Worker at Blount Fine Foods in Fall River has COVID-19, company closes to conduct enhanced cleaning

An employee at Blount Fine Foods has tested positive for COVID-19.

On Thursday, April 2, Blount received confirmation of a positive COVID-19 test of an employee at the Blount Fine Foods facility in Fall River. According to the company, the employee, who is reported to be positive, has not been at the facility for many days, and is now recovering at home and feeling better.

According to a company spokesperson, the facility has implemented layers of protection to protect employees while at work.

“The employees’ safety continues to be Blount’s priority; we are closed to conduct two days of enhanced cleaning of our facility and will reopen April 4th.”

Blount Fine Foods states that they have taken steps to assure Americans continue to have access to healthy food.

Changes have been implemented across the company to protect workers so they may continue to help feed the nation; protect the safety and integrity of food production operations; and be collaborative contributors to the greater good.

Blount has also instituted extra precautions, according to the company, which include:

-Significantly increasing our already high standards of cleanliness and sanitation across all facilities;
-Restricting access to our facilities;
-Implementing work from home for non-production staff;
-Modifying production schedules, and rearranging break and meeting areas to promote social distancing between our employees;
-Providing additional paid sick time availability for employees; and,
-Increasing overtime compensation rates so that our employees will receive double pay after 40 hours for overtime.

A Blount spokesperson issued the following statement.

“Food safety is always our top priority to ensure that weand nutritious food. Our team is dedicated to meeting and exceeding food safety and regulatory requirements as part of our pledge to people’s overall well-being, and we are monitoring and adjusting to changes in guidance from the USDA as well as the CDC. The FDA continues to report that there is no evidence to suggest COVID-19 is transmitted through food or food packaging.”

“Blount Fine Foods continues to supply open food banks and soup kitchens with food to meet the needs of our community. We are also working with local agencies.”