As the spread of the coronavirus forces closures of major meat processing facilities around the country, concerns about worker safety and the nation’s meat supply have the industry doubling down on precautions.
On Monday, JBS — the U.S. subsidiary of the world’s largest processor of fresh beef and pork — announced it would be indefinitely closing its pork production plant in Worthington, Minnesota. The facility is the third JBS plant to suspend operations following a surge in coronavirus cases, following the closure of their beef facility in Colorado last week and another in Pennsylvania, which has since reopened.
Additionally, other major meat processors including Tyson Foods have fallen victim to the coronavirus. Tyson’s pork processing plant in Iowa is partially reopening this week after an outbreak of its own, which resulted in two employee deaths and 148 positive cases of the virus. Others throughout the country remain closed.
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