USDA is taking steps that endanger our food and public health.
John,
BREAKING: Consumers everywhere are just learning that Trump is requiring ALL meat processing plants to stay open or reopen, even if the plants are stricken with COVID-19. That means sick workers will be forced to keep working in the plants that process our food, all without adequate personal protective equipment.
While the nation works to stop the pandemic and save lives, the USDA and Trump do the opposite; they’re taking unprecedented steps to endanger our food, basic public health, and the safety of agricultural workers.
The USDA has allowed 17 meat plants — 16 chicken and 1 beef — to speed up slaughter lines. This includes a plant that has repeatedly violated safety regulations and even threatened food safety inspectors.
Trump's administration is endangering our food and public health, all for Big Ag profit. But we refuse to let them put us in even more danger, allow more disease, and put our lives and future in jeopardy. Are you with us?
In Kansas, the USDA told a beef slaughter plant that it could self-regulate and take over food safety inspections that are supposed to be done by trained government inspectors. In 108 chicken plants, there is only one trained government inspector at the end of the slaughter line, and in 51 of those plants, one inspector is expected to examine three birds every second.
And we have seen slaughterhouses all over the country affected by COVID-19; unprotected workers are testing positive for the coronavirus and some have even died.
During this pandemic, Trump and his cronies are suspending FDA food safety inspections, rolling back commonsense USDA food safety rules and hindering basic food safety enforcement. By taking these actions now, during a national public health crisis, they’re further endangering our health. Their actions are dangerous.
Holding elected officials accountable and demanding they stop USDA from endangering our food and public health;
Blowing the whistle on how Big Ag is using the pandemic to gut food safety protections;
Mobilizing people across the country to demand Congress shut down any meat plant that has COVID-19 and reinstate commonsense safeguards; and
Demanding that federal relief dollars support small- and medium-sized farms.
It’s never been more apparent how broken our food system is. We won’t stop raising our voices, demanding action and protecting our food and health. But we need you with us.
Wenonah Hauter
Founder and Executive Director
Food & Water Action and Food & Water Watch
Food & Water Action and its affiliated organization, Food & Water Watch, are advocacy groups with a common mission to protect our food, water and climate. This email was sent to [email protected] - and we're glad you got it, because it's one of the most important ways you can reclaim political power, hold elected officials accountable and resist corporate control.
