COVID-19 Meat Pandemic Bibliography

Categorized Listing of Online News and Reports (March to June, 2020)

CATEGORIES:
CAUSE: Environment
CAUSE: Factory Farms & Meat Plants
CAUSE: Diet
CAUSE: Future Pandemics
CAUSE: Reform
GLOBAL: Brazil
GLOBAL: China
GLOBAL: Germany
GOVERNMENT: Response
INDUSTRY: Response
POLITICS:

RESISTANCE: Lawsuits
RESISTANCE: Protests
RESISTANCE: Unions & Advocacy
SOCIAL STRUCTURE: Immigration Status
SOCIAL STRUCTURE: Racism
SPREAD: National
SPREAD: Los Angeles
WORKERS: Meat Plant
WORKERS: Produce
WORKERS: Seafood



CAUSE: Environment

Pandemics result from destruction of nature, say UN and WHO
https://amp.theguardian.com/world/2020/jun/17/pandemics-destruction-nature-un-who-legislation-trade-green-recovery?

Biodiversity and human health: Less biodiversity, more infectious diseases?
https://arctic-council.org/en/news/biodiversity-and-human-health-less-biodiversity-more-infectious-diseases/?

Coronavirus: Pandemics will be worse and more frequent unless we stop exploiting Earth and animals, top scientists warn
https://www.independent.co.uk/environment/coronavirus-pandemic-virus-disease-wildlife-environment-farming-infectious-a9487926.html?

Halt destruction of nature or suffer even worse pandemics, say world’s top scientists
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/apr/27/halt-destruction-nature-worse-pandemics-top-scientists?

It’s Big Livestock versus the Planet: whose side are we on?
https://feedbackglobal.org/its-big-livestock-versus-the-planet-whos-side-are-we-on/?

The Pandemic Is Not a Natural Disaster
https://www.newyorker.com/culture/annals-of-inquiry/the-pandemic-is-not-a-natural-disaster?



CAUSE: Factory Farms & Meat Plants

Coronavirus: world treating symptoms, not cause of pandemics, says UN
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/jul/06/coronavirus-world-treating-symptoms-not-cause-pandemics-un-report?

How Humanity Unleashed a Flood of New Diseases
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/06/17/magazine/animal-disease-covid.html?

Industrial farming of livestock a ticking pathogen bomb, scientists say
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/society/article/3087055/industrial-farming-livestock-ticking-pathogen-bomb-scientists?

The next pandemic might come from a factory farm in China or the US. Is the world prepared?
https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3086633/next-pandemic-might-come-factory-farm-china-or-us-world-prepared?

Why Experts Warn Factory Farms Could Cause Another Pandemic
https://thebeet.com/why-experts-warn-factory-farms-could-cause-another-pandemic/?

OPINION: A Zoonotic Heaven
https://m.styleweekly.com/richmond/opinion-a-zoonotic-heaven/Content?

How slaughterhouses became breeding grounds for coronavirus
https://www.ft.com/content/de2ca3f6-cd63-486a-a727-069762ca4a2a?

Cheap chicken, beef came at a cost. How American meat plants bred coronavirus hot spots.
https://www.usatoday.com/in-depth/news/investigations/2020/05/21/coronavirus-american-chicken-beef-industry-vulnerable-despite-trump/3107636001/?

It's time to shut down industrial animal farming
https://thehill.com/opinion/energy-environment/500997-its-time-to-shut-down-industrial-animal-farming?

End to slaughterhouses would benefit workers, consumers — but it's unlikely even COVID-19 will force change
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/manitoba-slaughterhouse-covid-19-1.5599837?

OPINION: Will Coronavirus Be What Finally Kills Factory Farming? | Opinion
https://www.newsweek.com/will-coronavirus-what-finally-kills-factory-farming-opinion-1505818?

The real scandal isn’t what China did to us. It’s what we did to ourselves.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/global-opinions/the-real-scandal-isnt-what-china-did-to-us-its-what-we-did-to-ourselves/2020/05/07/70b4e0ea-9097-11ea-9e23-6914ee410a5f_story.html?

Cheap chicken, beef came at a cost
https://www.courier-tribune.com/news/20200524/cheap-chicken-beef-came-at-cost?

The Sickness in Our Food Supply
https://www.nybooks.com/articles/2020/06/11/covid-19-sickness-food-supply/?

Cheap chicken, beef came at a cost. How American meat plants bred coronavirus hot spots.
https://www.usatoday.com/in-depth/news/investigations/2020/05/21/coronavirus-american-chicken-beef-industry-vulnerable-despite-trump/3107636001/?

LETTER: Keeping meat processing plants open endangers us all
https://www.fredericksburg.com/opinion/letters_to_editor/letter-keeping-meat-processing-plants-open-endangers-us-all/article_b961d98e-7463-5105-9d7b-533fea3bed9c.html?

Why meatpacking plants have become coronavirus hot spots
https://www.vox.com/2020/5/19/21259000/meat-shortage-meatpacking-plants-coronavirus?

The Human Cost of ‘Culling’ Livestock and ‘Depopulating’ Farms
https://www.nationalreview.com/2020/05/coronavirus-pandemic-human-cost-of-culling-livestock-depopulating-farms/?

COVID-19 Isn’t the Only Sickness Spreading Through Meat Plants
https://sentientmedia.org/covid-19-isnt-the-only-sickness-spreading-through-meat-plants/?

For America’s Meatpacking Workers, the Danger Is Real
https://www.eater.com/2020/5/13/21252510/america-meatpacking-industry-coronavirus-workers-at-risk-covid-19-impact?

Coronavirus: Industrial animal farming has caused most new infectious diseases and risks more pandemics, experts warn
https://www.independent.co.uk/environment/coronavirus-meat-animal-farming-pandemic-disease-wet-markets-a9505626.html?

Return of 'The Jungle': Risking Death to Maximize Profits
https://www.commondreams.org/views/2020/05/05/return-jungle-risking-death-maximize-profits?

Surely the link between abusing animals and the world's health is now clear
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2020/apr/11/surely-the-link-between-abusing-animals-and-the-worlds-health-is-now-clear?

More giant factory farms will inevitably mean we will create more deadly pandemics
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/debate/article-8490351/More-giant-factory-farms-inevitably-mean-create-deadly-pandemics.html?

Revealed: why meat processing plants are the ideal incubator of the coronavirus
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/global-health/science-and-disease/revealed-meat-processing-plants-ideal-incubator-coronavirus/? 

U.S. Meat Plants Are Deadly as Ever, With No Incentive to Change
https://www.bloombergquint.com/businessweek/how-meat-plants-were-allowed-to-become-coronavirus-hot-spots

Impact of SARS-CoV-2 on the Meat Industry and Food Safety
https://www.foodsafetymagazine.com/enewsletter/impact-of-sars-cov-2-on-the-meat-industry-and-food-safety/? 

Why U.S. meatpacking workers are vulnerable to coronavirus, and why the industry won't easily change
https://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/story/money/2020/05/06/covid-19-meat-industry-consumer-demand-large-scale-production-worker-safety/3048935001/?

America's factory farms are just as bad as we think any wet market is. We can't point fingers.
https://scoop.upworthy.com/our-factory-farms-are-just-as-bad-as-we-think-any-wet-market-is-we-cant-point-fingers?

Cold, Crowded, Deadly: How U.S. Meat Plants Became a Virus Breeding Ground
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2020-05-07/coronavirus-closes-meat-plants-threatens-food-supply?

A Pork Panic Won't Save Our Bacon
https://www.bloomberg.com/opinion/articles/2020-04-30/reopening-pork-plants-will-only-compound-a-covid-19-meat-shortage?

NEW SHOCKING VIDEO OF WET MARKETS... Animal Rights Group Demands Shutdown
https://www.tmz.com/2020/04/27/animal-rights-nyclass-danger-wet-market-slaughter-new-york/?

‘This isn’t essential’: Dog treat factory employees plead with Tyson to shut down plant after Covid-19 death
https://myfox8.com/news/this-isnt-essential-dog-treat-factory-employees-plead-with-tyson-to-shut-down-plant-after-covid-19-death/?

As they rushed to maintain U.S. meat supply, big processors saw plants become covid-19 hot spots, worker 
WashingtonPost.com

Stopping virus a huge challenge at crowded US meat plants
https://journalstar.com/news/state-and-regional/nebraska/stopping-virus-a-huge-challenge-at-crowded-us-meat-plants/article_00f28918-fb69-59c0-a193-aa771cd67eac.html?

Meatpacking plants at center of many North America COVID-19 outbreaks
https://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2020/04/24/meat-a24.html?

Severe coronavirus outbreaks stagger some meat-packing plants in Washington
https://www.seattletimes.com/business/meat-plant-work-takes-a-toll-in-southeastern-washington-where-tyson-plant-halts-work-after-90-plus-coronavirus-cases-1-worker-death/?

The meat we eat is a pandemic risk, too
https://www.vox.com/future-perfect/2020/4/22/21228158/coronavirus-pandemic-risk-factory-farming-meat?

Corrupt billionaire brothers’ meat plants are riddled with coronavirus
https://nypost.com/2020/04/18/billionaire-brothers-meat-plants-riddled-with-coronavirus/?

Coronavirus at Smithfield pork plant: The untold story of America's biggest outbreak
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-52311877?

Not Just China, New York Too Has Over 80 ‘Wet Markets’ That Sell & Slaughter Live Animals
https://www.india.com/news/world/not-just-china-new-york-too-has-over-80-wet-markets-that-sell-slaughter-live-animals-3989281/?


CAUSE: Diet

Obesity and Covid-19: Junk food industry ‘shares the blame’, some experts say
https://www.health24.com/Medical/Infectious-diseases/Coronavirus/obesity-and-covid-19-junk-food-industry-shares-the-blame-some-experts-say-20200614-3?

https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/food-industry-shares-the-blame-for-severity-of-covid-19-argue-experts?

What do we know about the relationship between our gut microbiota and COVID-19
https://www.gutmicrobiotaforhealth.com/what-do-we-know-about-the-relationship-between-our-gut-microbiota-and-covid-19/?

Cold air may be the culprit of massive coronavirus outbreaks in meatpacking plants across the US in a worrying sign that cases may surge this winter
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-8447461/Cold-air-fuel-coronaviruss-spread-meatpacking-plants.html?

The End of Meat Is Here
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/21/opinion/coronavirus-meat-vegetarianism.html?

