In two separate posts on the social-media platform X, U.S. Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) stepped up the rhetoric and attacks on the meatpacking industry this week.
In the first announcement, Hawley detailed that he had spoken with Tyson Foods CEO Donnie King about the future of Missouri plants that the company was planning to shut down, saying Tyson was willing to sell the processing facilities in Dexter and Noel, Mo., to any interested buyers, including competitors.
He also said that Tyson was willing to help local chicken farmers continue their businesses and secure new contracts with Tyson or other companies. Hawley concluded saying, “We will hold him to these commitments” in the post.
In a second tweet a few days later, Hawley ripped Tyson Foods for closing the Missouri plants as a reaction to a New York Times story detailing migrant children who allegedly worked illegally for Tyson and Perdue, and penned a letter to King demanding an explanation and answers.
One week ago, Hawley introduced legislation aimed at breaking up the meatpacking companies, whom he views as holding a monopoly on the market.
