Food & Water Watch • Food & Water Action • 2021 Annual Report IN THE PRESS “’Smithfield’s public messaging amounted to a scaremongering campaign, exploiting consumer fear about food insecurity,’
Winning Food Fights Watching Out for Consumers and Workers During the Pandemic In our commitment to protect consumers from corporations that make misleading claims in the interest of profit, Food & Water Watch filed a lawsuit against Smithfield Foods for its false advertising during the pandemic. We charged Smithfield with fabricating a national meat shortage to drive demand, and lying about the unsafe conditions their workers endured.
We also helped pass the Maryland Essential Workers’ Protection Act, which provides temporary emergency COVID-19 protections for essential workers. This bill notably includes food and farm workers who have historically been left out of Maryland workplace protections. Essential workers charged with feeding the country should never have to choose between their paychecks and their safety. This bill gives them the protections they deserve.
Food & Water Watch said in the complaint. ‘These statements, however, were misleading, deceptive, and contradicted by the facts.’” CNN “Advocacy group accuses Smithfield Foods of falsely warning of meat shortages” JUNE 21, 2021
foodandwaterwatch.org • foodandwateraction.org
7
Made with FlippingBook. PDF to flipbook with ease