Opinion | Jonathan Safran Foer: Meat is not essential. Why are we killing for it?
WashingtonPost.com

The moral cost of America’s meat-supply obsession
https://www.vox.com/future-perfect/2020/5/1/21243300/meat-supply-coronavirus-plant-shortage-food-chain?

NYU scientists: Largest US study of COVID-19 finds obesity the single biggest 'chronic' factor in New York City's hospitalizations
https://www.zdnet.com/article/nyu-scientists-largest-u-s-study-of-covid-19-finds-obesity-the-single-biggest-factor-in-new-york-critical-cases/?



CAUSE: Future Pandemics

As COVID-19 spreads, researchers track an influenza virus nervously
https://arstechnica.com/science/2020/07/as-covid-19-spreads-researchers-tracking-an-influenza-virus-nervously/?

Coronavirus: This is not the last pandemic
https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-52775386?

New strain of flu found in China has potential to become a pandemic, scientists warn
https://www.cnbc.com/2020/06/30/new-strain-of-flu-in-china-has-pandemic-potential-scientists-warns.html? 

Dr. Anthony Fauci says new virus in China has traits of 2009 swine flu and 1918 pandemic flu
https://www.cnbc.com/2020/06/30/dr-anthony-fauci-says-new-virus-in-china-has-traits-of-2009-h1n1-and-1918-pandemic-flu.html?

Environmental Destruction Brought Us COVID-19. What It Brings Next Could Be Far Worse.
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/emerging-disease-environmental-destruction_n_5e9db58fc5b63c5b58723afd?



CAUSE: Reform

Solidarity Across Species | Dissent Magazine
https://www.dissentmagazine.org/article/solidarity-across-species?

Overthrowing the Food System’s Plantation Paradigm
https://civileats.com/2020/06/19/op-ed-overthrowing-the-food-systems-plantation-paradigm/? 

Racial Injustice: The Truth about Industrial Agriculture
https://www.foodwhistleblower.org/racial-injustice-the-truth-about-industrial-agriculture/? 

How Red Meat Became the Red Pill for the Alt-Right
https://www.thenation.com/article/society/beef-red-pill-right/?

The Jungle and the Pandemic: The Meat Industry, Coronavirus, and an Economy in Crisis
https://theintercept.com/2020/05/20/the-jungle-and-the-pandemic-the-meat-industry-coronavirus-and-an-economy-in-crisis/?

We’re Still Living and Dying in the Slaveholders’ Republic
https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2020/05/what-freedom-means-trump/611083/?

The Writing of “Silent Spring”: Rachel Carson and the Culture-Shifting Courage to Speak Inconvenient Truth to Power
https://www.brainpickings.org/2017/01/27/rachel-carson-silent-spring-dorothy-freeman/?

Let's Rebuild the Broken Meat Industry—Without Animals
https://www.wired.com/story/opinion-lets-rebuild-the-broken-meat-industry-without-animals/?

3 Ways To Fix The Meat Industry’s Empathy Problem
https://www.forbes.com/sites/hankcardello/2020/06/18/3-ways-to-fix-the-meat-industrys-empathy-problem/? 

There's no such thing as humane meat or eggs. Stop kidding yourself
https://www.theguardian.com/food/2018/nov/16/theres-no-such-thing-as-humane-meat-or-eggs-stop-kidding-yourself?

As coronavirus threatens meat supply, we should embrace healthier alternatives
https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2020/05/21/coronavirus-gives-us-chance-try-healthier-alternatives-meat-column/5227040002/?

Plant-based diets could prevent a future pandemic say doctors 
https://www.euronews.com/living/2020/06/30/uk-doctors-claim-a-plant-based-diet-could-prevent-future-pandemics

WHO Adviser on Meat Plants: If We’re at War, the Weapons We Need Are Tests and PPE, Not Pork
https://www.democracynow.org/2020/4/30/lawrence_gostin_covid_19?



GLOBAL: Brazil

Brazil Stalks U.S. Fatalities After Virus Cases Tops 1 Million
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-06-19/brazil-blows-past-1-million-infections-with-no-peak-in-sight?

Brazil issues new guidelines for meatpackers as coronavirus pandemic ravages plants
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-brazil-meat/brazil-issues-new-guidelines-for-meatpackers-as-coronavirus-pandemic-ravages-plants-idUSKBN23Q3AY? 

Outbreaks of COVID-19 in Brazil’s meat processing plants and mines
https://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2020/06/17/bras-j17.html? 

Brazil Government Aide Says COVID-19's Toll on Elderly Will Reduce Pension Deficit As Country's Outbreak Escalates
https://www.newsweek.com/brazil-government-aide-says-covid-19s-toll-elderly-will-reduce-pension-deficit-countrys-1506830? 

Nine meat plants in southern Brazil face COVID-19 outbreaks
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-brazil-meatpackers/nine-meat-plants-in-southern-brazil-face-covid-19-outbreaks-idUSKBN22C2J8?



GLOBAL: China

China finds heavy coronavirus traces in seafood, meat sections of Beijing food market
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-china-seafood/china-finds-heavy-coronavirus-traces-in-seafood-meat-sections-of-beijing-food-market-idUSKBN23P20T? 

Coronavirus: China suspends poultry imports from Tyson Foods plant after workers test positive
https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3089995/coronavirus-china-suspends-poultry-imports-tyson-foods-plant?



GLOBAL: Germany

Coronavirus outbreak at a meatpacking plant exposes weakness in Germany’s covid-19 response
WashingtonPost.com

Germany: Coronavirus exposes meat workers' plight
https://www.dw.com/en/germany-coronavirus-exposes-meat-workers-plight/a-53902174? 

Meat plant must be held to account for Covid-19 outbreak, says German minister
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/jun/22/meat-plant-must-be-held-to-account-covid-19-outbreak-germany? 

Meat plant must be held to account for Covid-19 outbreak, says German minister
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/jun/22/meat-plant-must-be-held-to-account-covid-19-outbreak-germany? 

Coronavirus: Gütersloh mayor Henning Schulz slams Tönnies meat producer after massive outbreak forces lockdown
https://www.dw.com/en/coronavirus-g%C3%BCtersloh-mayor-henning-schulz-slams-t%C3%B6nnies-meat-producer-after-massive-outbreak-forces-lockdown/a-53932101? 

'I am angry': Germans back in lockdown demand accountability
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/jun/24/west-germany-district-re-enters-lockdown-after-new-covid-19-outbreak? 

Coronavirus R rate rockets in Germany after factory outbreak
https://www.theweek.co.uk/107313/coronavirus-r-rate-rockets-in-germany? 

'These clusters will continue to occur': Can Germany keep on top of new coronavirus outbreaks?
https://www.thelocal.de/20200624/these-clusters-will-continue-to-occur-can-germany-control-new-coronavirus-outbreaks? 

How did Europe avoid the Covid-19 catastrophe ravaging U.S. meatpacking plants?
https://thefern.org/2020/06/how-did-europe-manage-to-avoid-the-covid-19-catastrophe-ravaging-u-s-meatpacking-plants/



GOVERNMENT: Response

N.C. not doing enough to protect immigrant farmworkers from coronavirus, advocates say
https://www.greensboro.com/news/state/n-c-not-doing-enough-to-protect-immigrant-farmworkers-from-coronavirus-advocates-say/article_fa9c9469-dbba-598f-bad7-1be560ff6b66.html?

Trump administration uses faulty data to speed up meatpacking production
https://www.salon.com/2020/07/06/trump-administration-uses-faulty-data-to-speed-up-meatpacking-production_partner/?

‘All smoke and mirrors’: How Trump’s meatpacking order has failed to keep workers safe
https://www.aberdeennews.com/farm_forum/all-smoke-and-mirrors-how-trump-s-meatpacking-order-has-failed-to-keep-workers-safe/article_cd1cf5e4-b37d-11ea-9081-838b126f5b94.html? 

Covid-19 Is Rampant Near Meatpacking Plants, But N.C. Won't Disclose All of the Data
https://indyweek.com/news/northcarolina/covid-19-meatpacking-plants/? 

Revealed: Covid-19 outbreaks at meat-processing plants in US being kept quiet
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/jul/01/revealed-covid-19-outbreaks-meat-processing-plants-north-carolina? 

COVID-19 bill gives meat packing plants millions in relief, but worker safety isn’t included
https://www.newsobserver.com/news/coronavirus/article243835277.html? 

CDC joining efforts to address northern Utah COVID-19 spike, assist immigrants and refugees
https://www.deseret.com/utah/2020/6/12/21288111/coronavirus-cdc-joins-efforts-cache-county-covid-19-spike-feed-reassure-affected-immigrants-refugees?

Emails Reveal Chaos as Meatpacking Companies Fought Health Agencies Over COVID-19 Outbreaks in Their Plants
https://www.propublica.org/article/emails-reveal-chaos-as-meatpacking-companies-fought-health-agencies-over-covid-19-outbreaks-in-their-plants?

The Feds Just Indicted Meatpacking Moguls for Driving Up the Price of Your Chicken
https://www.motherjones.com/food/2020/06/the-feds-just-indicted-meatpacking-moguls-for-driving-up-the-price-of-your-chicken/?

Gov. Reynolds won’t ‘second guess’ Tyson’s decision to penalize workers for missing shifts due to illness, as another 694 cases of COVID-19 are reported in Iowa
https://littlevillagemag.com/gov-reynolds-wont-second-guess-tysons-decision-to-penalize-workers-for-missing-shifts-due-to-illness-as-another-694-cases-of-covid-19-are-reported-in-iowa/?

OSHA fines Kuna meat-rendering plant where employee died
https://www.idahostatesman.com/news/business/article243269091.html?

N.C. House bill would provide $25M for meat-packing plants. Proposal would add capacity, doesn't take up worker safety.
https://www.journalnow.com/business/n-c-house-bill-would-provide-25m-for-meat-packing-plants-proposal-would-add-capacity/article_9c9e2bee-1e07-5051-9b7d-195425fefaed.html?

Letter to the editor: In Maine, across U.S., meat workers get no federal protection
https://www.pressherald.com/2020/05/24/letter-to-the-editor-in-maine-across-u-s-meat-workers-get-no-federal-protection/?

Meat plant safety counsel is largely unenforceable
https://www.timesunion.com/business/article/Meat-plant-safety-counsel-is-largely-unenforceable-15287233.php?

With Trump Executive Order, Are Meat and Poultry Plants a COVID-19 Ticking Time Bomb?
https://blog.ucsusa.org/rebecca-boehm/with-trump-executive-order-are-meat-and-poultry-plants-a-covid-19-ticking-time-bomb?

