Stampede Meat, Inc.

7351 South 78th Avenue

Bridgeview, IL 60455

May 21, 2020 MEDIA CONTACT: media@gostampede.com

MEDIA LINE: (800) 468-8693
PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Stampede Meat partners with the state of New Mexico to protect employees with onsite COVID-19
testing

Sunland Park, NM –Stampede Meat is the Nation’s largest manufacturer of portion-controlled proteins
and meals to both retail and food service customers. Stampede is part of the nation’s critical food supply
chain and has a responsibility to continue to provide meat and poultry products to Americans
throughout the country. The facilities in New Mexico and Illinois produce a wide variety of food
products, including beef, chicken, turkey, pork, vegetables, soups, prepared meals and alternative
proteins.

Although Stampede recognizes its responsibility to the public, it is also committed to the safety of its
employees who are engaged in supporting critical food supplies at this unique time in our history. “Our
employees are heroes on the front line of sustaining operations during a worldwide pandemic,” said
Company President and CEO Brock Furlong. “In early March we released a COVID-19 policy to enhance
safety measures and we continue to add initiatives based on CDC guidelines, OSHA recommendations,
USDA guidelines and state and federal directives in order to protect our Stampede family and our
facilities.”
Stampede’s processing facilities go through a rigorous cleaning process every single day. They are deep
cleaned and sanitized every evening already, as part of the complete Food Safety System and USDA
requirements. The COVID-19 policy includes over 50 additional measures; high touch-point areas are
sanitized every 30 minutes; the company conducts daily screening and temperature checks for all
employees and visitors prior to entering the facilities. Employees are required to wear 3-tiered facial
protection; surgical masks, neck warmers pulled over the nose and mouth and plexi-glass face shields
while in the facility.
Stampede began working with New Mexico state officials in May to bring additional resources to the
plant. “We are pleased that the New Mexico Department of Health brought onsite expedited COVID-19
testing to our Sunland Park facility, so every employee could be tested to reduce any potential exposure
to our employees.” Furlong said.

During the first round of testing, 7.5% of employees tested positive, of which 93% were asymptomatic.
During the second round of testing completed just last week, 4.7% of employees tested positive; all
were asymptomatic. “We cannot identify the asymptomatic employees and that’s why we partnered
with the with the state of New Mexico. The routine testing has proven to be successful with a 37% drop
in positives in the second round of testing,” said Furlong.

Over 90% of the employees that tested positive during the first round have recovered and were cleared
by a doctor. All other positives from the onsite testing are recovering at home and will be re-tested and
cleared by a medical professional.
According to news reports, the Department of Health recognizes our leadership during these difficult
times. "The ownership and management of the Stampede plant continue to be very proactive in
working with the New Mexico Department of Health," the department was reported as saying, adding:
"We are grateful to the company's efforts to provide protection for their employees while remaining
open to assure no shortage of food supply."
 Stampede Meat, Inc.
7351 South 78th Avenue
Bridgeview, IL 60455

The company takes its role seriously as America’s number one pre-portioned protein supplier and
remains very proud of the commitment their team members have shown. “We realize this is an unusual
and distressing time. However, the company remains committed to do all we can to keep our Stampede
family safe while meeting our food supply commitments to the nation.” Furlong shared.