle this week because workers have been infected with the coronavirus. Tyson Foods, one of the country's biggest meat processors, says it suspended operations at its pork plant in Columbus Junction, Iowa, after more than two dozen workers got sick with COVID-19. National Beef Packing stopped slaughtering cattle at another Iowa plant, and JBS USA shut down work at a beef plant in Pennsylvania.
Most farms and food companies are continuing to operate during the COVID-19 pandemic. There's concern that the coronavirus could spread among workers doing some of the most labor-intensive jobs, including meat processing.
Christine McCracken, a top meat industry analyst with RaboResearch Food & Agribusiness, told NPR via email that these plant closings aren't yet having a significant impact on the overall supply of meat to consumers, but there's increasing concern in the industry about worker shortages.
"Most processors I work with have seen a significant increase in absenteeism," McCracken wrote. "Whether that is due to actual COVID-19 issues, childcare issues (with the closure of schools) or even fear of contracting the disease it is unclear. In some cases, the decline in available workers is severe."

In a statement released Monday, Tyson Foods said it is taking a variety of measures to reduce the risk of infection. The company is buying protective face coverings for employees, increasing the spacing or erecting dividers between workers inside its plants, and setting up tents or outdoor spaces for employees to use during breaks. In some cases, these measures are slowing down production.
A handful of workers at a JBS plant in Greeley, Colo., have tested positive for the coronavirus. According to the Greeley Tribune, hundreds of workers didn't show up for work on Monday in protest of the lack of protections for workers.
McCracken said meat processors are trying to prepare for worker shortages by hiring more employees and by cross-training existing employees to do additional jobs but that the companies have had "limited success" with these measures.

Food is the lynch pin. I think they it will hold together as long as they can keep the food supply chain operating.
We all know that if that chain fails in any significant fashion, it won't take long before things get ugly.

They have GOT to get the machine running again. Time is of the essence.

Three weeks. Can we hold out three more weeks?

Ten percent of the workforce is out of a job right now, and who knows how much of that won't come back?

Got to have some faith, but Lord, it ain't looking good.

Content?

Thirty to 45 days max. So many critical points of failure, all connected.

Prices will be going now.

the problems revert 100% to the actual workers - most likely NOT being infected at work >>> a great majority are illegals - unwilling to get any actual med aid - not following any Virus guidelines - and the usual meat industry illegals housing is "dorm like" >> 20 guys living on top of each other in an average US family home ....

Called trucker friend yesterday. Surprised to find him home. Usually had four runs between Sioux City and Kansas City per week. He told me consumers are not out buying. Warehouses are full. Manufactures are shutting down production.

alchemike said:

Food is the lynch pin. I think they it will hold together as long as they can keep the food supply chain operating.
We all know that if that chain fails in any significant fashion, it won't take long before things get ugly.

They have GOT to get the machine running again. Time is of the essence.

Click to expand...

Food and the ability to supply to everyone. That is going to a near impossible task if this continues. Too many are opting out of the system due to various reasons. The links in the chain are breaking.

Better get your freezers topped off before this article gets out to the masses... sigh...

David Nettleton said:

Called trucker friend yesterday. Surprised to find him home. Usually had four runs between Sioux City and Kansas City per week. He told me consumers are not out buying. Warehouses are full. Manufactures are shutting down production.

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What I’m thinking is, people filled up with food 2-3 weeks ago so any minute now they’ll need to shop again for meats.

Glenn Beck is talking about this right now!!! Radio show. Farmers and food/meat shortages coming soon.

Doom porn on steroids!

There was a story about the Smithfield plant in Sioux Falls, SD this morning, too. Will see if I can find it.





More than 80 coronavirus cases confirmed at Smithfield Foods in Sioux Falls

Megan Raposa and Joe Sneve, Sioux Falls Argus Leader
Published 1:51 p.m. CT April 8, 2020 | Updated 5:14 p.m. CT April 8, 2020
More than 80 coronavirus cases confirmed at Smithfield Foods in Sioux Falls


More than 80 employees at a Sioux Falls food processing business have tested positive for the coronavirus, Health Secretary Kim Malsam-Rysdon confirmed Wednesday.

"There are a number of cases connected, that number has changed every day," Malsam-Rysdon said.

She added that the more than 80 confirmed cases were employees, and that number did not include others who may have become infected from those employees.

Malsam-Rysdon said they were continuing to use contact tracing — a process where those who may have been in close contact with an infected individual are monitored for signs of infection — with positive cases, and that "at this point we do not feel that there is a risk to folks outside of the individuals impacted."

