Cargill delivered 5,000 pounds of ground beef, the equivalent of 20,000 quarter-pound burger patties, to the Food Bank of Eastern Michigan on March 24 from its Schuyler, Nebr., beef processing facility. The donation is part of a joint effort with the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union (UFCW) to provide known lead-fighting nutrients to families impacted by the recent Flint, Mich., water crisis after lead contaminated the city’s water supply. UFCW is facilitating donations from other organizations besides Cargill.
Calcium, vitamin C and iron-rich foods can help protect against and reduce lead absorption in the body. Through the food bank, Cargill’s ground beef donation will provide a source of iron to families in need in Flint.
“We firmly believe that everyone has the right to enjoy safe and nutritious food,” said Jarrod Gillig, general manager of Cargill’s beef processing plant in Schuyler. “We know that protein, like ground beef, provides an array of essential nutrients to children and adults, and we believe it is important for us to provide some relief for a community in need of long-term support.”
“According to Michigan State and the Food Bank of Eastern Michigan, the first six months are critical to mitigating the effects from people who have ingested significant amounts of lead,” said Dan Hoppes, President of UFCW Local 293. “This is an important time for the city of Flint, and Cargill is one of several organizations that has stepped up to the challenge to aid this community in its time of need. We are proud to be working with Cargill to make this donation, which will undoubtedly have a positive impact for many families in the area.”
