Nine food packing facilities in the city of Vernon have reported coronavirus outbreaks among their employees, and the largest outbreak is at a Farmer John meat packing plant.
The plant is operated by Smithfield Foods, known for manufacturing the famous Dodger Dog.
At that facility, 153 employees, out of a total 1800, tested positive for COVID-19 from March to May. Of those who tested positive, 41 have returned to work.
NBCLA reached out to Smithfield Foods and the company pointed to its website, where a video shows all of the measures the company has taken to prevent the spread of COVID-19, including temperature checks, personal protective equipment and free testing to all employees.
Eight other facilities in Vernon have had COVID-19 outbreaks:
- CLW
- Vie De France Yamazaki Inc
- Cal Farms Meat Company
- Takaokaya USA Inc
- F. Gavina & Sons Inc
- Golden West Trading
- Overhill Farms
- Rose and Shore
The facilities include food manufacturers, coffee roasters, bakeries and they are all within a mile radius of each other.
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The Los Angeles Public Health Department says it is closely monitoring these outbreaks and will conduct contact tracing and review the plans put in place by these facilities.