Smithfield Foods, Inc. saw its first positive case on March 26, and nearly a week prior officials said the plant would maintain normal operations and would not close or send employees home amid the new coronavirus pandemic.

Smithfield's cases represent more than one-third of the total cases in the county and one-fifth of the cases in the state. Minnehaha County has 228 confirmed cases and South Dakota has 393.

On Wednesday morning, Sioux Falls Mayor Paul TenHaken noted "hot spots" for coronavirus spread in the city, but he would not confirm if Smithfield was one of those hot spots.
Buy Photo
Smithfield Foods, Inc. employees wear masks as they leave at the end of their shift on Wednesday, April 8, at the food processing plant in Sioux Falls. (Photo: Erin Bormett / Argus Leader)


Smithfield has 3,600 employees in Sioux Falls and 40,000 nationwide.

Public officials in Sioux Falls and South Dakota attempted to assure the public Wednesday that Smithfield is taking the proper steps to ensure safety of both its employees and customers.

"We believe that the employer is taking appropriate action," Gov. Kristi Noem said during an afternoon news conference.

TenHaken said in an emailed statement to the Argus Leader late Wednesday afternoon that his office is in contact with Smithfield Foods and offering any support it can.

"The city is actively supporting the efforts of the state and Smithfield to reduce the spread of COVID-19," he wrote. "We’re in close communication with the leadership at Smithfield and the state and will continue to support both with resources they may need."

It’s unclear what additional steps Smithfield Foods is taking as a result of the outbreak in Sioux Falls.

Questions directed to Smithfield’s media and marketing department were not immediately answered Wednesday, but the company issued a statement later in the day saying it's "instituted a series of stringent and detailed processes and protocols" to follow CDC guidelines.

"These include mandatory 14-day COVID-19 related quarantines with pay as an uncompromising effort to protect our dedicated employees," said Keira Lombardo, Smithfield's executive vice president of corporate affairs and compliance. "We’ve also relaxed attendance policies to eliminate any punitive effect for missing work due to COVID-19 diagnosis or quarantine."

Around the country, meat packing plants have temporarily closed or shifted operations after COVID-19 cases spiked there. For instance, Tyson Foods, Inc. closed some plants in Iowa earlier this week after dozens of workers tested positive for the novel coronavirus.

And JBS Beef in Pennsylvania scaled back hours of production after employees their began spreading the disease among one other.

Guidelines from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and President Donald Trump consider meat packers "critical infrastructure industry" that need to remain open during the pandemic.

Dr. Dustin Oedekoven, the state veterinarian for South Dakota and the executive secretary for the South Dakota Animal Industry Board overseeing animal and public health and food safety, told the Argus Leader that continuing operations at the not just the plant in Sioux Falls but those across the state is paramount amid a pandemic so as not to slow food production or further disrupt the economy for South Dakota meat producers.

“It’s such a big impact to our economy to keep those plants open,” he said. “If we cannot get finished animals to slaughter, you start having real issues and backups in the farms.”

While COVID-19 is new, coronavirus strains typically found in animals are not, he said.

That’s why Oedekoven and the food safety industry is confident consumers during the pandemic are not at risk of being infected through the meat products.

“What we know about coronaviruses is they are not a food born illness,” he said. “There’s no risk or concern for a foodborne illness.”

alchemike said:

Food is the lynch pin. I think they it will hold together as long as they can keep the food supply chain operating.
We all know that if that chain fails in any significant fashion, it won't take long before things get ugly.

They have GOT to get the machine running again. Time is of the essence.

Click to expand...

If the already thin grocery shelves get to looking thinner, some people will come unglued. Three meals away from anarchy and all that.

Blacknarwhal said:

Three weeks. Can we hold out three more weeks?

Ten percent of the workforce is out of a job right now, and who knows how much of that won't come back?

Got to have some faith, but Lord, it ain't looking good.

Click to expand...

It is far far more than 10% right now. I am a fan of Trump and will continue to vote for him. Yet, to say it is only 10% is wrong of the government.

Think of the numbers the past 3 weeks. 3 million. 6 million, 6 million. That makes 15 million total so far on top of the 5 million that were already out of work. That brings us to 20 million. out of 155 million. That is 13% right off the bat. There are millions more that are not counted yet due to self employment. That will change as states allow them to apply under the new UE law.

It is my belief that we will top off at the 1/3 is unemployed before too long. If not higher.

psychgirl said:

What I’m thinking is, people filled up with food 2-3 weeks ago so any minute now they’ll need to shop again for meats.

