MEAT PACKING WORKERS – THE MOST DANGEROUS JOB IN AMERICA?

There are many jobs in the US that have significant risk. Police, firemen, healthcare workers… Workers in the meat industry, which our administration has deemed “essential” and have as a result been forced to go back to work, are forgotten and in fact, some aspects of this food industry are the most dangerous jobs of all. From pesticide exposure in agricultural workers resulting in increased rates of various diseases including cancer, to contracting MRSA  (Methicillin Resistant Staph Aureus, the “flesh eating bacteria”) which affects 30% of meat workers and now Covid. 

The Department of Labor just fined 2 of the largest meat plants for failure to protect workers from Coronavirus. In the JBS plant in Greenley, CO, 6 workers have died and 290 workers have contracted Covid-19 as a direct result of spread in the plant. Smithfields massive pork processing plant in Sioux Falls, SD, had 4 deaths and 1300 infections from one single outbreak. A Tyson chicken plant in Columbus Junction, IO, had 186 cases and 2 deaths.

As sad as all that is, the craziest part of the story is that the maximum these companies can be fined is $16,000. To add insult to injury, both companies, which generate billions of dollars annually due to our appetite for meat, are contesting the fines!

Since only the start of September, in the US, more than 200 meat packing workers have died and 42,000 have contracted Covid-19.

Although I appreciate that this industry employs many thousands of people, by transitioning to other, non-animal industries, jobs can be created elsewhere. In the meantime, these workers need to be protected and supported.

On a positive note, a survey has shown that 92% of people who tried plant-based meats during the lockdown plan to continue buying more of plant-based products rather than animal meat in the future. There is hope!

Stay safe and be well. 

AC 😎✌️🌱❤🐖🏃🏻🧘🏻‍♂️🌎😷