Kansas altered meatpacking guidance to let possibly exposed workers stay on the job
https://www.kansas.com/news/politics-government/article242852011.html?

‘What are you hiding?’: Health officials stop reporting growing number of coronavirus cases at Nebraska meatpacking plants
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/coronavirus-us-nebraska-new-cases-meatpacking-plants-official-figures-a9511966.html?

Most meat plants will be on line this week despite coronavirus, says Perdue
https://www.agriculture.com/news/business/most-meat-plants-will-be-on-line-this-week-despite-coronavirus-says-perdue?

Iowa workers who don’t return to meat plants are ineligible for benefits
https://www.msnbc.com/stephanie-ruhle/watch/iowa-workers-who-don-t-return-to-meat-plants-are-ineligible-for-benefits-82812485952?

Nebraska Governor Defends Decision To Hide COVID-19 Stats At Specific Meatpacking Plants
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/rachel-maddow-pete-ricketts-nebraska-meatpacking-plants-coronavirus_n_5eb5ef86c5b69c4b317a69d1?

Trump's health secretary blames meat plant outbreaks on "home and social" lives of workers
https://www.motherjones.com/food/2020/05/republicans-keep-blaming-workers-for-coronavirus-outbreaks-at-meat-plants/?

Chief justice: COVID-19 spread at meatpacking plant not affecting 'regular folks'
https://www.wisn.com/article/coronavirus-chief-justice-spread-at-meatpacking-plant-not-affecting-regular-folks/32393991?

Trump bows to Big Meat: The president’s outrageous use of the Defense Production Act to shield slaughterhouses
https://www.nydailynews.com/opinion/ny-oped-trump-bows-to-big-meat-20200504-gvblme2tsnbxpn6ajvlyoljyde-story.html?

A Death Sentence for Meatpackers
https://www.commondreams.org/views/2020/04/29/death-sentence-meatpackers?

Former OSHA Officials Voice Alarm as Trump Tells Corporations They Don't Have to Record Coronavirus Cases Among Their Workers
https://www.commondreams.org/news/2020/04/12/former-osha-officials-voice-alarm-trump-tells-corporations-they-dont-have-record?

Wisconsin meat processing plants, closed after COVID-19 outbreaks, forced to re-open after Pres. Trump order
https://www.cbs58.com/news/wisconsin-meat-processing-plants-closed-after-covid-19-outbreaks-forced-to-reopen-after-trump-order?

The real reason Trump treats meatpacking workers as disposable
https://www.cnn.com/2020/04/29/opinions/trump-treats-meatpacking-workers-as-disposable-reyes/index.html

EWG: Without Worker Protections, Trump’s Planned Order To Keep Meat Plants Open During Pandemic Could Be a Death Sentence
https://www.ewg.org/release/ewg-without-worker-protections-trump-s-planned-order-keep-meat-plants-open-during-pandemic?

Trump rapidly uses wartime power for meat, hesitates to use it for ventilators
https://www.msnbc.com/all-in/watch/trump-rapidly-uses-wartime-power-for-meat-hesitates-to-use-it-for-ventilators-82720837584?

Trump Is Ready to Let Tyson Foods Work People to Death
https://nymag.com/intelligencer/2020/04/trumps-latest-salvo-on-workers-could-be-deadly.html?

Analysis | Prisons and meat processors are hotbeds of coronavirus. One can’t close. The other won’t be allowed 
WashingtonPost.com

Trump orders meat processing plants to stay open
https://www.cnn.com/2020/04/28/politics/defense-production-act-executive-order-food-supply/index.html?

White House Seeks To Lower Farmworker Pay To Help Agriculture Industry
https://www.npr.org/2020/04/10/832076074/white-house-seeks-to-lower-farmworker-pay-to-help-agriculture-industry?

Rule Barring Immigrants From Social Programs Risks Worsening Coronavirus Spread
https://www.wsj.com/articles/rule-barring-immigrants-from-social-programs-risks-worsening-coronavirus-spread-11585137602?



INDUSTRY: Response

Smithfield, Tysons Said Their Plants Had to Stay Open to Feed America. They Shipped Meat To China Instead.
https://vadogwood.com/2020/06/17/smithfield-tysons-said-their-plants-had-to-stay-open-to-feed-america-they-shipped-meat-to-china-instead/? 

Tyson returns to pre-COVID absentee policy
https://www.farmprogress.com/business/tyson-returns-pre-covid-absentee-policy?

Iowa JBS meatpacking employees warned of 'excessive absenteeism' as pandemic continues
https://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/money/business/2020/06/17/covid-19-iowa-letter-warns-meatpacking-workers-excess-absences/3202317001/? 

USDA Allows Poultry Plants To Raise Line Speeds, Exacerbating Risk of Covid-19 Outbreaks and Injury
https://www.nelp.org/publication/usda-allows-poultry-plants-raise-line-speeds-exacerbating-risk-covid-19-outbreaks-injury/? 

As Company Seeks Solutions, Tyson Workers Still Crowd Into Vans at Plant With COVID-19 Cases
https://www.nbcdfw.com/investigations/as-company-seeks-solutions-tyson-workers-still-crowd-into-vans-at-plant-with-covid-19-cases/2386541/?

Tyson Foods Introduces Social Distancing Monitors as New Outbreaks Occur At Its Plants
https://www.fool.com/investing/2020/06/01/tyson-foods-deals-with-an-analyst-downgrade-anothe.aspx?

As Employees Continue to Battle COVID-19 to Make Meat, Smithfield Rewards Essential Workers with Free Hot Dogs
https://vegnews.com/2020/7/as-employees-continue-to-battle-covid-19-to-make-meat-smithfield-rewards-essential-workers-with-free-hot-dogs?

A Utah meat plant is staying open even after 287 workers got coronavirus
https://www.vox.com/future-perfect/2020/6/11/21286840/meat-plant-covid-19-utah-coronavirus?

Coronavirus hit meat plants just as workers were being asked to speed up
WashingtonPost.com

Meat industry is trying to get back to normal, but workers are still getting sick
https://www.seattletimes.com/nation-world/big-meat-processors-saw-plants-become-covid-19-hot-spots-worker-illnesses-spike/

As Meatpacking Plants Reopen, Data About Worker Illness Remains Elusive
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/25/business/coronavirus-meatpacking-plants-cases.html

The meat industry is trying to get back to normal. But workers are still getting sick — and shortages may get worse.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2020/05/25/meat-industry-is-trying-get-back-normal-workers-are-still-getting-sick-shortages-may-get-worse/

Workers Worry Over Enforcement of Meatpacking Plant Safety Recommendations
https://www.insurancejournal.com/news/national/2020/05/22/569716.htm?

Middle and high school students to process lobster after temporary foreign worker ban
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/covid-19-seafood-processing-temporary-foreign-workers-local-hiring-1.5570176?

JBS meat plant in Michigan sends home older workers as it ramps up production
https://www.mlive.com/news/kalamazoo/2020/05/jbs-meat-plant-in-michigan-sends-home-older-workers-as-it-ramps-up-production.html?

Texas meatpacking plant reverses course, will allow state to test workers
https://www.texastribune.org/2020/05/13/texas-jbs-meatpacking-plant-rejects-state-efforts-coronavirus-test/?

'What's the cost of a human life?': U.S. meat-plant changes signal end of the 99-cent chicken
https://business.financialpost.com/commodities/agriculture/u-s-meat-plant-changes-signal-end-of-the-99-cent-chicken?

Some blame meatpacking workers, not plants, for virus spread
https://www.klkntv.com/some-blame-meatpacking-workers-not-plants-for-virus-spread/?

At least 4,500 Tyson workers have caught COVID-19, with 18 deaths. The meat giant still doesn't offer paid sick leave, as the industry blames workers for outbreaks.
https://www.businessinsider.com/tyson-4500-covid-19-cases-as-meat-industry-blames-workers-2020-5?

Pork Chops vs. People: Battling Coronavirus in an Iowa Meat Plant
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/10/business/economy/coronavirus-tyson-plant-iowa.html?

JBS Kept Colorado Beef Plant Open for Weeks During Pandemic. Now 3 Workers Are Dead
https://sentientmedia.org/jbs-kept-colorado-beef-plant-open-for-weeks-during-pandemic-now-3-workers-are-dead/?

Fremont chicken plant worker dies; plants in Madison, Schuyler to close temporarily
https://www.omaha.com/news/state_and_regional/fremont-chicken-plant-worker-dies-plants-in-madison-schuyler-to-close-temporarily/article_0791f20a-f47f-5c0e-9c9a-ede2ab0fd0a2.html?

Tens of Thousands of Healthy Pigs Being Killed Daily Amid COVID-19 Meatpacking Backlog
Time.com

As slaughterhouses shut down across the country, animals are at risk of on farm mass slaughter
https://thehill.com/opinion/energy-environment/494999-as-slaughterhouses-shut-down-across-the-country-animals-are-at?

2 million chickens to be killed because there aren’t enough workers to kill them
https://www.macon.com/news/coronavirus/article242304336.html?

Smithfield Pork Plant Offered $500 Bonus for Showing Up to Work During Coronavirus Outbreak
https://www.thedailybeast.com/smithfield-pork-plant-in-sioux-falls-offered-dollar500-bonus-for-showing-up-to-work-during-coronavirus-outbreak?

Workers at US meat plants blame coronavirus outbreaks on company policies
https://nypost.com/2020/04/26/major-us-meat-plants-are-coronavirus-hotspots-report/?

Pork producers slowly bring back workers with partitions, temperature tests
https://nypost.com/2020/05/04/pork-producers-slowly-bring-back-workers-after-coronavirus-outbreak/

Fears grow for the nation's food supply as Tyson shuts its largest pork processing plant as meat packing factories become coronavirus hotspots - and workers at Smithfield say they were given hair nets to wear as face masks

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8245503/Fears-grow-food-supply-Tyson-halts-operations-processing-plants-coronavirus-hotspots.html?



POLITICS:

Taco Bell, Pizza Hut, Wendy's franchisee gives $200K more to Trump reelection campaign
https://www.foxbusiness.com/politics/wendys-james-bodenstedt-400k-trump?

Booker renews push to phase out factory farming by 2040 after pandemic hits meatpacking plants
https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/496661-booker-renews-push-to-phase-out-factory-farming-by-2040-after-pandemic-hits?

Cash Cows: Meatpacking and the specter of Coronapolitics
https://thebaffler.com/latest/cash-cows-specht?

