Coronavirus Testing for U.S. Food Plant Workers May Be Offered

Program under consideration by Trump administration due to COVID-19 outbreaks at food manufacturing facilities

Apr 10th, 2020

Tyson Foods

According to The Wall Street Journal, the federal COVID-19 task force led by Vice President Mike Pence has met with companies including Tyson and Hormel Foods, and is working with the USDA to formulate a plan to provide coronavirus testing for food workers. The action is under consideration following temporary shutdowns of meat processing and packing plants owned by companies, such as Smithfield, Cargill, JBS Holdings, and Tyson, due to the coronavirus.

Other stories you may like:

COVID-19 Survey: Nearly Half of Processors Have Supply Chain Disruptions

With Supply Chain Disruptions likely, CPGs, OEMs Swap Strategies

General Mills’ Unique Plan to Keep Up with Demand During Virus Pandemic

JBS USA Temporarily Cuts Production at Meatpacking Plant Due to COVID-19

FDA Provides Temporary Flexibility Regarding Nutrition Labeling of Certain Packaged Food

Cornell Creates COVID-19 Website for Food Industry

PMMI COVID-19 Resources

Molson Coors Announces Updates to Policy Related to COVID-19

Smithfield Foods, Inc.

JBS USA

Tyson Foods Inc.

Cargill

CANtastic hygienic sleeve for aluminum cans

Protective Packaging Demand Grows During Pandemic

Consumer demand for protective and hygienic packaging during the COVID-19 pandemic has brought new innovations in the areas of sleeve, film, and cardboard coatings.

FDA & CDC: No Transmission of COVID-19 Through Food or Food Packaging

FDA and CDC continue to underscore that there is no credible evidence of food or food packaging associated with or as a likely source of viral transmission of COVID-19.

Growth of Contract Packaging and Manufacturing Through 2025

Interview with Bush Brothers and Pretzels, Inc. on the expanding role of contract packagers/contract manufacturers during the pandemic, with an introduction by PMG's Jim Chrzan on recent Contract Packaging Association survey results.

Meat and Poultry Workers’ COVID-19 Rates Drop Sharply

New data shows the sector’s workers are far less likely to contract the disease than members of the general public.

With demands caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, West Liberty Foods had to shift more of its production from bulk food service packages to smaller retail packages for consumers.

COVID-19 Provides a Push for Digital Innovation

As food and beverage manufacturers scramble to keep workers safe and shelves stocked, many have moved forward with automation and digital transformation initiatives that might have only been on the radar before the pandemic.

Hygienic Design Standard Parts for Medical Applications

Hygienic Design Standard Parts for Medical Applications

Standard Parts in Hygienic Design are optimized for minimal contamination and easy cleaning. JW Winco decided to develop a special series of Standard Parts that meet the high requirements. Visit JW Winco's Website to learn more!

Sm Graphic Sookne

Where's my Vaccine?

unPACKed with PMMI podcast tackles why distribution of Pfizer and Moderna's COVID-19 vaccine isn't matching its breathtakingly fast approval.

Getty Images 1194849796

COVID Trickle-Down Tied to Potential Corrugated Shortage

The pandemic has pushed e-commerce into overdrive, boosting the demand for corrugated shipping boxes while also slowing down recycling efforts and supply chains, creating a potential problem (or a great opportunity) for the corrugated industry.

Getty Images 1230124575

How FDA Food Supply Data Supports COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution

In the latest FDA Voices post, Dr. Stephen Hahn and Frank Yiannas, M.P.H. discuss how the new data analysis tool, 21 FORWARD, is helping food and agriculture workers receive vaccines.

A case study in the index also reports an escalated interest in trends for health products, such as immunity-boosting foods and drinks.

COVID-19 and the Consumer Landscape

Consumer priorities switch from the environment and general health-related issues to the pandemic, economic concerns, and food safety.

COVID-19 has put new demands on sanitation procedures.

Challenges Amid a Pandemic

COVID-19 is changing the way food and beverage manufacturers manage their cleaning processes and products, accounting for social distancing and increased sanitation requirements.

Hygienic Design Standard Parts for Medical Applications

Hygienic Design Standard Parts for Medical Applications

Standard Parts in Hygienic Design are optimized for minimal contamination and easy cleaning. JW Winco decided to develop a special series of Standard Parts that meet the high requirements. Visit JW Winco's Website to learn more!

Ecolab is using augmented reality from Microsoft to help service its customers remotely, particularly in light of pandemic restrictions on access.

