Tyson Foods Chairman Warns Food Supply Chain Breaking

Tyson Foods Chairman John Tyson wrote in a full-page ad that ran in the Sunday New York Times, Washington Post and Arkansas Democrat-Gazette that “millions of pounds of meat” will disappear from the supply chain as the COVID-19 pandemic pushes food processing plants to close.

According to CNBC, Tyson, along with Smithfield and JBS, are closing their US facilities as workers have tested positive for the coronavirus.

CNN reported speaking with three employees of Tyson’s Waterloo, IA, plant, where many of its 2,800 workers had already been calling out sick and 182 cases were linked to the plan. One worker told the network it was impossible to social distance in the facility.

Tyson Foods responded by asserting it was taking steps to protect workers and sanitize facilities daily. The company was also reportedly paying out bonuses to frontline workers and truckers and donating food to local communities.