Smithfield Foods to Temporarily Close Monmouth, IL Plant

Smithfield Foods, Inc. announced that it will proactively suspend operations at its Monmouth, IL facility beginning next week and until further notice after a small portion of its 1,700 employees tested positive for COVID-19. The Monmouth plant represents approximately three percent of U.S. fresh pork supplies and also produces bacon. Employees will be paid during the closure.

Smithfield noted that it has been proactively and aggressively tackling COVID-19 by implementing processes, protocols and protective measures throughout its operations and remains wholly committed to doing everything in its power to help protect its team members from COVID-19 in the workplace. At the same time, it stressed that...

Tyson Foods Pauses Production at Washington Beef Plant 

Tyson Fresh Meats, Inc., the beef and pork subsidiary of Tyson Foods, Inc., will temporarily halt production at its Pasco, Washington, beef facility while team members undergo testing. Health officials in Walla Walla, Benton, and Franklin Counties will work with the company to test its more than 1,400 team members for COVID-19 as soon as possible.

The facility produces enough beef in one day to feed four million people. While the plant is temporarily closed for testing, team members will continue to be compensated and asked to self-isolate at home until results return.

“We’ve taken both of our responsibilities to continue feeding the nation and keeping...

Tyson Foods to Deep Clean Logansport Plant; Suspending Production on Monday

Tyson Foods, Inc. announced that its Logansport, Indiana, facility will cancel production for Monday for additional cleaning and sanitation efforts. The company is working hard to protect team members during this ever-changing situation, while also ensuring the company continues fulfilling its critical role of helping feed people in this community and across the country.

“While we understand the necessity of keeping our facilities operational so that we can continue to feed the nation, the safety of our people remains our top priority,” Jim Schmitz, Vice President of Pork Production Operations said. “Our plant production areas are sanitized daily to ensure food safety, and we have stepped up deep cleaning and sanitizing of our facilities, especially in...

JBS USA Announces Indefinite Closure of Worthington Pork Facility

JBS USA announced the indefinite closure of the Worthington, Minn., pork production facility. The facility employs more than 2,000 Nobles County team members and processes 20,000 hogs per day.

“We don’t make this decision lightly,” said Bob Krebs, President of JBS USA Pork. “We recognize JBS Worthington is critical to local hog producers, the U.S. food supply and the many businesses that support the facility each and every day.”

The Worthington pork facility will wind down operations over the next two days with a diminished staff to ensure existing product in the facility can be used to support the food supply. In partnership with the state of Minnesota and Nobles County, the company will...

Olymel Plant in Yamachiche to Resume Operations

After having implemented all the public health recommendations of the public health department of the Mauricie and Centre-du-Québec Integrated University Health and Social Services Centre (CIUSSS MCQ), Olymel management is announcing that its hog slaughter and cutting plant in Yamachiche, in Mauricie, will resume operations starting Tuesday, April 14. With the help from public health authorities and its partners at the plant, including the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, the Commission des
normes, de l’équité et de la santé et sécurité du travail (CNESST) and the TUAC-Local 1991-P union, Olymel took advantage of the 14-day closure starting March 29 to implement a new protocol, the main objective of which is to protect workers’ health and fight the spread of COVID-19.

Recalling Employees

Employees who have been in isolation since March 29 are being recalled according to a list approved by public health authorities. They must not exhibit any symptoms related to COVID-19...

Two New COVID-19 Cases Reported at West Liberty Foods Facility 

West Liberty, Iowa-based West Liberty Foods reported today that two additional team members at its West Liberty, Iowa facility have tested positive for COVID-19, bringing the total number of positive cases at the facility to three. To the company’s knowledge, no team members working at any other West Liberty Foods location have tested positive for COVID-19.

“Our first priority is the health and well-being of our team, and we will continue to take precautionary measures to mitigate the spread of illness,” said Ed Garrett, CEO.

“Upon learning of the positive cases, we immediately activated our COVID-19 response protocols to identify other team members who may have been...

Tyson Foods Suspends Operations at Columbus Junction Facility 

Tyson Foods is taking extra precautions to prevent the spread of the coronavirus and provided an update on its business operations.

“We’re working hard to protect our team members during this ever-changing situation, while also ensuring we continue fulfilling our critical role of helping feed people across the country," said CEO Noel White.

At all locations, Tyson has been taking temperatures of every employee entering for their shift. Additionally, Tyson has stepped up cleaning and...