The review comes in response to a call from Senator Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), who asked the inspectors general of the USDA and Department of Labor in August to determine whether actions by the Trump administration helped spread the coronavirus amongst workers at the plants.
Watchdog launches probe into USDA handling of inspections at meatpacking plants amid coronavirus thetelegraph.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from thetelegraph.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration is considering a temporary emergency standard that would mandate six feet of separation at meat and poultry facilities, despite if other mitigation efforts are utilized. However, the pork industry fears if enforced the standard would increase food prices, create potential meat shortages and result in financial losses for farmers.
While speaking on a media call hosted by the National Pork Producers Council, incoming President Jen Sorenson explains that worker safety is paramount for the industry. She notes due to new worker safety practices, procedures, investments and a better understanding of the coronavirus, COVID cases at meat and poultry plants were five times lower in December 2020 versus May 2020, while infections for the general population increased by nine times during that same period, according to detail released by the North American Meat Institute.
Meat industry concerned on extra COVID worker requirements farmprogress.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from farmprogress.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.