Iowa Poll: Nearly half say meatpacking plants have adequate oversight to protect workers
https://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/politics/iowa-poll/2020/06/19/iowa-poll-meat-packing-oversight-adequate-workers-tyson-covid-19/3199521001/? 

Pork packing saved Milan, Mo. Now some see plant as a threat
https://www.stltoday.com/business/local/pork-packing-saved-milan-mo-now-some-see-plant-as-a-threat/article_b63bc291-a7b5-599e-a70c-8471d50a8cef.html?



RESISTANCE: Lawsuits

Tyson Hit With Another COVID-19 Death Suit In Texas
https://www.law360.com/articles/1283346/tyson-hit-with-another-covid-19-death-suit-in-texas? 

Iowa families of 3 dead meat plant workers sue Tyson Foods
https://www.phillytrib.com/iowa-families-of-3-dead-meat-plant-workers-sue-tyson-foods/article_06cb7d3c-fa95-52a7-ba03-717119600c73.html? 

Latino group says $5 million gift to Iowa cities should go to workers who have gotten sick
https://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/money/agriculture/2020/06/24/latino-group-workers-coronavirus-need-money-donated-cities/3250695001/? 

Family seeks workers compensation payment from Tyson after Iowa man dies of COVID-19
https://www.thehawkeye.com/news/20200611/family-seeks-workers-compensation-payment-from-tyson-after-iowa-man-dies-of-covid-19?

Tyson Foods Was Slapped With a Federal Wrongful Death Lawsuit. It's About Time.
https://www.fool.com/investing/2020/05/28/tyson-foods-was-slapped-with-a-federal-wrongful-de.aspx?

McDonald’s hit with two class-action suits over COVID-19 worker safety
https://nypost.com/2020/05/19/mcdonalds-hit-with-chicago-and-california-class-action-suits-over-covid-19-safety/

Workers Are Dying at Meatpacking Plants, and Investors Need to Take Note
https://www.fool.com/investing/2020/05/13/workers-are-dying-at-meat-packing-plants-companies.aspx?

RESISTANCE: Protests

Tell Tyson: Workers deserve paid sick leave now!
https://sign.moveon.org/petitions/tell-tyson-workers-deserve-paid-sick-leave-now? 

Doctors posting billboards urging Reynolds to embrace alternatives to coronavirus-plagued meatpacking industry
https://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/money/agriculture/2020/06/23/anti-meat-billboard-iowa-governor-mansion-terrace-hill-coronavirus-outbreak-packing-plants/3245219001/? 

Car vigil held in South Omaha for packing plant safety awareness
https://www.3newsnow.com/news/local-news/car-vigil-held-in-south-omaha-for-packing-plant-safety-awareness? 

Multiple organizations joined Solidarity with Meatpacking Plant Workers for drive-in vigil
https://nebraska.tv/news/local/multiple-organizations-joined-solidarity-with-meatpacking-plant-workers-for-drive-in-vigil? 

Animal advocates protest JBS, call on plant to protect workers, switch to meat alternatives
https://www.hjnews.com/news/local/animal-advocates-protest-jbs-call-on-plant-to-protect-workers-switch-to-meat-alternatives/article_b46b6041-36f3-506a-a7a4-62c046f73dfc.html? 

Meatpacking workers oppose forced return to work through protests and mass absenteeism
https://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2020/06/16/meat-j16.html

Meatpacking workers often absent after order to reopen
https://nypost.com/2020/06/15/meatpacking-workers-often-absent-after-trump-order-to-reopen/

Workers protest against Utah meatpacking plant amid outbreak — ‘It’s not safe,’ says one
https://www.sltrib.com/news/politics/2020/06/09/meatpacking-workers/?

She's Advocating For Her Meat Plant Worker Parents
https://www.npr.org/2020/06/06/871536123/shes-advocating-for-her-meat-plant-worker-parents?

Protesters hold vigil outside Perdue Farms in Perry, questioning conditions inside
https://41nbc.com/2020/06/04/rural-americas-workforce-feeling-impact-coronavirus-protesters-fight-slaughterhouse-workers/?

Group protests outside Morganton chicken plant amid COVID-19 outbreak
https://www.wsoctv.com/news/local/group-protests-outside-morganton-chicken-plant-amid-covid-19-outbreak/BTY34JGC3NEFRBUYFGCNDSHV7I/?

Coronavirus cases at Arkansas meat plants rise, draw protests
https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2020/may/30/coronavirus-cases-at-meat-plants-rise-d/?

Activists protest outside Cargill Meat Solutions, call for closure of meatpacking plants in Wisconsin
https://www.cbs58.com/news/activists-protest-outside-cargill-meat-solutions-call-for-closure-of-meatpacking-plants-in-wisconsin?

Hispanic leaders call on Ricketts to support meatpackers, sterilize plants
https://www.theindependent.com/news/local/hispanic-leaders-call-on-ricketts-to-support-meat-packers-sterilize-plants/article_509e47e8-9ba9-11ea-aaf2-0f82f321eb82.html?

Tyson roadside vigil honors 3 Tri-Cities workers who died of COVID-19
https://www.tri-cityherald.com/news/local/article242763281.html?

Demonstrators gather outside Smithfield Foods, urging meat processing companies to shut down
https://www.wtkr.com/news/demonstrators-to-gather-outside-smithfield-foods-urging-meat-processing-companies-to-shut-down?

Protesters take a second stand at the Smithfield Foods meat factory
https://www.klkntv.com/protesters-take-a-second-stand-at-the-smithfield-foods-meat-factory/?

Meatless May? Latino civil rights group launches meat boycott as coronavirus hits plant workers
https://www.thegazette.com/subject/news/health/meatless-may-latino-civil-rights-group-lulac-launches-meat-boycott-as-coronavirus-hits-plant-workers-20200501?

Uproar Among Workers Supplying the World’s Meat Is Spreading
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-04-01/under-siege-from-virus-meat-workers-want-more-safety-measures?

How a Somali community took on a Minnesota meatpacking plant to contain a Covid-19 outbreak
https://qz.com/africa/1871345/somalis-took-on-a-minnesota-meatpacking-plant-to-stop-covid-19/? 

Somali chicken plant workers take on Pilgrim’s Pride, and win
https://thecounter.org/meatpacking-covid-19-somali-chicken-pilgrims-pride-strike/? 



RESISTANCE: Unions and Advocacy

What is it like to work for Tyson Foods during COVID-19?
https://www.workingattyson.com/?

Poor conditions in meat plants fuel Covid-19 outbreaks, say unions
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/jun/22/poor-conditions-in-meat-plants-fuel-covid-19-outbreaks-say-unions? 

Union Unveils Billboards In Memory Of 6 JBS Workers Who Died From COVID-19
https://denver.cbslocal.com/2020/06/19/greeley-billboards-jbs-workers-coronavirus-union/? 

99 Slaughterhouse Worker COVID-19 Deaths Provoke Coalition To Urge #boycottmeat
https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/99-slaughterhouse-worker-covid-19-deaths-provoke-coalition-to-urge-boycottmeat-301083435.html?

LULAC Iowa Wed am news conference: new #BOYCOTTMEAT coalition to protect slaughterhouse workers.
https://www.einnews.com/pr_news/520164296/lulac-iowa-wed-am-news-conference-new-boycottmeat-coalition-to-protect-slaughterhouse-workers? 

18 groups petition Gov. Cooper for more COVID-19 data transparency, especially from meat-packing plants
http://pulse.ncpolicywatch.org/2020/06/17/18-groups-petition-gov-cooper-for-more-covid-19-data-transparency-especially-from-meat-packing-plants/? 

Meting out misery - coronavirus outbreaks and the meat industry
https://socialistworker.co.uk/art/50285/Meting+out+misery+++coronavirus+outbreaks+and+the+meat+industry? 

More should be done to protect meat packing workers
https://siouxcityjournal.com/opinion/columnists/the-regulars-more-should-be-done-to-protect-meat-packing-workers/article_549729ce-4c81-561d-9bbd-8eb696da1df7.html? 

'A serious mistake': Union president criticizes Tyson Foods over attendance policy
https://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/money/business/2020/06/04/a-serous-mistake-ufcw-president-criticizes-tyson-foods/3144004001/?

Labor leader: 'Ham sandwich' not worth the lives of meat workers
https://www.msnbc.com/hallie-jackson/watch/labor-leader-ham-sandwich-not-worth-the-lives-of-meat-workers-83964485935?

At least 44 meatpacking workers have died from coronavirus, union says
https://www.marketwatch.com/story/at-least-44-meatpacking-workers-have-died-from-coronavirus-union-says-2020-05-28?

Meatpacking union: 44 COVID-19 deaths among workers
https://hayspost.com/posts/5ed0319febfb13423b26653c?

US union demands closure of LA meat processing plant
https://thepigsite.com/news/2020/05/us-union-demands-closure-of-la-meat-processing-plant?

Letters to the Editor: Meat processing plants mistreated their workers long before the coronavirus started
https://www.latimes.com/opinion/story/2020-06-04/meat-processing-plants-mistreated-their-workers-long-before-the-coronavirus?

America’s Slaughterhouses Aren’t Just Killing Animals
https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2020/05/essentials-meatpeacking-coronavirus/611437/?

N.C. not doing enough to protect immigrant farmworkers from coronavirus, advocates say
https://www.greensboro.com/news/state/n-c-not-doing-enough-to-protect-immigrant-farmworkers-from-coronavirus-advocates-say/article_fa9c9469-dbba-598f-bad7-1be560ff6b66.html?

Washington Farmworkers Become Covid-19 Guinea Pigs
https://davidbaconrealitycheck.blogspot.com/2020/05/washington-farmworkers-become-covid-19.html?

Meats vs. worker safety — it's a false dichotomy
https://thehill.com/opinion/healthcare/498735-meats-versus-worker-safety-its-a-false-dichotomy

The Coronavirus Wouldn’t Be Decimating Meatpacking Plants If Company Bosses Hadn’t Busted the Unions
https://www.jacobinmag.com/2020/05/iowa-upwa-meat-processing-unons-packinghouse-coronavirus?

What Would Justice For Packing Plant Workers Look Like?
https://iowastartingline.com/2020/05/19/what-would-justice-for-packing-plant-workers-look-like/?

Risking workers lives for meat on the table
https://www.660citynews.com/2020/05/15/risking-workers-lives-for-meat-on-the-table/?

Coronavirus Spreading in Meat Plants Puts Workers’ Lives at Risk
https://www.teenvogue.com/story/coronavirus-meat-industry?

Advocates slam Trump order to keep meatpacking plants open
https://thefern.org/ag_insider/advocates-slam-trump-order-to-keep-meatpacking-plants-open/?

