Maple Leaf Foods has announced that it is suspending operations at their Brampton, Ont. plant after three COVID-19 cases were confirmed within the factory.
“As a major food company in an essential industry, Maple Leaf Foods is doing everything possible to protect the health of our 13,000 team members while producing the food our customers in North America and Asia need now more than ever,” said President and CEO Michael McCain.
“Our first priority is to keep our people safe so the decision was made to shut down the facility, pending a full risk assessment.”
McCain added that while the investigation is being completed, the plant will be deep cleaned, including in common areas and offices.
“We will not begin operating again until we are confident that it is safe to return to work.”
In addition to cases detected at the Brampton facility, he said that an additional COVID case has occurred in a team member at the Heritage plant in Hamilton, Ont.
The affected team member had not been present at the plant for two weeks before the diagnosis.
McCain said that a thorough sanitation at Heritage and the plant has been done, and the facility is now fully operational.
Maple Leaf Foods says that in addition to thorough daily sanitation and the use of standard personal protective equipment, they are taking extra steps such as implementing social distancing on the production line, staggered breaks for staff, and converting offices to break rooms to reduce density of people on breaks.
They will also be monitoring employee’s temperatures as soon at they receive temperature scanners at their locations.
“We are closely coordinating with Canadian Food Inspection Agency officials and the Public Health Departments throughout Canada to ensure that we are doing everything possible to ensure the safety of our people,” McCain’s statement continued. “Government experts in Canada and the U.S. have made it clear that COVID-19 is not a foodborne illness and there is currently no evidence that food is a likely source or route of transmission of COVID-19.”
“This is truly an unprecedented period for our Company and the entire food industry. Maple Leaf Foods takes our responsibility to feed people seriously every day of the year. You have my personal assurance that we stand with our 13,000 team members and with our customers in getting through this difficult crisis."
