this post authored by Emily Green
The COVID-19 pandemic hit meat processing facilities in the United States suddenly and dramatically. Between April 9 and April 27, more than 4,900 COVID-19 cases were reported among 115 different meat and poultry processing facilities. Rising cases and contamination fears led major processors, such as Smithfield, Va.-based Smithfield Foods, to shut down plants in April. During this period, large retailers like Kroger and Costco implemented meat rationing.
These developments prompted President Donald Trump to invoke the Defense Production Act on April 28, compelling plants to remain open - and brought the resilience of the meat supply chain under scrutiny.