Sun-Maid worker tests positive for coronavirus, the company’s second case in two weeks
A second worker at the Sun-Maid raisin processing plant in Kingsburg has tested positive for the coronavirus.
The worker was among about a dozen employees who were exposed to the virus nearly two weeks ago. The workers were sent home and told to self-quarantine and contact their doctor if they began showing symptoms.
The exposure came from one of the cooperative’s machine operators who tested positive last week and has since been hospitalized. That employee last worked at the Bethel Avenue plant on April 4.
Harry Overly, Sun-Maid’s president and chief executive officer, said the raisin cooperative was notified on Monday about the second employee who tested positive for the highly contagious virus, but is not showing symptoms.
Overly said the plant was given a deep cleaning and sanitized over the weekend. Employees have also been encouraged to stay home if they are not feeling well, to wash their hands, and practice social distancing on the production lines.
Employees will also have their temperatures checked daily and the company is obtaining additional personal protective equipment, such as surgical masks, for employees.
“We have provided all plant employees with disposable masks that are mandatory to wear during their shift,” Overly said Tuesday.
In addition, Overly said the plants are equipped with latex gloves that are mandatory to wear for workers handling food, as well as hand sanitizer supplied by the company.
“Sun-Maid continues to take all safety measures possible to protect our team,” Overly said.
The company also reminds consumers that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the U.S. Department of Agriculture have found no evidence to support transmission of the coronavirus as a foodborne pathogen, and the Food and Drug Association is not aware of any reports of transmission through food or food packaging.
“We are in constant communication with several agencies to understand any updated FDA guidelines as a measure to take preventative steps to safeguard our consumers if the need arises,” Overly said.
This story was originally published April 14, 2020 at 4:20 PM.
