Should You Check Your Food Origins For Covid Hotspots?
Arkansas food companies may be spreading Covid variants across the US
Food for thought.
Several states in the US, particularly in the southeast, have become vortexes for Covid variants. Florida, Louisiana, Alabama have all been tagged as Covid incubators.
Arkansas has also been in the news recently for being a toxic soup of Covid variant infections. And like other lush southern states, Arkansas enjoys permissive agricultural and food processing laws, and is home to dozens of well-known national food brands.
Arkansas is a hotbed of Covid variants
Arkansas ranks third for the most daily new cases per capita at 14.8 cases per 100,000 people, and is one the top seven for rate of community spread of Covid.
Arkansas governor Asa Hutchinson blames the highly transmissible Delta variant for the rapidly climbing infection statistics, although Lamda has also been identified in some hospitals.
In August, Hutchinson announced publicly that he regretted enacting a state-wide ban on government mask mandates. He is asking the state legislature to reverse it so that schools have the freedom to require masks.
Recent Covid variants are more transmissible and are viable longer on surfaces
The Delta variant produces thousands of more copies than the original SARS-Cov-2, is twice as transmissible, becomes contagious much earlier, and persists in the human body much longer than previous Covid strains.
The Delta variant produces thousands of more copies than the original SARS-Cov-2, is twice as transmissible, becomes contagious much earlier, and persists in the human body much longer than previous Covid strains.
According to a 2021 CDC summary of 36 separate (non-CDC) studies, the risk of surface transmission of coronavirus, while lower than that of aerosol transmission, is still possible. The average longevity of the virus on porous surfaces is three days. But on non-porous surfaces like plastic wrap, the virus can remain alive and transmissible for weeks.
On some surfaces, like plastic wrap, the virus can remain alive and transmissible for weeks.
A study published by the National Institutes of Health states that the virus can exist for prolonged periods “on non absorbent products like glossy paper, polished marble or fruit skin, and possibly more stable on wet products like fresh meat.”
Many food processing facilities allow employees with asymptomatic infections to continue working. Some facilities do not require social distancing and in fact require employees to work in very close proximity.
The FDA — not the CDC — manages food processing sanitation, and it currently maintains that “There is no evidence of food or food packaging being associated with transmission of COVID-19.” It does not, however, cite any evidence or studies. The FDA also requires only that food processors meet the standard Current Good Manufacturing Practices (CGMPs).
According to Nature, one study in April found that the virus remained infectious on hard surfaces such as plastic and stainless steel for 6 days; on bank notes, it lasted for 3 days; and on surgical masks, at least 7 days. And others found infectious virus on library books bound in natural and synthetic leather after 8 days.
Tyson Foods outstrips Walmart for Covid infections by 2,866 to 12
The largest food employer in Arkansas is Tyson Foods, a Fortune 100 company. Tyson is also the second-largest employer overall in the state, behind only Walmart as the #1 employer.
Tyson reported 2,866 Covid cases at its workplaces, nearly one-third of the state’s 9,065 sickened workers across all industries from May 19, 2020, to April 8, 2021. Employees complained that they were issued only one mask a day, which quickly became saturated with poultry blood.
According to the Associated Press, “the state health department publishes COVID-19 occupational illness reports that show businesses with five or more active cases. In less than one year, Tyson had 281 appearances in these reports. Comparatively, Walmart Inc., the largest employer in the state, had two appearances that totaled 12 sick workers.” More than 11,000 Tyson employees nationwide had contracted the virus by March 2020. Employees blame permissive state regulations combined with a weak union presence.
Arkansas’ permissive regulations lead to rampant Covid among food processors
The second largest food employer in Arkansas is Simmons Foods. Employees at Simmons complained that they were issued masks only once a week. One employee, who quit his job over the working conditions, said, “I mean, working at a chicken processing plant, you’re getting chicken juice on you — flour, breader, all kinds of nasty stuff. … They were having us wear the same hairnets, beard nets and gloves for a week, and earplugs, which was really unsanitary, I thought.” The same employee said that Simmons added water to soap dispensers, diluting the soap.
At George’s, the ninth-largest poultry producing company in the U.S., 641 workers tested positive for Covid. George’s was one of the small to midsize meat processors that received multiple line speed waivers from the Trump administration, allowing them to pack workers closely together and increase belt speeds, which also increases risk for injury. Smaller meat producers like Peco and George’s are often non-union, and receive less public scrutiny regarding their Covid practices.
In a Covid-related death lawsuit, Conagra employees stated that workers failed to wear masks in the plant within the view of supervisors, who failed to take corrective action. Conagra Brands produces Birds’ Eye frozen vegetables and similar products.
Last year, employees at the Butterball Turkey production plant in Duplin County spoke out, saying they were worried for their health and job security. Masks and social distancing were not enforced, and employees were forced to work in close proximity with each other. They said management penalized employees for not coming into work because they do not feel safe. They said this is tallied using a point system, and once 5 points are accrued, a person can be fired.
Steps you can take to protect your family
Fortunately, if you’ve already adopted virus protection hygiene in your home, you don’t need to drastically change your habits. But if you have not, or you have relaxed your standards, you should consider reinstating practical, hygienic practices that will protect you and your family from unnecessary exposure.
- Wash hands frequently when cooking and/or handling food, and immediately after handling raw meat.
- Soak produce in a sink full of water to which 1 teaspoon of bleach has been added. Some studies show that silver and copper have antibacterial/antimicrobial properties, so if you prefer, try adding a dropper of food-grade silver nitrate supplement instead of bleach.
- Create a pantry for storing canned and boxed staples, including bagged foods like beans. Since the virus remains viable longer on smooth surfaces like aluminum and plastic, allow several days to pass before touching items with your bare hands.
- Wash your hands immediately after putting groceries away.
- Shop at butcher and meat departments who require employees to wear masks, even when vaccinated, to prevent asymptomatic infection.