It’s Workers Who Should Determine When Their Workplace Is Safe
https://prospect.org/labor/its-workers-who-should-determine-when-their-workplace-is-safe/?

U.S. Workplace Safety Rules Missing In The Pandemic
https://www.npr.org/2020/05/01/849212026/it-s-the-wild-west-u-s-workplace-safety-rules-missing-in-the-pandemic?

The Essential Workers America Treats as Disposable
https://www.nybooks.com/daily/2020/04/27/the-essential-workers-america-treats-as-disposable/?

800 Workers at a Pork Plant Get Covid-19: The Company Is Responsible
https://www.leftvoice.org/800-workers-at-a-pork-plant-get-covid-19-the-company-is-responsible?



SOCIAL STRUCTURE: Immigration Status

Undocumented workers are essential. Let’s treat them like it.
https://www.coloradoindependent.com/2020/06/15/guest-post-undocumented-workers-essential-daca/? 

Florida gov blames coronavirus rise on ‘overwhelmingly Hispanic’ workers
https://nypost.com/2020/06/19/desantis-blames-covid-spike-on-overwhelmingly-hispanic-laborers/? 

'Employees are not to blame' for coronavirus outbreaks
https://www.dw.com/en/employees-are-not-to-blame-for-coronavirus-outbreaks/a-53877321? 

Brown County's Latino community 'terrorized' by coronavirus, and the numbers show why
https://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/story/news/2020/06/30/coronavirus-brown-county-hispanics-hit-hard-virus-outbreaks/5266090002/? 

Tyson Foods worker dies as virus cripples Buena Vista county
https://kwwl.com/2020/06/10/tyson-foods-worker-dies-as-virus-cripples-buena-vista-county/?

Who Had To Die For Your Dinner?
https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/albertsamaha/july-4th-barbecue-food-coronavirus?

Worker shortage concerns loom in immigrant-heavy meatpacking
https://apnews.com/db42b45724befc83b2371450f149c711?

Latinos Make up Nearly 50% of COVID-19 Deaths in CA; New ‘Safer at Home’ Order Is Not Enough to Change That
https://remezcla.com/culture/coronavirus-california-safer-at-home-order-essential-workers/

Latino workers face discrimination over spread of coronavirus in meat plants
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/may/25/latino-workers-coronavirus-discrimination-meat-plants?

Fake IDs, Covid-19 deaths: Dallas meat plant tells tale of U.S. immigration breakdown
https://www.star-telegram.com/opinion/editorials/article243291001.html?

'The disease is ripping through': why coronavirus is devastating California's Pacific Islanders
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2020/may/22/pacific-islanders-california-coronavirus-death-rate?

Filipinos in Canada meat plant being scapegoated for Covid spread
https://usa.inquirer.net/55211/filipinos-in-canada-meat-plant-being-scapegoated-for-covid-spread?

The price of being 'essential': Latino service workers bear brunt of coronavirus
https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2020-05-17/latino-essential-workers-coronavirus?

Families of essential workers killed by COVID-19 face loss of health care
https://www.salon.com/2020/05/17/families-of-essential-workers-killed-by-covid-19-face-loss-of-health-care/?

The pandemic is just the latest threat faced by refugee food workers in Texas
https://thefern.org/2020/06/the-pandemic-is-just-the-latest-threat-faced-by-refugee-food-workers-in-texas/

Opinion: In About-Face, Trump Finds Immigrant Meat Packing Workers Essential
https://timesofsandiego.com/opinion/2020/05/16/in-about-face-trump-finds-immigrant-meat-packing-workers-essential/?

Coronavirus Case Rates and Death Rates for Latinos in the United States
https://salud-america.org/coronavirus-case-rates-and-death-rates-for-latinos-in-the-united-states/?

For Latinos and Covid-19, Doctors Are Seeing an ‘Alarming’ Disparity
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/07/us/coronavirus-latinos-disparity.html?

'Essential workers': Just another piece of meat in the food supply chain | POCHO
https://www.pocho.com/essential-workers-are-another-piece-of-meat-in-the-food-supply-chain/?

Coronavirus cases skyrocketing in Chicago’s Latino community
https://wgntv.com/news/coronavirus/coronavirus-cases-skyrocketing-in-chicagos-latino-community/?

Latinos' coronavirus deaths at meat processing plant raise alarms about worker safety
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/latino/latinos-coronavirus-deaths-meat-processing-plant-raise-alarms-about-worker-n1183916?

Iowa Immigrants Face Nightmare At Meat Packing Plants
https://iowastartingline.com/2020/04/21/iowa-immigrants-face-nightmare-at-meat-packing-plants1/?

'We all stay home': no work and no stimulus checks for undocumented family in U.S.
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-california-family/we-all-stay-home-no-work-and-no-stimulus-checks-for-undocumented-family-in-u-s-idUSKBN21Y3AT?

Want to See an American Hero? Go to Your Bodega.
https://www.thedailybeast.com/want-to-see-an-american-hero-go-to-your-bodega?

The Irony of Being Essential, But Illegal
https://washingtonmonthly.com/2020/04/07/the-irony-of-being-essential-but-illegal/?

Migrant farmworkers feed America, and they’re at high risk for a coronavirus outbreak
https://thefern.org/2020/03/migrant-farmworkers-feed-america-and-theyre-at-high-risk-for-a-coronavirus-outbreak/?

Are Latinos More Exposed to Coronavirus? Left Out of Testing, Treatment, Social Distancing?
https://salud-america.org/latinos-more-exposed-to-coronavirus-left-out-of-testing-treatment/?

Farmworkers, Mostly Undocumented, Become ‘Essential’ During Pandemic
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/02/us/coronavirus-undocumented-immigrant-farmworkers-agriculture.html?

These Migrant Workers Did Not Suddenly Fall From the Sky
https://mailchi.mp/thetricontinental.org/these-migrant-workers-did-not-suddenly-fall-from-the-sky-the-fourteenth-newsletter-2020?

Reports: Latino Workers Are Hit Hardest by COVID-19 Pandemic
https://salud-america.org/latino-workers-are-hit-hardest-by-covid-19-pandemic/?

'I have a broken heart': Trump policy has immigrants backing away from healthcare amid crisis
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/mar/29/i-have-a-broken-heart-trump-policy-has-immigrants-backing-away-from-healthcare-amid-crisis?

Immigrants, People Of Color At Risk From Coronavirus, Experts Say
https://patch.com/california/sanmateo/immigrants-people-color-risk-coronavirus-experts-say?

Undocumented in US have few protections from virus fallout
https://www.aljazeera.com/ajimpact/undocumented-protections-virus-fallout-200325165902316.html?



SOCIAL STRUCTURE: Racism

Housekeepers the 'hidden heroes' keeping patients, doctors safe during COVID-19 pandemic
https://www.wltx.com/article/news/hidden-heroes-of-covid-19/93-828b7451-67ef-4b5f-83af-ca571ce8561b?

Coronavirus Surge In Montgomery, Alabama Reveals Health Inequalities | NBC Nightly News
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hxUvXM_ZIx0

Why Racism, Not Race, Is a Risk Factor for Dying of COVID-19
https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/why-racism-not-race-is-a-risk-factor-for-dying-of-covid-191/?

55% Of U.S. Coronavirus Cases In CDC Analysis Are Black And Hispanic
https://www.forbes.com/sites/mattperez/2020/06/15/55-of-us-coronavirus-cases-in-cdc-analysis-are-black-and-hispanic/? 

Missing data veils coronavirus damage to minority communities
https://www.politico.com/news/2020/06/14/missing-data-veils-coronavirus-damage-to-minority-communities-316198?

Florida migrant towns become coronavirus hot spots in the United States
https://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/florida/fl-ne-ap-immokalee-coronavirus-hotspots-20200614-t4xnz5mkdzbxljgxu3c6pqhb3m-story.html?

'An alley without exit.' Experts worry COVID-19 among Latinos will get dire without support
https://www.greensboro.com/news/local_news/an-alley-without-exit-experts-worry-covid-19-among-latinos-will-get-dire-without-support/article_f9e99a3d-395d-5516-9ee9-33e68ce9fd50.html? 

California Latino, Black residents hit even harder by coronavirus as white people see less danger
https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2020-06-27/california-latinos-black-people-hit-even-harder-by-coronavirus? 

This Texas Town Is America’s COVID-19 Future
https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/annehelenpetersen/amarillo-texas-could-be-americas-covid-19-future?

Latinos’ risk of getting COVID doubles in states with meat processing plant outbreaks
https://www.star-telegram.com/news/coronavirus/article243393241.html?

The COVID-19 Response Is Fueled by Racial Hostility (OPINION)
https://www.latinorebels.com/2020/05/04/covidracialhostility/?

A bioethicist on why reopening states will kill more black people
https://www.vox.com/identities/2020/5/1/21242911/black-americans-coronavirus-opening-states?

When Blackness Is a Preexisting Condition
https://newrepublic.com/article/157537/blackness-preexisting-condition-coronavirus-katrina-disaster-relief?

Whose life matters more? A human or a hog?
https://www.thegazette.com/subject/opinion/staff-columnist/whose-life-matters-more-a-human-or-a-hog-20200421?

Coronavirus Case Rates and Death Rates for Latinos in the United States
https://salud-america.org/coronavirus-case-rates-and-death-rates-for-latinos-in-the-united-states/?

Smithfield Foods Is Blaming “Living Circumstances In Certain Cultures” For One Of America’s Largest COVID-19 Clusters
https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/albertsamaha/smithfield-foods-coronavirus-outbreak?

COVID-19 may not discriminate based on race — but U.S. health care does
https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/covid-19-may-not-discriminate-based-on-race-but-u-s-health-care-does?



SPREAD: National

Covid-19 Is Rampant Near Meatpacking Plants, But N.C. Won't Disclose All of the Data
https://indyweek.com/news/northcarolina/covid-19-meatpacking-plants/?

Meat processing plants spread the coronavirus in North Carolina
https://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2020/07/03/ncar-j03.html?

Workers at SC meat plants infected with COVID 19. Many cases are in the Midlands
https://www.thestate.com/news/coronavirus/article243904777.html?

Mapping Covid-19 in meat and food processing plants | Food and Environment Reporting Network
https://thefern.org/2020/04/mapping-covid-19-in-meat-and-food-processing-plants/?

Meat Plants Become Hotspots for Covid-19 Across the World
https://www.grainmart.in/news/meat-plants-become-hotspots-for-covid-19-across-the-world/? 

