Smithfield closed its pig slaughterhouse after nearly 300 workers tested positive for COVID-19

This week, meat company Smithfield indefinitely closed its pig slaughterhouse in Sioux Falls, South Carolina, after 230 of its workers tested positive for COVID-19, with a disease believed to have originated in a wet animal market in Wuhan, China, which is no different from a slaughterhouse. At the end of last year, the Smithfield plant produced 4% to 5% of the country's pork supply. Kenneth Sullivan, CEO of Smithfield, said: "The closure of this facility, combined with the closure of more and more other protein plants closing our industry, puts our country on the brink of danger in terms of meat supply.

If our factories are not running, it is impossible to keep our grocery store in stock. The closure of these facilities will also have a serious and even catastrophic impact on many people in the supply chain. "In addition to Smithfield, National Beef has suspended operations at its slaughterhouse in Tamo, Iowa, until April 20. TysonFoods has indefinitely closed its hog slaughterhouse in Columbus Junction, Iowa, all due to COVID-19 infections among workers.

Workers at other meat facilities are also sick, including 130 workers who tested positive for COVID-19 at Cargill's meat packing plant near Hazleton, Pennsylvania, and 17 positive workers at JBS Beef Slaughterhouse in Souderton, Pennsylvania — the latter of which was closed until at least Thursday. Meanwhile, the plant-based meat industry, which does not require employees to work side by side in often unhygienic conditions, continues to thrive and has been constantly providing food during the pandemic.

In the first and second weeks of March, vegan meat sales soared by 206.4% and 279.8%, respectively, according to data recently released by research firm Neilsen. While many financial industries have remained cautious during this unprecedented time, investment in plant-based meat companies continues to grow, as evidenced by Impossible Foods closing a $500 million investment round in March and Seattle Vegans completing a $6 million round. Chicken nugget maker Rebellyous Foods earlier this month.