I don’t think anyone has missed the stories in the mainstream news over the past couple of weeks about Meat processing plants closing down temporarily to deep clean and sanitize after some of their employees came down with COVID-19. The latest has the government at least a little concerned…
There should be no shortage of Beef in Canada as a result of the temporary
closure of the Cargill Meat Processing plant in High River, Alberta…
The Cargill processing plant in High River, Alberta, just south of Calgary has shut down temporarily after an outbreak of COVID-19 among its employees. One person is reported dead and one more than 484 are sick with the novel coronavirus. The plant usually processed about 4,500 head each day, about one third of Canada’s total Beef production.
If that sounds to you like the trigger for a Beef shortage, you’re not alone, but the COVID-19 pandemic is acknowledged by all as a strange time, and strange juxtapositions abound. So it turns out – according to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, at least – that there should be no shortage, though prices may rise temporarily.
Union claims working conditions unsafe
The union representing Cargill’s plant workers says the company had not instituted physical distancing protocols or enhanced cleaning routines before the recent eight-fold increase in COVID-19 cases among its meat cutters.
Some employees told the union that the company had tried to ‘lure’ workers who has stayed home to self isolate back to work.
Now, Cargill says it’s closing the plant for at least two weeks for deep cleaning and sanitizing, instituting social distancing protocols and cutting back from two shifts a day to one.
Reassurances from the top
Trudeau insists that there will be no shortage of Beef domestically.
“We’ve heard from Canadian beef producers and associations that the priority will be ensuring Canadian supply before they move to exporting. Much of our beef is exported,” he told reporters during his daily news briefing yesterday morning. “But right now the priority will be on domestic supply. We are not, at this point, anticipating shortages of beef, but prices might go up. We will, of course, be monitoring that very, very carefully.”
What does he mean by that?
The message is, Beef exports may be reduced, but the domestic supply will be protected. And with the closure of most of Canada’s non-chain restaurants, the overall demand for Beef is down sharply compared to normal levels, so consumers should not see empty coolers at the supermarkets.
Other Meat processing plants have closed down due to COVID-19 outbreaks, but they’re small compared to the Cargill operation, and no fears of shortages were expressed owing to the temporary loss of their production capacity.
My take
The Prime Minister did warn of increases in Beef prices due to the closure of the Gargill Plant, but it sounded to me like he was sending a veiled message to those who would take advantage of ‘shortage’ fears and engage in price gouging. Our government ensures us previously that it would be on the look for price gouging and promised serious consequences for anyone found guilty of such conduct. So far, so good, as far as I can tell from a quick survey of the Meat departments at my local supermarkets.
~ Maggie J.