Virus Hotspots Grow in Meat Plants From Germany to Brazil
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-05-13/virus-hotspots-multiply-in-meat-plants-from-germany-to-brazil

At Tyson, 13% of workers infected
https://www.nwaonline.com/news/2020/jun/20/at-tyson-13-of-workers-infected/? 

Meat processing plants spread the coronavirus in North Carolina
https://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2020/07/03/ncar-j03.html?

Workers at SC meat plants infected with COVID 19. Many cases are in the Midlands
https://www.thestate.com/news/coronavirus/article243904777.html? 

Where COVID-19 is spreading fastest as U.S. cases rise 46% in past week
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-usa-trends-graphic/where-covid-19-is-spreading-fastest-as-u-s-cases-rise-46-in-past-week-idUSKBN2411P4? 

COVID-19 has killed 93 meat plant workers across the US
WashingtonPost.com

COVID outbreaks at meatpacking plants keep growing. ZIP code data shows their spread.
https://www.thecattlesite.com/news/55513/covid19-has-killed-93-meat-plant-workers-across-the-us/? 

Risk up on Arkansas poultry lines
https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2020/jun/13/risk-up-on-poultry-lines/?

Coronavirus has killed 5 poultry plant workers and infected more than 200 other employees on Maryland’s Eastern Shore
https://www.baltimoresun.com/coronavirus/bs-md-chicken-plant-cases-20200611-ck65omlurrd63anpoqiibitblm-story.html?

Utah's Spike In Coronavirus Cases Tied Mostly To Meat Plant In Hyrum
https://www.kuer.org/post/utahs-spike-coronavirus-cases-tied-mostly-meat-plant-hyrum?

Outbreaks at 60 US food plants raise specter of more shortages
https://norwalkreflector.com/news/261286/outbreaks-at-60-us-food-plants-raise-specter-of-more-shortages/?

Long Prairie beef processor among latest swept by COVID-19, despite significant prevention
https://www.mprnews.org/story/2020/06/10/long-prairie-beef-processor-among-latest-swept-by-covid19-despite-significant-prevention?

COVID- 19 Outbreaks in NC: Symptoms of a Sick System
https://www.foodwhistleblower.org/covid-19-outbreaks-in-nc-symptoms-of-a-sick-system/?

786 workers at Tyson's Dakota City plant have coronavirus; company says worst is over
https://www.kearneyhub.com/news/state/786-workers-at-tysons-dakota-city-plant-have-coronavirus-company-says-worst-is-over/article_dd961854-acaa-568f-af07-9d9288c0755c.html?

Columnist Claire Morenon: Coronavirus exposes bleak truths about the national meat industry
https://www.gazettenet.com/Columnist-Claire-Morenon-34526524?

Meatpacking workers risk returning to hot spots
https://www.politico.com/newsletters/morning-agriculture/2020/06/01/meatpacking-workers-risk-returning-to-hot-spots-788067?

‘Is pork essential?’ In a Smithfield town, a coronavirus-stricken meat factory comes back to life
https://www.latimes.com/world-nation/story/2020-05-29/coronavirus-pork-smithfield-south-dakota?

Meatpacker took precautions. Workers still got sick.
https://www.bizjournals.com/twincities/news/2020/05/29/long-prairie-packing-covid-19-outbreak.html?

Iowa Health Official Says 555 Workers at Tyson Meat Plant Test Positive for COVID-19
https://www.theepochtimes.com/iowa-health-official-says-555-workers-at-tyson-meat-plant-test-positive-for-covid-19_3368250.html?

Cases of meat plant workers with coronavirus soars from 3,700 to more than 15,000 in a month - as experts warn meat supply could drop by a THIRD and prices could spike by 20%
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8357717/Cases-meat-plant-workers-coronavirus-triples-3-700-15-000-month.html?

Nearly 600 employees at North Carolina chicken processing plant test positive for coronavirus
https://www.nydailynews.com/coronavirus/ny-coronavirus-tyson-chicken-processing-plant-test-positive-20200521-4tprlqcq2vfv3etqbe5nnsc5mu-story.html?

Grocery Workers Union Estimates 3,257 Members Infected With Coronavirus
https://www.npr.org/2020/05/22/859624421/grocery-workers-union-estimates-3-257-members-infected-with-coronavirus?

Regulatory gaps, missed opportunities allowed COVID-19 to spread in meatpacking plants
https://www.aberdeennews.com/covid19/regulatory-gaps-missed-opportunities-allowed-covid-19-to-spread-in-meatpacking-plants/article_24803d08-93e1-11ea-9394-b764e07acda7.html?

Meat plants still coronavirus hotspots after Tyson reveals quarter of NC plant tested positive
https://www.foxbusiness.com/markets/tyson-meat-plant-north-carolina-coronavirus?

Almost 12,000 meatpacking and food plant workers have reportedly contracted COVID-19. At least 48 have died.
https://www.businessinsider.com/meatpacking-plants-12000-coronavirus-cases-48-deaths-2020-5?

Virus infects 18% of workers at beef plant in Washington
https://www.capitalpress.com/ag_sectors/livestock/virus-infects-18-of-workers-at-beef-plant-in-washington/article_58a3dac4-96fa-11ea-898c-a3f0b666176d.html?

More than 120 workers test positive for Covid-19 at Cork meat plant
https://www.echolive.ie/corknews/More-than-120-workers-test-positive-for-Covid-19-at-Cork-meat-plant-40ef1c12-b321-49bf-92a8-d7fc32160d31-ds?

3 workers killed, 277 infected in coronavirus outbreak at E. Wash. beef plant
https://ktul.com/news/nation-world/3-workers-killed-277-infected-in-coronavirus-outbreak-at-e-wash-beef-plant?

US coronavirus hotspots linked to meat processing plants
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/may/15/us-coronavirus-meat-packing-plants-food?

Thirty Workers, Four USDA Inspectors Dead Amid Meat Plant Coronavirus Outbreaks
https://time.com/5836973/usda-inspector-meat-workers-dead-coronavirus/?

CDC: Nearly 5,000 Meat Processing Workers Infected With COVID-19
https://www.usnews.com/news/healthiest-communities/articles/2020-05-01/cdc-nearly-5-000-meat-plant-workers-infected-by-coronavirus?

Second Wisconsin meatpacking worker dies of COVID-19; infections at food plants exceed 800
https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/2020/05/08/second-wisconsin-meatpacking-worker-dies-of-coronavirus-800-infected/3095122001/?

COVID Case Count At Reopened Tyson Meat Plant Doubles To More Than 1,000
https://talkingpointsmemo.com/news/covid-case-count-at-reopened-tyson-meat-plant-doubles-to-more-than-1000?

Meat plant workers make up 1/6 of COVID-19 cases in Nebraska
https://fox42kptm.com/news/local/omaha-meat-cases?

Pa. has more coronavirus cases among meat plant workers than any other state, CDC says
https://www.inquirer.com/business/retail/cdc-20200501.html?

58 percent of workers at Tyson meat factory in Iowa test positive for coronavirus
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/58-percent-workers-tyson-meat-factory-iowa-test-positive-coronavirus-n1200641?

As meat plants reopen, Iowa, South Dakota, Pennsylvania, and Nebraska are coronavirus leaders
https://www.agriculture.com/news/business/as-meat-plants-reopen-iowa-south-dakota-pennsylvania-and-nebraska-are-coronavirus?

Colorado Leads Nation For Most COVID-19 Deaths Connected To Meat Processing Plants, Sixth Greeley JBS Employee Dies
https://www.cpr.org/2020/05/01/colorado-leads-nation-for-most-covid-19-deaths-connected-to-meat-processing-plants-sixth-greeley-jbs-employee-dies/?

Testing at Tyson plant near Tri-Cities finds nearly 1 in 8 with coronavirus. 2 have died
https://www.tri-cityherald.com/news/coronavirus/article242465531.html?

CDC: Nearly 5,000 Meat Processing Workers Infected With COVID-19
https://www.usnews.com/news/healthiest-communities/articles/2020-05-01/cdc-nearly-5-000-meat-plant-workers-infected-by-coronavirus?

Nearly 900 workers at Tyson meat plant in Indiana test positive for coronavirus
https://thehill.com/homenews/news/495564-nearly-900-workers-at-tyson-meat-plant-in-indiana-test-positive-for-coronavirus?

Hundreds of poultry workers fall ill to coronavirus as consumer demand spikes
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/poultry-workers-sick-coronavirus-food-supply-meat-demand-spikes/

U.S. meat industry seen as source of most new COVID-19 hotspots
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/u-s-meat-industry-a-top-source-of-new-covid-19-hotspots/

13 U.S. meat industry workers have died of COVID-19, union says
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/coronavirus-meat-industry-workers-died-covid-19/?

'Catastrophic Harm' Feared as Trump Uses Emergency Powers to Keep Meat-Packing Plants Open
https://www.commondreams.org/news/2020/04/28/catastrophic-harm-feared-trump-uses-emergency-powers-keep-meat-packing-plants-open?

One Hundred U.S. Government Meat Inspectors Have Contracted Covid-19
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-04-23/one-hundred-usda-inspectors-have-tested-positive-for-covid-19?

Workers at Hanford meat packing plant infected with coronavirus
https://www.fresnobee.com/news/coronavirus/article242305656.html?

As they rushed to maintain U.S. meat supply, big processors saw plants become covid-19 hot spots, worker 
WashingtonPost.com

Coronavirus at meatpacking plants worse than first thought, USA TODAY investigation finds
https://www.usatoday.com/in-depth/news/investigations/2020/04/22/meat-packing-plants-covid-may-force-choice-worker-health-food/2995232001/?

Poultry Worker’s Death Highlights Spread of Coronavirus in Meat Plants
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/09/us/coronavirus-chicken-meat-processing-plants-immigrants.html?

Hundreds of U.S. Meat Workers Have Now Tested Positive for Virus
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-04-10/worsening-outbreak-at-colorado-meat-plant-impacts-as-many-as-300?



SPREAD: Los Angeles

As COVID-19 surges, LA County hospitals running low on hospital beds, ICU space
https://abc7.com/coronavirus-covid-19-la-county-surge-dr-barbara-ferrer/6300610/?

California Disputes Record Coronavirus Case Count
https://www.usnews.com/news/health-news/articles/2020-07-06/california-records-highest-daily-coronavirus-case-count-of-any-state?

Some Meat Plant Workers Who Make Dodger Dogs Are Spreading COVID-19 to Their Families
https://www.nbclosangeles.com/investigations/some-meat-plant-workers-who-make-dodger-dogs-are-spreading-covid-19-to-their-families/2368919/?

