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Food Processing Conditions

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Conditions in the Food Processing Plants
While searching for a topic to conduct research on for my report, I quickly decided to learn more about the conditions in the food processing industry. It has always been a huge interest of mine and I was excited to research it. This report describes the unhealthy and unfair conditions the employees at the processing plants endure. It also speaks about the shocking statistics of insect and rodent filth that can be found in foods we eat on a daily basis. As I delved in research journals and articles to write this paper, I was left a newfound sense of realization that I will carry with me for years to come. A shroud of mystery has always overlayed the food processing industry. Companies have hid behind …show more content…

Corporate plants, such as Smithfield Foods, have threatened the deportation of immigrant workers, as well as intimidating, assaulting and unnecessarily firing its workers (Allen, “Workers demand justice at world’s largest pork processing plant”). This shows that the companies not only disregard the safety of the workers and the food they produce, but also disregard the needs of their workers. These problems that many workers face in the workplace. Big companies like Smithfield Foods violate labor laws and treat employees unfairly. Smithfield Foods has also been cited for beating, harassing and jailing pro-union workers. The discrimination the workers face in the workplace is undoubtedly wrongful and truly shines a light on what occurs behind the …show more content…

Cases of employee injuries and illnesses continue to be overwhelmingly present in the industry. These range from minor aches and pains, to ailments detrimental to one’s health. The harsh and discriminatory treatment of workers has long been in practice, and does not seem to be ending anytime soon. Pest control problems are widely present and are simply disgusting to think about. The average amount of insect and rodent filth that people consume on a daily basis is, to be frank, gross. Though these pest problems persist, the FDA continues to regulate that insect parts, maggots, rodent ecrements, etc. can be present in limited amounts in food, even though it should not be present at all. It is easy to read The Jungle and think that the food processing standards have improved and completely solved the problem, and while the conditions have significantly improved over the years, it is clear that the industry is not perfect, and there are still many areas that need

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