Six workers at the Smithfield Foods plant in Arnold have tested positive for the coronavirus, officials said.
Four people reported positive tests last week and two more tested positive Monday, United Food and Commercial Workers Local 1776 President Wendell Young said.
The employees who tested positive have not been to work for several days, officials said. They are all self-quarantining in their homes.
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According to officials, safety measures had been implemented at the plant before anyone tested positive for the virus. Those safety measures included rigorous cleaning day and night.
A Smithfield Foods plant in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, was forced to close after nearly 300 of its workers tested positive for COVID-19.
The Smithfield plant in Arnold processes sausage for grocery stores and restaurants, and these new coronavirus cases are raising concerns about the food supply and worker safety.
Young told Channel 11 that these employees are worried about getting infected themselves.
“They are at risk. They’re at greater risk, and they didn't sign up for this kind of duty," said Young.
With concern over additional spread, the union has discussed closing the plant with management. Four other processing plants in Pennsylvania have closed already.
"Out of an abundance of caution, that's the best thing you could do to protect everybody. But on the other hand, if you closed every food plant, we would have panic over not having enough food available," Young said.
On the company website, it says its COVID-19 response includes multiple measures to minimize risk, such as: hand sanitizing stations, boosted personal protective equipment, and enhanced cleaning and disinfection.
Some of the infected employees did handle sausage directly, but the state agriculture department said food safety is not a concern because it’s not believed COVID-19 is spread through food – especially if you follow proper handling and cooking instructions.
According to the World Health Organization and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there is no evidence that COVID-19 can be spread by food or food packaging.
Poultry and meat are safe to eat if handled properly in your home, stored at proper temperatures and cooked thoroughly.
The PA Department of Agriculture has provided businesses with guidance for sanitizing their plants and keeping their workers safe at agriculture.pa.gov/COVID.
- Don’t purchase torn or leaky packaging.
- Store at proper temperatures – generally below 40 degrees for fresh meat and poultry.
- Wash your hands after handling raw meat or poultry.
- Don’t use the same utensils or cutting boards to prepare raw meat or poultry and other foods.
- Cook ground meat to 160 degrees internal temperature. Steaks, ham, roasts, and other whole cuts to 145 degrees. Poultry - 165 degrees.
- Pay attention to packaging instructions, use-by dates and find guidelines at foodsafety.gov.
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