Thread by @leahjdouglas, There’s so many must-read investigations about meatpacking and Covid-19, it can be [...]

There’s so many must-read investigations about meatpacking and Covid-19, it can be hard to keep up. Here’s a thread of recent stories that expand what we know about how meat companies are handling outbreaks — over 44,500 cases at 500+ facilities — and the ongoing risk to workers:

The number of food safety inspectors working in meatpacking plants has declined significantly since April, even as whistleblower complaints are up 30% this year. Via @guardian: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/oct/01/incredibly-dangerous-job-concerns-safety-is-slipping-at-us-meat-plants">https://www.theguardian.com/environme...

'Incredibly dangerous job': concerns safety is slipping at US meat plants

Freedom of information request shows dramatic fall in number of inspectors and 30% rise in whistleblower complaints

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/oct/01/incredibly-dangerous-job-concerns-safety-is-slipping-at-us-meat-plants

Congressional Democrats are investigating why the CDC softened its language in an April report sent to Smithfield Foods re: an outbreak at its Sioux Falls, SD, plant. Via @washingtonpost (first reported by @maddow). https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2020/09/30/cdc-meatpacking-smithfield/">https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/...

The CDC softened a report on meatpacking safety during covid. Democrats say they want to know why.

Representatives from the House say they believe political pressure explains why the report was softened with words like “whenever possible,” and “if feasible.”

https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2020/09/30/cdc-meatpacking-smithfield/

The Merced County health department warned Foster Farms for months to better protect its workers from Covid-19, but the plant didn’t close until after 8 workers had died.

Via @MotherJones: https://www.motherjones.com/food/2020/09/foster-farms-covid-livingston-death-outbreak-osha-safety-masks-infection-poultry-workers/">https://www.motherjones.com/food/2020...

A California chicken plant just had the deadliest meatpacking outbreak yet.

Following months of warnings, a Foster Farms plant closed after at least 392 workers tested positive and 8 died.

https://www.motherjones.com/food/2020/09/foster-farms-covid-livingston-death-outbreak-osha-safety-masks-infection-poultry-workers/

JBS has denied scores of applications for workers’ compensation benefits related to Covid-19, including some filed by the families of workers who died.

Via @Reuters: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-jbs-colorado-insig-idUSKBN26K1X6">https://www.reuters.com/article/u...

Meatpackers deny workers benefits for COVID-19 deaths, illnesses

Saul Sanchez died in April, one of six workers with fatal COVID-19 infections at meatpacker JBS USA's slaughterhouse in Greeley, Colorado, the site of one of the earliest and deadliest coronavirus...

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-jbs-colorado-insig-idUSKBN26K1X6

JBS workers in Utah say they still have not been paid for time they missed due to contracting Covid-19 during a spring outbreak, and face ongoing financial and health issues.

Via @sltrib: https://www.sltrib.com/news/politics/2020/09/27/months-after-outbreak/">https://www.sltrib.com/news/poli...

Months after a coronavirus outbreak at Utah meatpacking plant, employees wonder why they didn’t get...

Josue Rivera Pabon earned $16 an hour removing tongues from the heads of cows at the JBS Beef Plant in Hyrum.

https://www.sltrib.com/news/politics/2020/09/27/months-after-outbreak/

I’m going to keep updating this thread with more meatpacking/Covid-19 investigations.

North Carolina health officials didn& #39;t disclose businesses with Covid outbreaks for fear of pushback from the meat industry.

Via @ncwatchdognet / @newsobserver: https://www.newsobserver.com/news/coronavirus/article244672767.html">https://www.newsobserver.com/news/coro...

How NC chose cooperation over transparency on meatpacking plants with virus outbreaks

State regulators pitched the creation of a list of known COVID-19 cases by individual meat processing facilities, emails show. But it was never published.

https://www.newsobserver.com/news/coronavirus/article244672767.html

In Wisconsin, meatpacking and food processing facilities didn’t implement adequate Covid precautions for workers, and government agencies failed to crack down on the worst offenders.

At least 1,500 workers got sick and 8 have died.

Via @journalsentinel: https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/2020/07/31/wisconsin-food-plants-failed-protect-workers-covid-19-smithfield-birds-eye-diversified-meats-calumet/5334812002/">https://www.jsonline.com/story/new...

‘Please do something’: As COVID-19 swept through Wisconsin food plants, companies, government...

Some employees say they were packed into plants like "a can of sardines," were given inadequate masks or told to use hairnets as protection.

https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/2020/07/31/wisconsin-food-plants-failed-protect-workers-covid-19-smithfield-birds-eye-diversified-meats-calumet/5334812002/

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