JBS offers millions for pandemic relief amid meat factory infections
Meat company and tannery owner JBS has committed R$700 million (£97.5 million) to help fight the covid-19 pandemic.
In Brazil, the company will invest R$400 on three fronts: donations to support public health, social assistance and scientific research and development.
It will also donate R$300 million primarily in the US to support local communities, including donations to provide food assistance, meet infrastructure needs, including the provision of PPE to first responders, and to support other covid-19 related response efforts.
“The world is experiencing an unprecedented challenge as we collectively face the coronavirus pandemic,” said Gilberto Tomazoni, CEO of JBS. “At JBS, we are guided by our culture and feel a responsibility to contribute to society and make a difference in people's lives by helping our communities confront this social crisis.”
Meatpacking facilities in the US have been among the hardest hit in terms of workers being infected with cornonavirus. More than 20 factories including Smithfield Foods, Tyson Foods and Cargill have had to close, temporarily, during the pandemic.
JBS closed its plant in Greeley, Colorado, for two weeks after multiple cases but reopened on April 26.
On May 6, The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment released data showing the plant had 287 positive cases, including seven deaths.
On April 23, the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union (UFCU), said more than 5,000 meatpacking workers had been infected and at least 20 had died, countrywide.
