Based on what Chinese authorities consider to be an unacceptable level of COVID-19 infection in plant workers, imports from an OK Foods plant in Fort Smith, AR have been suspended. In June, China suspended imports from a Tyson Foods plant in Springdale, AR.
In commenting on the decision by authorities in China, Jim Sumner, president of the USA Poultry and Egg Export council stated, “We do not think that either one of the one of the two bans are justified, especially considering the fact that the virus cannot be transmitted in poultry meat.”
It is understood that 234 plant workers tested positive for COVID-19 as of the end of August. By mid-September, almost all of the affected workers, most of whom were asymptomatic, have recovered according to the Arkansas Department of Health.
Previously CHICK-NEWS has commented on international agencies that consider transmission of COVID-19 either on meat or packaging exported from the U.S. to be extremely unlikely given failure of viability of SARS-CoV-2 virus under conditions approximating intercontinental shipment by sea.