Remote Access Technologies Help Keep Food Sanitation Workers Safe

Cloud services, augmented and virtual reality, and videoconferencing applications are among the latest tools that suppliers are using to keep food and beverage workers safer during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Food Plantworker Ppe

Resiliency of the Food Industry

Timelines skewed, international building plans delayed–yet as companies adapt, site search project work continues to move forward.

Hitting the Spot

Start early, do your homework, and determine what you can live with or without when searching for a new facility’s location. Leave no stone unturned in uncovering workforce assistance programs, tax and utility incentives, and potential operating costs.

Data reflects five key shifts in shopping behavior, buying preferences, and food attitudes after nearly a year of COVID-19 pandemic living and cultural shifts.

Keto is the Magic Word for 2021, Along With More Spice and Low-Alcohol Content Drinks

Findings reflect five key shifts in consumer shopping behavior and food attitudes for the year ahead.

Using Beumer Smart Glasses provides operators with hands-free troubleshooting, and helps to mitigate the costs of a technician traveling to the customer site.

Smart Glasses Ease Troubleshooting Communication

Beumer has added augmented reality to the tools available to its customers while servicing equipment, enabling faster, easier support. The OEM even used the smart glasses technology to commission and install new equipment during the COVID-19 pandemic.

North American Meat Institute Wants Vaccine High-priority Status for Workers

The institute is asking for essential meat and poultry workers to receive COVID-19 vaccinations after healthcare workers.

COVID-19 is unsurprisingly the top priority for consumers at 64%, pushing the environment to second place with 49%.

Study Reveals New Consumer Attitudes

COVID-19 takes first priority, while environment continues to be important. Food safety and food waste are growing concerns.

Screen Shot 2020 11 24 At 12 34 02 Pm

CPGs Lean on OEMs During the Pandemic

From equipment startups to training to more automation, manufacturers are asking machine builders to adopt new technology and service roles in difficult times.

More in COVID-19

Screen Shot 2020 11 23 At 10 14 55 Am

COVID-19: Food Industry Worker Safety and Industry Response, with Joyce Fassl

ProFood World Editor, Joyce Fassl, delivers a two-minute executive summary of food worker safety during the pandemic.

Many processors are also offering their employees hazard pay and other benefits to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Processors Enhance Safety Protocols to Keep Workers Safe During the Covid-19 Pandemic

Temperature checking, partitions, handwashing stations, and webinars are among the measures taken to ensure safety.

Food Supply Industry Seeking Priority in COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution

Trade groups ban together in an effort to protect U.S. food workers.

Marina Mayer, Editor in Chief at both Food Logistics and Supply and Demand Chain Executive.

COVID-19’s Trace on Food and Pharma Logistics

Consumer demands for transparency increase and editors talk recent trends in track and trace and e-commerce.

Canned foods and beverages, along with plastic-packed sanitation products were strongly impacted, resulting in shortages. purchased online.

Effects of COVID-19 on Packaging Discussed at PACK EXPO Connects

Beverly Rider, SVP & CCO at Hitachi Global Digital Holdings

Manufacturing Pivots in a Post COVID World

The PACK EXPO Connects Innovation Stage hosted a lively conversation today with five C-level executives from various areas of manufacturing, to discuss business under the new normal.

Pec2020 Big Ass Fans

Fighting COVID-19 with Big Ass Fans

The new Clean Air System uses ion and ultraviolet technology to eliminate airborne pathogens.

The Great Global Reset

As consumers shift consumption habits amidst the pandemic, many manufacturers in ProFood World’s Global 250 Food and Beverage Manufacturers list take this moment as a window of opportunity to boost growth of their iconic legacy brands and retail channel.

The YIELDAS Front Half Deboning System features unique vision technology that delivers high-yield performance. Photo courtesy of Cantrell Gainco.

Meatpackers Accelerate Automation after Virus, but Lag Behind Overseas Counterparts

Automation would increase food security and improve plant safety, but is the technology affordable during this turbulent economic era?

ProFood World Editor in Chief Joyce Fassl discusses the tools and best practices food and beverage processors can use to cope with the pandemic.

Keeping Food Processing Safe During COVID-19

Pandemic causes food companies to cut back on product offerings to simplify supply chains and meet consumer demand. Labor crisis remains top challenge for industry, as COVID-19 accelerates challenge to make food manufacturing jobs attractive to workers.

Getty Images 476586896 Food Inspection

Artificial Intelligence Advances Food Safety

Landing AI is helping food producers overcome not only the limitations of their human workforce but of traditional machine vision as well, using machine learning to better evaluate issues around food safety.

Getty Images Robot Employment (1)

Workers Wanted? Contact the Robot Employment Agency

Start-up MusashiAI introduces intelligent autonomous robots for quality inspection and forklift driving—allowing the redistribution of human labor to more value-added jobs.