President Trump stated that he would sign an executive order invoking the Defene Production Act that would compel meat processing plants to remain open.
The company is now offering $120 million in “thank you bonuses” for 116,000 U.S. frontline workers and truckers, up from the $60 million announced in early April.
Smithfield announced that it will suspend operations at the facility until further notice after a small portion of its 1,700 employees tested positive for COVID-19.
The continuing COVID-19 pandemic is testing the resources and emergency plans of food and beverage processors across the industry. In this Q&A, Phil Kafarakis, president of the Specialty Food Association, addresses some of the challenges being faced by processors and how they are responding.
The FDA has been adding frequently asked questions along with answers to its Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition COVID-19 Updates section of its website as the COVID-19 pandemic unfolds.
With the rapid spread of COVID-19 happening far and wide, Intertek Alchemy released a new training course in March for the frontline workers in the food processing industry.