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 sell 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-service food operations, including carry-out and delivery food employees
  • Employees of food manufacturers and their suppliers, including those working in food processing facilities (e.g., packers, meat processing, cheese plants, milk plants, produce operations); livestock, poultry, and seafood slaughter facilities; pet and animal feed processing plants; human food facilities producing by-products for animal feed; beverage production facilities; and food packaging manufacturing
  • Farmworkers, including those employed in the production, packaging, and distribution of animal food, feed, and ingredients; the manufacturing, packaging, and shipping of veterinary drugs; truck delivery and transport operations; and farm and fishery labor essential to maintaining the domestic food supply
  • Farmworkers and support service workers, including those involved in field crop production, commodity inspection, fuel ethanol facilities, storage operations, and other agricultural input services
  • Employees and firms supporting food, feed, and beverage distribution, including warehouse workers, vendor managed inventory controllers and blockchain managers 
  • Workers supporting sanitation across all food manufacturing processes and operations, from wholesale to retail
  • Company cafeterias, including in-plant cafeterias used to feed employees
  • Workers in food testing laboratories within private industries and institutions of higher education
  • Workers essential to assistance programs and government payment systems
  • Employees of companies involved in the production of chemicals, medicines, vaccines, and other substances used in the food and agriculture industry, including pesticides, herbicides, fertilizers, minerals, enrichments, and other agricultural production aids
  • Animal agriculture workers, including those employed in veterinary health; manufacturing and distribution of animal medical materials, vaccines, drugs, feed ingredients, feed, and bedding; transportation of live animals, animal medical materials; transportation of deceased animals for disposal; raising animals for food; animal production operations; slaughter and packing plants, and associated regulatory and government workforce
  • Workers supporting manufacturing and distribution of forest products, including, but not limited to, timber, paper, and other wood products
  • Employees engaged in the manufacturing and maintenance of equipment and infrastructure essential to agricultural production and distribution.

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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