Tyson Foods chairman warns ‘food supply chain is breaking’ from coronavirus

Tyson Foods expects that millions of pounds of meat will disappear from the food supply as the company temporarily shutters beef, pork and chicken plants due to local coronavirus outbreaks.

Meat processors, including Tyson, Smithfield and JBS, are closing U.S. facilities after workers test positive for Covid-19. Meatpacking workers often work shoulder to shoulder for hours at a time, increasing their risk of exposure to the virus.

Tyson placed a full-page ad in the New York Times, Washington Post and Arkansas Democrat-Gazette on Sunday addressing the plant closures.

“The food supply chain is breaking,” Tyson Chairman John Tyson wrote.

Tyson said that a limited supply of its products will be available in grocery stores until facilities can be reopened. These temporary closures will also mean millions of livestock will be slaughtered because farmers will not be able to sell their pigs, cows and chickens to buyers who can process the meat.