Meat processing plants in Europe, South America, and the United States have been the hotspots of recent coronavirus virus outbreaks. In Asia, Beijing's largest wholesale market for fish, meat, fruit, and vegetables has been forced to shut down after being hit with the virus, posing threats to the food supply.
The state media reports that emergency reserve food supplies have been deployed and that temporary markets were set up to fend off shortages. As of Monday, more than 230 individuals in the city have contracted the virus, which included market traders.
Meanwhile, last week in Germany, a meat packaging plant was forced to close after more than 67 percent of its employees were found to be infected with the virus. Additionally, in the U.S., many deaths have also been linked to virus outbreaks at meat plants in recent months.
Months into the pandemic, experts say they see no signs of the infection rate slowing. According to Charis Galanakis, a food and environmental scientist and director of the Food Waste Recovery Group in Vienna, more safety measures are needed. Public officials should consider using an urgent and extensive approach to safeguard the workers' rights and their health protected.
Strict Protocols For Food Plant Workers
He adds that food manufacturing businesses should strictly monitor the daily routines of their workers to minimize or restrict personal interactions. However, experts say that these groups of workers have been under immense pressure during the pandemic to perform in conditions that do not allow for social distancing.
According to Marc Bellemare, a professor of applied economics at the University of Minnesota, food shortages have been avoided so far during the pandemic. Furthermore, the rise in commodity prices has not been too steep.
On the other hand, he adds that the downside of that pliancy is the human cost related to it. Food supply workers have either lost their jobs or have been exposed to COVID-19 after being forced to work in such risky conditions.
An agricultural economist at Purdue University, Holly Wang, said those risks were even higher for people working in "less automated processing, retailing, wholesaling, and foodservice." In particular, she pointed to U.S. meat processing plants and the Xinfadi market in Beijing, which greatly depended on the workers' labor.
Struggles of Food Workers in China and Around the World
In an interview, Michael Fakhri, the United Nations' special representative on the right to food, said that supply chains and food systems are only as strong and healthy as its workers.
Last month, the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations asked for US$350 million to establish food security and prevent hunger during the pandemic. He says that it included raising awareness to lessen the risk of COVID-19 transmission among those working at food supply chains.
The outbreak at Xinfadi in China ignited calls to stiffen hygiene regulations in fresh food markets. According to Yanzhong Huang, a senior fellow for global health at the U.S. Council on Foreign Relations, many of these workers are farmers and migrant workers.
Furthermore, he says they are also a marginalized population that has restrictions regarding access to health care or education on social distancing. Bellemare adds that although making sure workers remained safe meant more expenses, it is indeed vital.
