The number of coronavirus cases last year in the American meat industry was much higher than previously recorded. According to a congressional investigation, there were 59,000 infections and 269 deaths at the five large American meat giants. This is three times as many as previously tracked by the American media, and in one and a half years as many as in the previous 15 years.
The five meat giants (JBS USA, Tyson Foods, Smithfield Foods, Cargill, and National Beef) with hundreds of slaughterhouses and packers account for 80 percent of beef production and 60 percent of pork production in the United States.
Most meat companies kept their coronavirus numbers secret, although outbreaks forced some of the largest slaughterhouses to temporarily slow down or halt production.
According to an initial report by a House committee, the previous American administration (under then-President Trump) allowed the meat industry far too much freedom at the onset of the COVID pandemic.
In April 2020, Trump issued an order "to ensure that meat and poultry processors continue their operations." This compelled the food industry to continue working during the pandemic.
Government agencies decided not to issue emergency measures during the first months of the pandemic to require meat companies to adopt specific precautions. At the same time, the large companies kept their factories running, with workers often standing shoulder to shoulder on the production floor and with few precautions against the spread of the virus.
Representative James Clyburn, chairman of the House Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Crisis, said Wednesday: “Our investigation found that the Trump administration’s response to outbreaks in meat processing plants was completely inadequate.”
The report called on meat processors to ensure their employees are vaccinated against COVID-19. On Tuesday, Tyson announced that 96 percent of their frontline workers are vaccinated and that vaccination against COVID will be made mandatory.