Featured Post from Cedarville University

Bare shelves and closed facilities – is America facing a food shortage?

Apr 14, 2020

2 min

Zach Jenkins

Earlier this week, South Dakota based, Smithfield Foods was ordered to closed its Sioux Falls pork production facility because workers at the plant tested positive for COVID-19.


It may be one facility; however, it is responsible for five percent of all the packaged pork in America.


While the plant is making the decision to close indefinitely, President and CEO Kenneth Sullivan said in the news release that the closure "is pushing our country perilously close to the edge in terms of our meat supply."


The Sioux Falls, South Dakota, plant accounts for 4% to 5% of the nation's pork production, the company says.


"We have continued to run our facilities for one reason: to sustain our nation’s food supply during this pandemic," Sullivan said. "We believe it is our obligation to help feed the country, now more than ever. We have a stark choice as a nation: We are either going to produce food or not, even in the face of COVID-19."


The release said the plant will be shut down until "further direction is received from local, state and federal officials." Employees will be compensated for the next two weeks, but there was no mention of payment if the plant is closed for longer. April 13 – USA Today



And it is not just Smithfield facing trouble. Tyson Foods and National Beef Packing are also shutting doors at facilities in Iowa.


So, what will this mean for American supermarkets, consumers and a nation already worried about supply? Is there any way to keep production sustainable amidst a COVID-190 outbreak?


If you are a journalist covering this emerging issue – then let our experts help.


Dr. Zach Jenkins is an infectious disease expert at Cedarville University. He is available to speak with media about this topic – simply click on his icon to arrange an interview.

Connect with:
Zach Jenkins

Zach Jenkins

Associate Professor of Pharmacy Practice & Clinical Specialist, Infectious Diseases

Dr. Zach Jenkins is an infectious disease expert who loves educating others about superbugs, antibiotic therapy, and emergency preparedness.

VaccinesSuperbugsVirusesCOVID-19Infectious Diseases

You might also like...

Check out some other posts from Cedarville University

2 min

Criminal Charges and Springfield Ohio

More criminal charges have been filed against former President Donald Trump. A Haitian nonprofit group filed criminal charges against Donald Trump, the Republican presidential nominee, and his running mate, Senator JD Vance of Ohio, regarding statements they recently made about immigration in Springfield, Ohio. They are being accused of villifying the Haitian community with their claims that immigrants are eating cats and dogs in the Springfield area.  Dr. Glen Duerr, political expert at Cedarville University, stated in a recent interview that rumors like these provide a way for politicians to keep a hot issue like immigration alive. Here are some key points from his interview: Trump and Vance have made various claims about the recent events in Springfield. However, are there grounds to proscecute them in a trial? The rumors circulating Springfield have made it a microcosm of the large-scale immigration conversation. Will anything change in Springfield moving forward? Trump has mentioned that he will visit Springfield in the near future. However, Springfield hads recently responded to multiple bomb threats that have resulted in universities going fully remote and evacuations of city buildings and public schools. Would his presence only fan the flames of the immigration uproar?  If you are a journalist looking to cover immigration and news coming out of Springfield, look to our experts for help.  Dr. Glen Duerr's research interests include comparative politics and international relations theory. Glen is an expert on this subject and is available to speak to media regarding this topic– simply click on his icon to arrange an interview or email mweinstein@cedarville.edu.

2 min

How Will Rate Cuts Affect the Election?

On September 18, the Federal Reserve established the first interest rate cut since the Covid pandemic in 2020. The Fed lowered the federal funds rate by half a percentage point – a much larger change than the typical quarter percentage point cut.  Dr. Jeff Haymond, dean of the Robert W. Plaster School of Business at Cedarville University, shared insight about the motivations behind this rate cut in a recent interview. Here are some key points: The United States' national debt has been described as a "ticking time bomb." What impact will this and future interest rate cuts have on the national debt? In light of this recent move, current presidential candidate Donald Trump has articulated his economic plan to put a cap on credit card interest rates. Would this bring down the cost of living in the United States, or will it lead to less options for the consumer? This slashing of the interest rate comes only a short time before the presidential election, with many claiming that this cut was, in fact, a political move. Will it affect the decisions of voters as the election draws near? If you are covering the recent interest rate cut or potential for future cuts and need to know more, let us help with your questions and stories.  Dr. Jeff Haymond is an expert on this subject and is available to speak to media regarding the action of the Federal Reserve and what this means for families in the United States – simply click on his icon or email mweintsein@cedarville.edu to arrange an interview.

2 min

Tensions Rise in the Middle East

The tension between Israel and Lebanon has soared to new heights after Hezbollah pagers and other devices exploded in two consecutive attacks on September 17 and 18. The explosions, which the Lebanese government has attributed to Israel, wounded around 3,250 people, and resulted in the death of at least 32. This escalation brings uncertainty as many wonder if it will affect the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas or bring about a war of its own. International relations expert, Dr. Glen Duerr, has been a reliable source on the events occurring in the Middle East. Here are three valuable insights from a recent interview: As the war continues between Israel and Hamas, experts are waiting for signs of escalation. Could the rising conflict between Israel and Lebanon suggest a shift in the war? College campuses in the United States were filled with protests last Spring, with students forming encampments in a pro-Palestinian effort. Thousands of students were arrested in May. Could the return to school and increased conflict in the Middle East mean more unrest in America’s universities? If you are a journalist covering the conflict between Israel and Lebanon, look no further than our experts for valuable insight and expert knowledge. Dr. Duerr is an expert on this subject and is available to speak to media regarding this ongoing conflict in the Middle East and the ongoing the war between Israel and Hamas – simply click on his icon to arrange an interview. Or schedule an interview by contacting Mark Weinstein at mweinstein@cedarville.edu

View all posts
Powered by