Maybe you’re trying a meatless diet, or simply couldn’t find ground beef at the store in the last few weeks. Maybe it was love at first bite when you tried a plant-based burger at a local restaurant, and you had to go buy your own patties. Whatever the case, Americans are consuming more meat alternatives than ever before.
More specifically, plant-based alternatives are experiencing an uptick in sales that started even before the coronavirus pandemic hit. But in March, sales of meat alternatives jumped another 264 percent — not only due to popularity, but an increase in distribution as well.
Meanwhile, reports of COVID-19 spreading through meat processing plants have caused some to temporarily close their doors. As of June 8, over 7,100 Tyson Foods employees had tested positive for the novel coronavirus. The supply chain has been stunted in some areas, leaving farmers with a surplus of animals ready for slaughter, and no choice but to kill and dispose of them.
