Investigate Midwest (https://investigatemidwest.org/author/mmcvan/)
New USDA data shows the overall food insecurity rate remained the same in 2020 compared to 2019. However, the rate increased for Black and Hispanic Americans. Researchers say more investigation is needed to understand the data.
In the past year, there have been at least eight hacks of companies in the industry, including the international meatpacking company JBS.
The analysis supports what many meatpacking workers and advocates suspected during the early months of the pandemic — working shoulder-to-shoulder coupled with high line speeds contributed to the virus’ spread.
Here are the most important things to know from our investigation into a major pork processing plant.
Los trabajadores manifestaron haber sido informados que sus lesiones eran a causa del "dolor de adaptación”, mismo que proviene de ajustarse a la vida en una planta empacadora de carne. Pero algunas lesiones eran lo suficientemente graves como para justificar pruebas y tratamientos adicionales. En un caso, un empleado fue obligado a trabajar con lo que resultó ser una vértebra fracturada.
Workers were told their injuries were “break-in pain,” soreness that comes from adjusting to life in a meatpacking plant. But some injuries were severe enough to warrant additional testing and treatment. In one case, a man was pushed to work with what turned out to be a fractured vertebrae.
The company reported incorrect numbers to federal authorities and failed to maintain the required paperwork, according to the Commodity Futures Trading Commission.
Some meatpacking plant workers found themselves at the intersection of two of the riskiest settings during the pandemic: correctional facilities and meatpacking plants.
Many workers compensation claims have been denied throughout the pandemic. But the court ruled the JBS employee was infected with COVID-19 at the plant and should be compensated for lost wages after he fell ill.
Smithfield Foods has refused to say how many employees have fallen ill at its Milan, Missouri, plant. But OSHA records say at least two workers died and possibly as many as 300 had COVID-19 or had come into contact with someone who did.