Topic: Smithfield Foods

The CDC has called on certified laboratories to develop rapid tests for bird flu, mirroring the early response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Observers note that while there is a "war on protein" targeting beef, dairy, and poultry, the pork industry—largely owned by Chinese interests like Smithfield Foods—has remained relatively unaffected. Testing for H5N1 is expected to increase as the government prepares for a potential public health rollout.

Smithfield Foods announced it will close its Vernon, California, pork processing plant in early 2023 due to the high cost of doing business in the state. This closure is noted for its potential impact on the supply of animal-derived urea, a key component in Diesel Exhaust Fluid (DEF). The government has yet to intervene in the potential trucking crisis caused by these supply chain disruptions.

CBS News reports on the closure of major meatpacking plants, including Tyson Foods in Iowa, due to COVID-19 outbreaks. Speculation arises that these closures might be a price-gouging tactic by meatpackers to exploit the gap between rancher prices and retail costs.

The closure of Chinese-owned Smithfield pork plants in the United States raises concerns about the stability of the national meat supply. A report from a meat cutter suggests that while smaller USDA-inspected lockers remain open, the shutdown of large-scale facilities will lead to empty retail warehouses. The hosts advise listeners to stock their freezers as a precaution against potential shortages.

The Smithfield Foods pork processing plant in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, was forced to shut down following a massive COVID-19 outbreak among employees. The closure of the facility, which represents 25% of U.S. pork production, raised national security concerns due to the company's 2013 acquisition by the Chinese firm Shuanghui International.