Special Report: COVID-19 takes toll on packing plant workers, operations

With COVID-19 positive employees becoming an increasing issue for the nation’s beef, pork and poultry processing plants, and announcements of packing plant closures becoming more commonplace, we turned to former U.S. Department of Agriculture undersecretary for food safety Dr. Richard Raymond to gain his insight on the situation.A regular columnist for Feedstuffs, Raymond graduated from the University of Nebraska Medical School and had a long-time family practice in Nebraska where he also served as that state’s Chief Medical Officer. He served as undersecretary of food safety at USDA from 2005 to 2008.Feedstuffs editor Sarah Muirhead talked with Raymond about matters related to COVID-19 and food safety, employee risk and more. Raymond is located in Colorado not far from a major packing plant area hit hard by the virus. In fact, the JBS meatpacking plant in Greeley, Colo., was closed April 13, the day this podcast was recorded, after two workers died of the novel coronavirus. The company is now working with the state and county health officials and the plan is to reopen after testing and a containment strategy are put in place.Recent Feedstuffs In Focus Episodes  on COVID-19Talking COVID-19 and the impact on livestock marketsNCBA CEO talks COVID19, Brazil beef, GIPSAFrontline observations from animal food industry in COVID-19 battleFarm Bureau economist discusses COVID-19 impactCOVID-19 emergency school nutrition campaign takes on hungerFor more information on this and other stories, visit Feedstuffs online.Follow Feedstuffs on Twitter @Feedstuffs, or join the conversation via Facebook.