Maple Leaf Foods Inc. is continuing its rigorous safety efforts at its Brandon, Manitoba, plant to prevent workplace transmission amidst the recent COVID-19 cluster occurring in the community. The plant continues to operate safely, and public health experts have said on numerous occasions that there is no evidence of workplace transmission occurring at the plant.

The company is extending its efforts to reduce spread of COVID-19 within the community by reinforcing the importance of precautions such as social distancing and by making 500,000 free masks available to community members.

Operationally, Maple Leaf Foods has temporarily suspended pork exports to China on a voluntary basis due to recent protocols adopted by the Chinese government for Canadian processors. The protocol requires any plant reporting a COVID-19 positive case suspend exports to China temporarily.

The company also has been impacted by short-term increases in absenteeism. Maple Leaf Foods believes this is a short-term situation and not a material financial event, given the diversity of the company's markets. Experts at the Centers for Disease Control and the World Health Organization have been unequivocal about the fact that COVID-19 cannot be transmitted through food products.

"We are confident in our Maple Leaf Safety Promise – providing consumers with safe, great tasting food made in a safe working environment – but, we respect China's new import protocols for Canadian products and are working cooperatively with Canadian and Chinese authorities to resume exports quickly," says Michael McCain, president and CEO.

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