Glenn Beck is talking about this right now!!! Radio show. Farmers and food/meat shortages coming soon.

Doom porn on steroids!

Click to expand...

We stocked up on canned meats and have a bit in the freezer. We went on to short meat rations right off the bat in order to conserve. It seems to have paid off. I am itching to get more rice and pasta, but we do have 6 months of it now.... just me getting concerned...

mikeabn said:

Thirty to 45 days max. So many critical points of failure, all connected.

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We talked a great deal about systems interconnectedness during the Y2K event. We dodged that bullet. The cascading failures could be for real this time.

hmmm . . .

NPR - NATIONAL PROPAGANDA RADIO - not at all suggesting this is inaccurate or fake newz by any stretch of the imagination. I am suggesting these assclowns are doing EVERYTHING POSSIBLE to ramp up the FEAR, ANGER and DIVISIVENESS here in CONUS

one thing for sure this is a huge dot in the progression of efforts to take down the food chain

psychgirl said:

Better get your freezers topped off before this article gets out to the masses... sigh...

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I have been buying meat like crazy over the last 2 weeks. I'm working on filling my third freezer now. It's about to be a wild ride. The social and economic ramifications are about to take full effect.

20Gauge said:

It is far far more than 10% right now. I am a fan of Trump and will continue to vote for him. Yet, to say it is only 10% is wrong of the government.

Think of the numbers the past 3 weeks. 3 million. 6 million, 6 million. That makes 15 million total so far on top of the 5 million that were already out of work. That brings us to 20 million. out of 155 million. That is 13% right off the bat. There are millions more that are not counted yet due to self employment. That will change as states allow them to apply under the new UE law.

It is my belief that we will top off at the 1/3 is unemployed before too long. If not higher.

Click to expand...

Right, ten percent is just the official number. When you throw in the gig workers and such it's higher. Good point.

But also a point that underscores what I've been harping on for weeks. WE MUST GET BACK TO WORK.

Thing is...the virus is NOT foodborne. With decent packing practices and inspection, the risk to consumers is low as long as the meat is cooked and handled properly. The biggest hang-up would be lack of workers in the plants.

But you can never count on the common sense of the average consumer. If a brand gets bad publicity, there's no stopping irrational panic.

Members, go out and stock up on meats if you can. If there are food shortages in the future, you can always grow a garden or forage for greens, but meat protein is the weak link. Hunting for deer or other meat would only last so long.

Blacknarwhal said:

Right, ten percent is just the official number. When you throw in the gig workers and such it's higher. Good point.

But also a point that underscores what I've been harping on for weeks. WE MUST GET BACK TO WORK.

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I do agree with that, but it will be weeks before we do. So I expect another couple of rounds of this "stimulus". That darn $1200 will become a monthly thing before too long.

I somehow got today off work.

We need bleach and a few groceries (I despise going shopping now , out of fear... something I previously looked forward to .

Also need to gas up my car.

Meat will be number one on the list.

changed said:

Members, go out and stock up on meats if you can. If there are food shortages in the future, you can always grow a garden or forage for greens, but meat protein is the weak link. Hunting for deer or other meat would only last so long.

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It’s hard to stock up properly when stores have limits on how much at a time, you can buy . Kroger limits to three items at a time.

20Gauge said:

I do agree with that, but it will be weeks before we do. So I expect another couple of rounds of this "stimulus". That darn $1200 will become a monthly thing before too long.

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If we're restarting things in another three weeks here, after "30 (more) Days to Slow the Spread" ends, then we need to start hearing about it. Places need to reorder supplies and restock shelves. Guarantee not much actually survived the six-week closure.

changed said:

Members, go out and stock up on meats if you can. If there are food shortages in the future, you can always grow a garden or forage for greens, but meat protein is the weak link. Hunting for deer or other meat would only last so long.

Click to expand...

I actually did a napkin analysis of the meat supply in our area. We are rural and there are deer, hogs and turkeys running through our yards on a daily basis. We have regular shooting going on so they have become acclimated to people and noises so this isn't a factor.

We have enough meat from rabbits, squirrels on up to last our area about 3 hours. Or maybe a meal or two of meat.

Why? Simply said, even though we are rural, the population of people is still over 10 per sq mile. I have 1000 acres behind me, there is another 800 acres across the road, but we still have a population density of 10 people per mile sq.

It is far worse the closer you get into town....

psychgirl said:

It’s hard to stock up properly when stores have limits on how much at a time, you can buy . Kroger limits to three items at a time.

Click to expand...

Take a couple of Family members and go in separately. You will be able to properly stock up.

