Three major U.S. meat processing plants have shut down, and it could have an impact on the food supply chain.
On Monday, April 6th, Tyson Foods suspended operations at a pork processing plant in Iowa after more than 24 workers tested positive for COVID-19.
According to the AP, the plant's 1,400 workers will be paid through the week. The company will reassess the situation, and until the plant reopens, the livestock shipments will divert to other plants in the area.
Previous to the shutdown in Iowa, Tyson was taking employee temperatures before shifts and increasing cleaning and sanitizing around the facility.
According to a Reuters report, JBS USA has shut down operations at a Pennsylvania beef plant. The company plans to restart production on April 16th. Still, in a statement, JBS added that the facility closed to make sure it had "the appropriate management leadership in place before resuming operations."
However, as of Friday, April 3rd, ten workers at a JBS beef processing plant in Nebraska had tested positive. The plant has not yet shut down due to the essential nature of the business.
Finally, National Beef Packing in Iowa stopped slaughtering cattle this week for cleaning work originally scheduled for later this month.
