Food & Beverage

The Latest On The Coronavirus Outbreak For Food And Beverage Companies

For food & agricultural related questions, please reach out to Impact Washington's chief food scientist, Craig Doan. He is available to offer any assistance and guidance during this time.

March 30, 2020, Source: Association of Food and Drug Officials (AFDO):  This webinar summarizes the current state of knowledge about the virus, its epidemiology, transmission and control from the perspective of the food supply chain. There are many unknowns and, frankly, false information is rampant. However, there are also scientific facts that can be capitalized upon to help manage the situation from the perspective of food producers, processors, retailers and consumers. The audience should come away with a better understanding of the virus and the ways the food sector might be affected by it and how they can minimize negative consequences in light of an uncertain and evolving situation. 

Speaker: Lee-Ann Jaykus, Ph.D. , William Neal Reynolds Distinguished Professor, Food Science, North Carolina State University

Essential Critical Infrastructure Workers List

Food and Agriculture Sector Profile: The Food and Agricultural (F.A.) Sector is composed of complex production, processing, and delivery systems and can feed people and animals both within and beyond the boundaries of the United States. Beyond domestic food production, the F.A. Sector also imports many ingredients and finished products, leading to a complex web of growers, processors, suppliers, transporters, distributors, and consumers. This sector is critical to maintaining and securing our food supply.

Essential Workforce: Workers supporting groceries, pharmacies, and other retail that sells food and beverage products, including but not limited to Grocery stores, Corner stores and convenience stores, including liquor stores that sell food, Farmers’ markets, Food banks, Farm and produce stands, Supermarkets, Similar food retail establishments, Big box stores that sell groceries and essentials.

• Workers supporting groceries, pharmacies and other retail that sells food and beverage products
• Restaurant carry-out and quick-serve food operations -Carry-out and delivery food employees
• Food manufacturer employees and their supplier employees—to include those employed in food processing (packers, meat processing, cheese plants, milk plants, produce, etc.) facilities; livestock, poultry, seafood slaughter facilities; pet and animal feed processing facilities; human food facilities producing by-products for animal food; beverage production facilities; and the production of food packaging
• Farmworkers to include those employed in animal food, feed, and ingredient production, packaging, and distribution; manufacturing, packaging, and shipping of veterinary drugs; truck delivery and transport; farm and fishery labor needed to produce our food supply domestically
• Farmworkers and support service workers to include those who field crops; commodity inspection; fuel ethanol facilities; storage facilities; and other agricultural inputs
• Employees and firms supporting food, feed, and beverage distribution, including warehouse workers, vendor managed inventory controllers and blockchain managers
• Workers supporting the sanitation of all food manufacturing processes and operations from wholesale to retail
• Company cafeterias -in-plant cafeterias used to feed employees
• Workers in food testing labs in private industries and institutions of higher education
• Workers essential for assistance programs and government payments
• Employees of companies engaged in the production of chemicals, medicines, vaccines, and other substances used by the food and agriculture industry, including pesticides, herbicides, fertilizers, minerals, enrichments, and other agricultural production aids
• Animal agriculture workers to include those employed in veterinary health; manufacturing and distribution of animal medical materials, animal vaccines, animal drugs, feed ingredients, feed, and bedding, etc.; transportation of live animals, animal medical materials; transportation of deceased animals for disposal; raising of animals for food; animal production operations; slaughter and packing plants and associated regulatory and government workforce
• Workers who support the manufacture and distribution of forest products, including, but not limited to timber, paper, and other wood products
• Employees engaged in the manufacture and maintenance of equipment and other infrastructure necessary to agricultural production and distribution.

Download Complete List Here.
To clarify status, or request inclusion on the list, please fill out this form.

March 23, 2020, Sources: FDA forwarded list to NIST MEP Network and the Department of Homeland Security and Washington State Governor’s Office - Essential List 

Food Manufacturing Sources and FAQ's

• FDA Food Safety & COVID-19  - (Regularly Updated With Questions, Source: FDA Website)
• FDA Coronavirus (COVID-19) Supply Chain Update (February 27, 2020, Source: FDA Website)
• USDA Information & Specific FAQ’s (Source: USDA Website)
• List of Products that Meet EPA’s Criteria for Use Against SARS-CoV-2, the cause of COVID-19 (Source: EPA website)
• Emergency Prevention Measures for Physical (Social) Distancing in Food Manufacturing Facilities as Related to COVID-19 (updated March 26, 2020: Source:  Food Northwest)
  
• Protocols for if/when employees test positive in food industry (updated March 25, 2020)