Dodger Dog Meat Packing Facility Experiences Outbreak of COVID-19
https://www.dodgersnation.com/dodger-dog-meat-packing-facility-experiences-outbreak-of-covid-19/2020/05/23/?

Outbreak of COVID-19 cases reported at Farmer John meat processing facility in Vernon
https://abc7.com/6207742/?

Vernon has about as many coronavirus cases as residents. That worries its neighbors
https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2020-06-14/vernon-coronavirus-cases-residents-farmer-john?

Why are coronavirus cases in East LA surging?
https://www.theeastsiderla.com/neighborhoods/east_los_angeles/why-are-coronavirus-cases-in-east-la-surging/article_ef3d48ca-b663-11ea-b9ea-b3e956bd1447.html? 

Racism and inequity fuel coronavirus-related death toll among L.A. County minorities, officials say
https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2020-06-09/coronavirus-deaths-racism-blacks-latinos-pacific-islanders-inequity?

Southern California Supermarkets Rocked by COVID-19 Outbreaks
https://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/local/southern-california-supermarkets-rocked-by-covid-19-outbreaks/2355054/?

As Many Angelenos Stayed Home, LA County Saw A Spike In Coronavirus Among Latinos. Here's Why
https://laist.com/2020/06/09/los-angeles-county-coronavirus-latinos-esential-workers-spike-analysis.php?

Mis Ángeles: Existential Dread For DACA Recipients Working On The Pandemic's Frontlines
https://laist.com/2020/05/15/los-angeles-coronavirus-daca-grocery-worker.php?

The undocumented restaurant workers who fed us are being forgotten. This is their struggle
https://www.latimes.com/food/story/2020-05-15/undocumented-restaurant-workers-coronavirus?



WORKERS: Meat Plant

Who Had To Die For Your Dinner?
https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/albertsamaha/july-4th-barbecue-food-coronavirus?

After covid-19, a poultry worker fears a return to work
https://www.chron.com/news/article/After-covid-19-a-poultry-worker-fears-a-return-15388425.php?

A Salvadoran immigrant worked at a Fort Morgan slaughterhouse for 24 years. Coronavirus killed him in 10 days.
https://coloradosun.com/2020/06/18/juan-marin-cargill-meatpacking-coronavirus-death/

Germany: Former abattoir worker 'heard colleagues crying at night
https://www.dw.com/en/germany-former-abattoir-worker-heard-colleagues-crying-at-night/a-53943595? 

Why these meatpacking workers fear for their health and safety amid COVID-19
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qw1uYdRnkU4

Pride turns to fear for Latino workers pressured to produce chicken at Bell & Evans
https://www.inquirer.com/business/health/a/coronavirus-bell-evans-chicken-plant-latino-workers-pa-20200615.html?

Opinion | We’re Feeding America, but We’re Sacrificing Ourselves
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/06/15/opinion/coronavirus-tyson-poultry.html?

‘That virus took my family away’: SoCal couple dies from COVID-19 one day apart, leaving behind 5 young children
https://ktla.com/news/local-news/that-virus-took-my-family-away-downey-couple-dies-one-day-apart-from-covid-19-leaving-behind-5-young-children/?

Worried about meat availability? Workers are worried about their lives
https://www.columbiamissourian.com/opinion/guest_commentaries/guest-commentary-worried-about-meat-availability-workers-are-worried-about-their-lives/article_531efccc-a4ed-11ea-b33a-6b5dc1577c91.html?

As meatpacking plants reopen, workers terrified of coronavirus risk
https://www.politico.com/news/2020/06/02/meatpacking-plants-reopen-coronavirus-294382?

Iowa workers are paying a high price for our meat. Our top politicians don't care
https://www.thegazette.com/subject/opinion/staff-columnist/iowa-workers-are-paying-a-high-price-for-our-meat-our-top-politicians-dont-care-20200531?

Undocumented Dallas plant workers say they rented fake IDs from temp agency. Then 2 died
https://www.star-telegram.com/article242932471.html

As COVID races through Mountaire Farms poultry plant, workers deemed vital feel dispensable
https://www.northcarolinahealthnews.org/2020/05/28/as-covid-races-through-mountaire-farms-poultry-plant-workers-deemed-vital-feel-dispensable/?

Iowa meat plant worker dies after search to reunite him with his family
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/coronavirus-iowa-meat-worker-death-facebook-family-a9534496.html?

North Carolina hair salon declines to serve meat plant workers over coronavirus fears
https://thehill.com/regulation/labor/499454-north-carolina-hair-salon-declines-to-serve-meat-plant-workers-over?

Tyson meat plant employee dies of Covid-19 weeks after major outbreak
https://www.cnn.com/2020/05/26/business/tyson-waterloo-plant-death/index.html?

JBS Meat Plant Clinic Told Eighth COVID-19 Victim She Had a ‘Normal Cold,’ Daughter Says
https://www.thedailybeast.com/jbs-meat-plant-clinic-told-eighth-covid-19-victim-she-had-a-normal-cold-daughter-says?

Special Report: In Oklahoma pork-packing town, COVID stirs fear, faith and sorrow
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-meat-plant-special/special-report-in-oklahoma-pork-packing-town-covid-stirs-fear-faith-and-sorrow-idUSKBN22Z0SK?

‘They could have done more’: Daughter of Marshalltown meatpacking plant worker blames JBS for his COVID-19 death
https://www.thehawkeye.com/news/20200521/they-could-have-done-more-daughter-of-marshalltown-meatpacking-plant-worker-blames-jbs-for-his-covid-19-death?

Scared and Sick, U.S. Meat Workers Crowd in Reopened Plants
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-05-21/scared-and-sick-u-s-meat-workers-crowd-into-reopened-plants

‘Like walking into a death trap:’ St. Joseph meat plant workers fear catching COVID-19
https://www.kansascity.com/news/coronavirus/article242763271.html?

A week away from retirement, Marshalltown meatpacking worker dies from coronavirus
https://www.weareiowa.com/article/news/local/meatpacking-worker-passes-away-a-week-before-retirement/524-486a80bc-c61e-4a37-851f-9ba64caf60ed?

Remembering Juan: Niece of Dakota City, NE Tyson worker speaks out after his death due to COVID-19
https://ktiv.com/2020/05/06/remembering-juan-niece-of-dakota-city-ne-tyson-worker-speaks-out-after-his-death/?

Eighth JBS Greeley worker dies amid coronavirus outbreak at meat plant
https://www.timescall.com/2020/05/18/jbs-greeley-coronavirus-covid-death/?

What the Arkansas meat plant workers I met want you to know
https://www.cnn.com/2020/05/19/opinions/keep-meat-plant-and-farm-workers-safe-from-covid-19-driver/index.html?

Refugee Advocate: Workers Not Sure Who To Trust In Pandemic
https://iowastartingline.com/2020/05/17/refugee-advocate-workers-not-sure-who-to-trust-in-pandemic/?

“When We’re Dead and Buried, Our Bones Will Keep Hurting”
https://www.hrw.org/report/2019/09/04/when-were-dead-and-buried-our-bones-will-keep-hurting/workers-rights-under-threat?

‘Like walking into a death trap:’ St. Joseph meat plant workers fear catching COVID-19
https://www.kansascity.com/news/coronavirus/article242763271.html?

'Everyone's on top of you, sneezing and coughing': life inside Ireland's meat plants
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/may/14/everyones-on-top-of-you-sneezing-and-coughing-life-inside-irelands-meat-plants-covid-19?

Mississippi poultry worker who died of COVID-19 pushed for better pay, conditions
https://www.clarionledger.com/story/opinion/columnists/2020/05/11/forest-mississippi-poultry-worker-celso-mendoza-dies-coronavirus/3104375001/?

"How Am I Going To Survive?": A Costco Meatpacking Worker Speaks Of Her Fears As She And Others Labor To Keep Chicken In Stores
https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/melissasegura/coronavirus-costco-meatpacking-workers-meat-shortage?

A Salisbury father and poultry plant worker died of COVID-19. Are plants putting products before workers?
https://www.delmarvanow.com/restricted/?

Workers in Iowa meat industry fear returning to processing plants
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/05/workers-iowa-meat-industry-fear-returning-work-200507230006106.html?

A work-while-sick culture and lack of safeguards at meat plants has employees fearing for their lives
https://www.businessinsider.com/few-safeguards-meat-plant-workers-live-in-fear-2020-5

‘I lost him because of that horrible place’: Smithfield worker dies from COVID-19
https://www.argusleader.com/story/news/crime/2020/04/15/smithfield-foods-sioux-falls-sd-worker-dies-coronavirus-hot-spot/2994502001/?

Opinion | Two of My Colleagues Died of Covid-19
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/29/opinion/coronavirus-worker-deaths.html?

'I am so, so sad': Husband, friends of Cargill worker who died from COVID-19 honour her in memorial
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/memorial-worker-cargill-hiep-bui-covid-death-alberta-1.5554765?

‘Essential worker just means you’re on the death track’
https://www.usatoday.com/in-depth/news/2020/05/04/meat-packing-essential-worker-hogs-south-dakota-smithfield-food-chain-covid-19-coronavirus-inside/3064329001/?

3 USDA meat inspectors dead, about 145 diagnosed with COVID-19
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/coronavirus-usda-meat-inspectors-3-dead-covid-19/?

“The Workers Are Being Sacrificed”: As Cases Mounted, Meatpacker JBS Kept People on Crowded Factory Floors
https://www.motherjones.com/food/2020/05/meatpacking-coronavirus-workers-factory-jbs-tyson-smithfield-covid-crisis-sacrifice-outbreaks-beef/?

Listen to one Tyson employee's message to Donald Trump
https://www.cnn.com/videos/health/2020/05/01/meat-poultry-plant-workers-tyson-coronavirus-pkg-marquez-nr-vpx.cnn

'We're modern slaves': How meat plant workers became the new frontline in Covid-19 war
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/may/02/meat-plant-workers-us-coronavirus-war?

Washington Post investigates worker safety violations at meat processing plants
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L7F_nYFKJFk

Younger Latinos Fear For Their Parents At Meat Packing Plants
https://iowastartingline.com/2020/04/29/younger-latinos-fear-for-their-parents-at-meat-packing-plants/?

'Death is so real:' Immigrant group says meat workers afraid after plant closure
https://www.msn.com/en-ca/news/canada/death-is-so-real-immigrant-group-says-meat-workers-afraid-after-plant-closure/ar-BB13bSct?

