Tyson warns the 'food supply chain is breaking' amid plant closures due to COVID-19

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WZTV) — Tyson Foods is warning the "food supply chain is breaking" amid recent plant closures amid COVID-19.

Board Chairman John Tyson wrote "millions of pounds of meat" will disappear as plants are pushed to close in full-page ads in The New York Times, Washington Post and Arkansas Democrat-Gazette.

Tyson also wrote that millions of farmers and their animals, "chickens, pigs and cattle" would be affected as he defended safety measures.

"Millions of animals — chickens, pigs and cattle — will be depopulated because of the closure of our processing facilities," Tyson wrote.

He said there will be a limited supply of Tyson products at grocery stores until plants are allowed to reopen.

Local health officials and the FDA are continuing to monitor a COVID-19 cluster at the Tyson Foods plant in Goodlettsville, Tenn. Last week, health officials confirmed 120 COVID-19 at the plant, however; Metro Health said it does not believe it's necessary to shut the plant down at this time.

Another Tyson plant in Middle Tennessee located in Shelbyville is also experiencing a cluster of COVID-19 cases,Health Commissioner Dr. Lisa Piercey last week. Those cases are still being monitored.

In Iowa, two workers died from the virus and twoplants were shut down.It was Tyson Foods largest pork plant in Waterloo and is critical to the nation's pork supply but was blamed for fueling a massive coronavirus outbreak in the region.