August 31, 2020

Foster Farms to temporarily close California, US, poultry processing site over COVID-19 concerns

Foster Farms announced in late August that 239 of its staff at its Livingston Poultry Complex in Merced County, California, the United States, "have been cleared to return to work" after  392 positive cases of COVID-19 were previously confirmed at the facility, the company said.

Eight employee deaths related to complications associated with COVID-19 were reported. "The illness and deaths occurred despite Foster Farms having promptly implemented a comprehensive set of employee protective measures that strictly adhere to CDC guidance," Foster Farms said in its press release.

"At the Livingston poultry plant, which is the largest component of the complex, symptomatic cases are in decline following a July peak. Recent results from Foster Farms' testing of 2,500 employees at the Livingston poultry plant indicate a COVID-19 prevalence level of less than 1%.  While we are very encouraged by these results, we recognise that they do not fully rule out the possibility of community spread within the facility, which remains classified by the Merced County Health Department as an outbreak. We can never allow for any measure of complacency, which potentially affects the health and welfare of our employees."

On September 1, Foster Farms will shut down the main Livingston processing plant. Operations will restart on September 7. 

"During this downtime, the company will complete two rounds of deep cleaning and two rounds of COVID-19 testing covering all 1,400 plant employees. The testing programme will ensure that all workers first reentering the plant on September 7 will be free of COVID-19," Foster Farms added.

"Concurrently, Foster Farms will have completed two rounds of testing for all other major processing and logistical facilities that comprise the Livingston Poultry Complex. We wish to acknowledge the assistance of the US Department of Agriculture and the US Department of Health and Human Services in making available test kits and other material support which will enable Foster Farms to complete testing with the least impact on the food supply. During the period of downtime, cleaning and testing, the Merced Public Health Department will be welcome to observe activities to ensure their proper administration."

- Globe Newswire