News

Pennsylvania beef plant reduces production because of virus concerns

A JBS beef processing plant is southeastern Pennsylvania is apparently the first U.S. meat plant to alter its production due to COVID-19 concerns.

JBS announced that it is temporarily reducing production at its Souderton, Pennsylvania plant after several senior management team members displayed flu-like symptoms. Prior to the reduction, the plant was processing 22-hundred head per day. 

The plant has more than 1,000 workers and is the largest beef facility east of Chicago, according to JBS.

JBS has also confirmed that an employee at its pork processing plant in Ottumwa, Iowa tested positive for COVID-19.

JBS says that worker is now in isolation and a second employee who had direct contact with the first patient has been sent home to self-quarantine for two weeks.

JBS says the Ottumwa plant will remain open. The Ottumwa plant has 2,200 employees.

According to a Feedstuffs report, packing facilities owned by Sanderson Farms, Foster Farms, and Perdue Farms have all had a small number of employees test positive for COVID-19 but so far, no plants have been shut down.