I am blessed in that I have a freezer full of venison and pork and chicken on the run. Will probably be filling the incubator this week and talking to the 4H kid we get our pig from and up the order to a whole pig. Those rabbits are looking like next week so I hope they are good to go.

20Gauge said:

I actually did a napkin analysis of the meat supply in our area. We are rural and there are deer, hogs and turkeys running through our yards on a daily basis. We have regular shooting going on so they have become acclimated to people and noises so this isn't a factor.

We have enough meat from rabbits, squirrels on up to last our area about 3 hours. Or maybe a meal or two of meat.

Why? Simply said, even though we are rural, the population of people is still over 10 per sq mile. I have 1000 acres behind me, there is another 800 acres across the road, but we still have a population density of 10 people per mile sq.

It is far worse the closer you get into town....

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The key is not to wait. As soon as you have crossed whatever threshold you set for needing more meat you get that animal while other people still have food in their houses. Don't wait until everyone is hungry and in the woods.

I wonder how the local processors are doing.

One near me had shut down at the beginning of this.

Didn't hear the reason tho.

psychgirl said:

What I’m thinking is, people filled up with food 2-3 weeks ago so any minute now they’ll need to shop again for meats.

Glenn Beck is talking about this right now!!! Radio show. Farmers and food/meat shortages coming soon.

Doom porn on steroids!

Click to expand...

Yes it was. He was interviewing Congressman Thomas Massie from Kentucky. He said we are weeks away from a huge food shortage. Not only are the meat processors shutting down, but also the 'feed' producers. So there will be a feed shortage. You can turn cows out on grass, but the chicken and turkey and pork producers will be in a real fix.

David Nettleton said:

Called trucker friend yesterday. Surprised to find him home. Usually had four runs between Sioux City and Kansas City per week. He told me consumers are not out buying. Warehouses are full. Manufactures are shutting down production.

Click to expand...

i am not questioning your friend, but something is not right here. there is a serious disconnect from that statement to what we have seen and heard.

they don't match.

WalknTrot said:

Thing is...the virus is NOT foodborne. With decent packing practices and inspection, the risk to consumers is low as long as the meat is cooked and handled properly. The biggest hang-up would be lack of workers in the plants.

But you can never count on the common sense of the average consumer. If a brand gets bad publicity, there's no stopping irrational panic.

Click to expand...

That has nothing to do with this. Fact is that people in the processing plants are getting sick and that is why they are shutting them down...and next is the feed processing plants.

hunybee said:

i am not questioning your friend, but something is not right here. there is a serious disconnect from that statement to what we have seen and heard.

they don't match.

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The trucker may not be hauling food. Sounds like he is hauling merchandise that is probably nonessential.

mecoastie said:

The key is not to wait. As soon as you have crossed whatever threshold you set for needing more meat you get that animal while other people still have food in their houses. Don't wait until everyone is hungry and in the woods.

Click to expand...

I agree. The problem is that everyone is a hunter here. It won't last long no matter what.

rafter said:

That has nothing to do with this. Fact is that people in the processing plants are getting sick and that is why they are shutting them down...and next is the feed processing plants.

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Most aren't shutting down - yet anyway. As I said...lack of workers would be the kicker.

But don't let me get in the way of another reason for everybody here to freak out...

mecoastie said:

The trucker may not be hauling food. Sounds like he is hauling merchandise that is probably nonessential.

Click to expand...

that would make more sense....to a point. the customers may not be allowed to buy the merchandise.

Well............ I don't have a big freezer in this small apt, I'm hoping meat isn't too short in the near future. It hasn't been at my chain grocery. They had put a notice a week or two ago that basically they have suppliers. So far except for paper products that's proven true. The meat cases have been full. I'm hoping the grid doesn't go down. I have some canned meat, but not much. I think I should get more tuna since that's plentiful at the moment, and get some packs of decent baloney to stick in the freezer; that way if the electric goes out you're not out a fistful of dollars.

It's all getting too crazy.

proteins here have been sketchy. not quite as bad as the toilet paper issue, but its not stable. many times there is very little or no meat. other times, there is some meat.

hunybee said:

i am not questioning your friend, but something is not right here. there is a serious disconnect from that statement to what we have seen and heard.

they don't match.

Click to expand...

What? People are at home. They are avoiding shopping. Manufacturers have filled up warehouses, or have no more space to put product. Manufacturers (not all) are shutting down plants/production. Think of the auto makers. They have all shut down production. Why? Doesn't make sense to build 'em just to run them out to a parking lot and sit in the sun, huh?