‘Are you ready to go back?’ After covid-19, a poultry worker fears a return to work.
WashingtonPost.com

Smithfield Foods workers say they aren’t allowed to cover mouths to sneeze
https://nypost.com/2020/04/24/smithfield-foods-workers-arent-allowed-to-cover-mouths-to-sneeze-lawsuit/?

USDA Inspector Reportedly Dies Amid Meat-Plant Viral Outbreaks
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-04-23/usda-inspector-reported-to-die-amid-meat-plant-viral-outbreaks?

“Terrified to Go to Work”: Hundreds of Workers in Meat & Poultry Plants Test Positive for COVID-19
https://www.democracynow.org/2020/4/14/us_meatpacking_facilities_coronavirus?



WORKERS: Produce

Farmworkers at Central California pistachio strike after dozens test positive for the coronavirus
https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2020-06-25/farmworkers-at-central-california-pistachio-strike-after-dozens-test-positive-for-the-coronavirus?

Covid-19 is spreading among farmworkers, and it may get worse
https://thefern.org/2020/06/covid-19-is-spreading-among-farmworkers-and-it-may-get-worse/?

COVID-19 Infections Rising Among Vegetable Packing Workers in California
https://timesofsandiego.com/business/2020/06/11/covid-19-infections-rising-among-vegetable-packing-workers-in-california/?

Farmworkers are dying, COVID-19 cases are spiking, and the food system is in peril
https://www.salon.com/2020/05/31/farmworkers-are-dying-covid-19-cases-are-spiking-and-the-food-system-is-in-peril/?

Every Single Worker Has Covid at One U.S. Farm on Eve of Harvest
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-05-29/every-single-worker-has-covid-at-one-u-s-farm-on-eve-of-harvest?

COVID-Related Strikes Hit Washington’s Apple Sheds
https://capitalandmain.com/covid-related-strikes-hit-washingtons-apple-sheds-0514?

40 percent of positive COVID-19 cases in Monterey County are agricultural workers
https://kion546.com/health/coronavirus/2020/05/06/county-officials-more-than-a-third-of-positive-covid-19-cases-in-monterey-county-are-agricultural-workers/?

Opinion | I Harvest Your Food. Why Isn’t My Health ‘Essential’?
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/15/opinion/covid-farmworkers-paid-leave.html?

Farmworkers face coronavirus risk: 'You can't pick strawberries over Zoom'
https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2020-04-01/california-farmworkers-coronavirus?



WORKERS: Seafood

America's stay-at-home seafood binge now faces virus threat
https://www.stamfordadvocate.com/business/article/America-s-stay-at-home-seafood-binge-now-faces-15335364.php?

With thousands of seafood workers coming to Alaska, state tries to contain Covid-19
https://thefern.org/2020/06/with-thousands-of-fish-workers-coming-to-alaska-state-tries-to-contain-covid-19/?

About 75% of crew tests positive for coronavirus on seafood processing ship
https://www.fooddive.com/news/about-75-of-crew-tests-positive-for-coronavirus-on-seafood-processing-ship/579415/?

COVID-19 Outbreak In Pacific Northwest Seafood Industry As Season Ramps Up
https://www.npr.org/sections/coronavirus-live-updates/2020/06/05/870312092/pacific-northwest-seafood-industry-faces-covid-19-outbreak-as-season-ramps-up?

100 people at 3 Louisiana crawfish farms diagnosed with coronavirus in first workplace cluster
https://www.theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/news/coronavirus/article_d5c9d8a6-995b-11ea-af6c-23c984f5e1b9.html?

US seafood workers fight unsafe job conditions amid pandemic
https://www.pri.org/stories/2020-07-06/us-seafood-workers-fight-unsafe-job-conditions-amid-pandemic?

Wildlife Diseases

Pandemics Ahead: Number 8 in a series looking at the link between animal protein and global health disasters.

Excerpt from Meat Climate Change: The 2nd Leading Cause of Global Warming by Moses Seenarine, (2016). Xpyr Press, 348 pages. ISBN: 0692641157. http://amzn.to/2yn7XrC

One aspect of the livestock-wildlife interface is zoonotic disease, which is a disease that can be passed between animals and humans. Disease is largely an environmental issue. Around 60% of emerging infectious diseases that affect humans are zoonotic, and over two-thirds of those originate in wildlife. For instance, AIDS, Ebola, West Nile, SARS, Lyme disease and hundreds more.(883) 

Many zoonotic diseases have a wildlife reservoir that acts as an impediment to eradication in domesticated populations. For example, rabies, bovine tuberculosis, paratuberculosis, brucellosis, avian flu, and cattle fever tick.(884) Bovine tuberculosis is due to Mycobacterium bovis, a worldwide zoonotic disease carried by cattle and ingested by humans via milk and carcass. M. bovis has infected wildlife as well, including cervids in North America, badgers in the UK, possums in New Zealand, buffalo in South Africa, and feral pigs in Europe.(885) 

In Malaysia, pigs are exposed to fruit bats infected with Nipah virus. The virus can rapidly spread through the country’s pig population, certainly through trade and possibly between farms by dogs and cats. Humans in direct contact with pigs can then acquire the infection and its often-fatal encephalitis.(886)

Wildlife can also serve as vectors for nonzoonotic diseases of food animals. The problem is exacerbated by how livestock are kept in poor countries, which can magnify diseases borne by wild animals. Over two million people a year are killed by diseases that spread to humans from wild and domestic animals.(887)

Domesticates are inadvertently leading to extinction of wildlife. A pneumonia outbreak in 2010 killed 65 of the critically endangered markhor goat in Tajikistan, as much as 20 percent of the remaining population. The markhors contracted the disease for domestic goats.(888)

Chapter 23: 6TH MASS EXTINCTION, pg 228.

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Mass Extinction

Pandemics Ahead: Number 7 in a series looking at the link between animal protein and global health disasters.

Excerpt from Meat Climate Change: The 2nd Leading Cause of Global Warming by Moses Seenarine, (2016). Xpyr Press, 348 pages. ISBN: 0692641157. http://amzn.to/2yn7XrC

Of all the species that have populated Earth at some time over the past 3.5 billion years, in excess of 95% have vanished, many of them in spectacular die-offs called mass extinctions. The permanent loss of large numbers of species over a relatively short period of geological time is known as a mass extinction. According to the fossil record, there have been five mass extinctions due to alterations in Earth's environment and atmosphere. Over half of all life on earth has been wiped out, repeatedly, during the past 500 million years. One cause is an oxygen-depleted ocean spewing poisonous gas as a result of planetary heating. 

The natural background extinction rate for mammals and birds is one species lost every 500 to 1,000 years.(869) Species extinction is occurring at 100 times the natural rate, and is expected to accelerate to between 1,000 and 10,000 times in the coming decades.(870) The current rate of extinction may already be as high as 10,000 times the natural rate.(871) At the upper annual rate of 0.7%, thousands of species are disappearing each year. If that trend continues, it could lead to a loss of 75% of species, or mass extinction, by 2200.

According to the UNEP, the Earth is in the midst of the sixth mass extinction of life. This is due to neoliberal development policies and practices, which are based on reductionist, short-sighted, utilitarian views of nature. About 150-200 species of plant, insect, bird and mammal become extinct every 24 hours. This is nearly 1,000 times the "natural" or "background" rate.

The current rate of biodiversity loss is greater than anything the world has experienced since the vanishing of the dinosaurs nearly 65 million years ago. And the losses are occurring all over the planet, from the South Pacific to the Arctic and from the deserts of Africa to mountaintops and valleys of the Himalayas.(872) Precious life is being loss in the oceans, land and air. Up to 50% of known vertebrate species died off in the last 50 years. And, the remaining 50% could die off in the next 40 years. Threatened with extinction are 33% of reef-building corals, fresh-water mollusks, sharks, and rays. Plus, 25% of plants and mammals, 20% of reptiles, and 14% of birds.(873)

Of 3,000 wild species tracked since 1970, the overall decline in wildlife populations was 52%.(874) Once populations drop below 50%, this may culminate in unstoppable, irreversible, cascading extinctions and collapse. Over 75% of species loss is a mass extinction, and the Earth is rapidly approaching this point. The IUCN survey of species threatened with extinction catalogs over 17,000 groups. The list contains one in four mammals, one in three amphibians, and one in eight birds. 

The number is actually 50% higher because the survival of 6,300 non-threatened species depends on the existence of the threatened species cataloged. These figures may be much larger since only an extremely small proportion of possible and known species has been evaluated for threatened status. For land extinctions, the spread of agriculture has been the main driver, while overfishing and pollution have affected sealife. Species across land, rivers and seas are being decimated as humans kill for food in unsustainable numbers and destroy habitats. The fastest decline among the animal populations was in freshwater ecosystems, where numbers have plummeted by 75% since 1970.

The biggest declines in animal numbers were in developing nations. Conservation efforts in rich nations have seen small improvements, but the big declines in wildlife in rich nations occurred long ago. Even so, biodiversity is still in decline in developed countries. Case in point, farmland birds in the UK, such as gray partridge, have declined by 50% between 1970 and 2012, mainly due to an intensification in farming. 

In effect, by importing food and other goods produced via habitat destruction in developing nations, rich nations are “outsourcing” wildlife loss to the global South. This represents yet another aspect of global neocolonialism. Over a third of all the products of deforestation, such as animal carcass and soy for livestock feed, were exported to the EU between 1990 and 2008. A 2°C (3.6°F) rise in warming may cause 15% to 40% of species becoming extinct.(875) If one species becomes extinct, this can have a chain-effect on others it interacts with. And, the extinction of a keystone species may cause a cascade of further extinctions. 

Around US$25 billion is needed annually to achieve effective global conservation.(876) Biodiversity-related aid has been falling, and in 2002, five agencies spent only US$1.5 billion on conserving biodiversity. The World Bank, Global Environment Facility, IUCN, Nature Conservancy, and Wildlife Conservation Society spent half of this aid in the US alone.

At COP21 in Paris, Germany, Norway and the UK pledged to support rainforest conservation efforts with about $1 billion per year through 2020. While this is a great start, a sum of $10 billion per year is needed to fully protect the 1.5 billion acres of tropical rainforest remaining. This commitment level from the developed world is a good start, given tropical forest's potential to lower global warming. Conversion to alternatives to fossil fuels is necessary but will cost trillions of dollars. Conservation requires just a fraction of that total.

Chapter 23: 6TH MASS EXTINCTION, pg 227 

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For more information, see MeatClimateChange.org