Abattoirs’ virus outbreaks put meat supply at risk
As coronavirus cases continue to grow at abattoirs and meat processing plants, industry chiefs have warned that Victorians could face meat shortages.
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Victorians could be faced with meat shortages if coronavirus outbreaks at abattoirs and meat processing plants worsen.
Industry chiefs have warned that the supply chain of meat would be disrupted as facilities with confirmed cases close down to contain the spread of the virus.
Brooklyn abattoir Cedar Meats — where a previous outbreak led to more than 100 infections earlier this year — confirmed on Friday that a worker had tested positive. Three cases were also confirmed at a Dandenong South abattoir — Australian Meat Group on Hammond Rd.
Meanwhile, fast food giant KFC revealed that a disruption to its supply chain in Victoria has caused a chicken shortage in its restaurants.
Australian Meat Industry Council chief executive Patrick Hutchinson said that closures at processing plants could have a knock-on effect for the entire industry.
“The impacts of any potential closures of processing plants has a flow through effect to our wholesalers and retail network chains, which ultimately affects our farmers and producers,” Mr Hutchinson said.
“We are an essential service feeding Victorians and Australians through independent retail and supermarket chains, and the global community, daily. We take this very seriously.”
Mr Hutchinson said there was an “overemphasis” on cases being linked to the Australian meat industry.
“This is a public health issue and a community transmitted virus, not a meat industry or food safety issue,” the AMIC chief said.
Australian Meat Industry Employees Victorian secretary Paul Conway said the outbreaks at meatworks were due to the proximity of workers.
“Anywhere where there is workers that work closely and if someone comes in and they’re not showing symptoms, it will fly through the workforce quicker than other places.”
People would also discover bare shelves across the state unless a stalemate at the South Australian border was resolved, Victorian Transport Association chief executive Peter Anderson warned.
The South Australian Government wants truck drivers to be tested every week but that directly contradicts health advice to stay home while waiting for results in Victoria.
Trucks have been left stranded at the border rather than drivers risking significant fines.
“Companies and drivers quickly stop sending vehicles if it costs them a major fine just to do their job,” he said.
“Even just a 10 per cent reduction in trucks is huge, that’s 500 loads of important items.”