Smithfield Foods Coverage

Bladen County Smithfield foods plant evacuated after ammonia release

Hazmat crews responded to a Smithfield Foods plant in Tar Heel following an ammonia leak that occurred at the facility.

Man found dead outside Smithfield Foods plant in Tar Heel

A statement from Smithfield Foods said that there was an ammonia release in a refrigerated section of the facility around 1 a.m. The release prompted an evacuation.

Smithfield Foods plant evacuated after ammonia release, four employees taken to hospital

On Friday, hazmat crews responded to a Smithfield Foods plant in Tar Heel following an ammonia leak that occurred at the facility.

Brett Knese, WRAL multimedia journalist

Smithfield Foods to pay fine, develop new plan to prevent infectious disease in meat-packing plants

The company's processing plant in Tar Heel, NC, is its largest, employing 4,500. Workers there told WRAL News in May 2020 that there was no social distancing and that close contacts were not notified when workers fell ill.

By STEPHEN GROVES, Associated Press

Undocumented workers at processing plants can't take sick leave, get jobless benefits

COVID-19 is spreading rapidly though meat processing plants in North Carolina as state health and agriculture officials work to keep production lines running.

'We can't stay home': Undocumented meat packers sacrifice safety for paycheck

COVID-19 is spreading rapidly though meat processing plants in North Carolina as state health and agriculture officials work to keep production lines running.

Joe Fisher, WRAL multimedia journalist

Nearly 1,000 meat plant workers test positive for COVID-19

The number of workers infected with COVID-19 at meat-processing facilities has more than doubled in the last week, from 479 to 982 cases across North Carolina.

Joe Fisher, WRAL multimedia journalist

Smithfield Processing plant: Sick worker talks

WRAL's Joe Fisher talked with a COVID-19 survivor who worked at the Smithfield Processing plant in Bladen County.

Meat processing plants across the US are closing due to the pandemic. Will consumers feel the impact?

Concerns about the US food chain supply made their way into the mainstream this week, as more meat processing and packaging plants suspend operations temporarily due to coronavirus outbreaks in the workforce.

By Dianne Gallagher and Pamela Kirkland, CNN

Smithfield Foods employee: 'It's rough. It's no fun'

WRAL's Joe Fisher spoke with an employee of Smithfield Foods in Bladen County who has COVID-19. He said there are many others at the plant either sick or may be sick and don't even know it.

Employee with Smithfield Foods still fighting coronavirus after outbreak at facility

An employee at the Smithfield Foods plant in Bladen County said he's still battling the COVID-19 virus after an outbreak at the massive plant.

Joe Fisher, WRAL multimedia journalist

Employees at Wilson pork plant worry about safety amid coronavirus outbreak

Fear is growing among employees still working at a Wilson pork processing plant, which continues to operate as Wilson County grapples with dozens of coronavirus cases.

Aaron Thomas, WRAL reporter

Smithfield Foods says it's working to keep virus out of pork plants

Fear is growing among employees still working at a Wilson pork processing plant, which continues to operate as Wilson County grapples with dozens of coronavirus cases.

Family: Accused gunman was bullied, shot in self-defense

The family of a man charged with shooting two Smithfield Foods workers inside a pork processing plant says one of the workers repeatedly threatened and harassed the man.

Bladen County officials discuss shooting at Smithfield Foods

Bladen County officials discuss the shooting Thursday morning at Smithfield Foods, a food processing plant in Tar Heel.

Sheriff: Ongoing dispute between men led to pork plant shooting

A St. Pauls man was arrested after two employees were shot at a pork processing plant in Bladen County just after midnight Thursday, authorities said.

Long-running dispute cited in shooting at Bladen pork processing plant that wounded two

A St. Pauls man was arrested Thursday after two employees were shot at a pork processing plant in Bladen County just after midnight, authorities said.

Judge rules no punishing Smithfield Foods in hog farm nuisance case

A federal judge in North Carolina shut down a lawsuit against a Smithfield Foods hog-feeding operation on Thursday before jurors who determined the company was a nuisance to neighbors could discuss punishing the pork giant.

Another verdict against Smithfield Foods, but with low award

Award shrinks from millions in first three trials to six figures for multiple plaintiffs.

Travis Fain, WRAL statehouse reporter

4th Circuit cuts down gag order in hog farm cases

Judges admonish: "Gag orders should be a last resort, not a first impulse."

Travis Fain, WRAL statehouse reporter

Smithfield rolls out biogas plan, says it will cover most lagoons

Big changes are promised for North Carolina's hog industry after massive jury verdicts over hog waste.

Travis Fain, WRAL statehouse reporter

Smithfield Foods moving distribution center from Clayton to Bladen County

Smithfield Foods is moving a distribution center from Clayton to its massive pork processing plant in Bladen County, officials said Wednesday.

Matthew Burns & Janine Bowen, WRAL.com editors

Settlement talk in hog waste trials? Order looks that way

Coming trials over hog farm nuisances are delayed as both sides look to "potential options for alternative resolution."

Travis Fain, WRAL statehouse reporter

Smithfield Foods removing hogs from farms involved in court losses

Pork giant Smithfield Foods is cycling its hogs off of the farms targeted in recent successful nuisance lawsuits against the company, further heightening concerns for farmers worried that the suits will run them out of the hog business.

Travis Fain, WRAL statehouse reporter

Massive hog trial verdict as elected leaders rally for farmers

"These nuisance lawsuits are just as harmful to agriculture as any disease we can have any of our industries nationwide," Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler said.

Travis Fain, WRAL statehouse reporter, & Laura Leslie, WRAL capitol bureau chief