The price of beef in the United States has surged to a record high, with wholesale costs reaching $357.38 per 100 pounds, according to the US Department of Agriculture. This marks a 75% increase from a low in February and reflects deepening concerns over the nation's meat supply.
The price spike comes as consumers continue stockpiling amid nationwide food shortages, leaving store shelves near empty. Many retailers have imposed limits of one meat product per customer to curb hoarding. Pork prices have also risen by 2.5%, reaching their highest level since 2017.
The crisis has been exacerbated by the closure of 13 meat processing plants due to COVID-19 outbreaks among workers. This has reduced beef slaughter capacity by 10% and pork slaughter capacity by 25%. President Donald Trump invoked the Defense Production Act on Tuesday to classify meat processing plants as critical infrastructure, aiming to keep facilities open despite worker safety concerns.
However, many employees have refused to return to work, citing unsafe conditions and lack of protective equipment. The United Food and Commercial Workers International Union estimates that 20 meatpacking workers have died from COVID-19, with around 6,500 infected or exposed. Workers at Tyson Foods' Waterloo, Iowa facility, which shut down after 180 infections, expressed reluctance to resume operations.
One worker, identified only as Donald, told CNN: 'All I know is, this is crazy to me, because I can't see all these people going back into work. I don't think people are going to go back in there.' Another employee questioned the feasibility of Trump's order, saying: 'I just don't know how they're going to do it when there are people dying and getting really sick.'
