Haribo confirms coronavirus cases at Yorkshire site

Public Health England (PHE) has been notified of the cluster of cases, with each individual – and those they had been in close contact with – now in self-isolation. The health body confirmed that the processes, controls and measures in place on site were more than satisfactory.

A Haribo spokesman added: “As a business we have consistently gone above and beyond the guidance set by the Government and follow strict internal standards around the health, safety and wellbeing of our colleagues, which is our top priority.​

Internal track and trace system ​

“In addition to stringent hygiene measures that are already in place throughout our organisation, we operate our own internal track and trace system, strict social distancing measures are in place, everyone who can work from home is doing so and all colleagues and all visitors have their temperature checked before accessing our sites.”​

News of these 10 cases comes one month after Haribo announced it had launched a consultation into the future of two of its factories in Yorkshire​. If implemented, the proposal would signal the end of the production of Haribo’s Maoam brand in the UK – impacting the jobs of 207 members of staff.

Yorkshire jobs ​

Food and drink workers union GMB said it would be entering into formal consultation with the company and has been in talks with local MP Yvette Cooper in a bid to call on the Government to intervene.

Meanwhile, the Government stands accused of being unprepared for Brexit and a second wave of the novel coronavirus​​ by a parliamentary committee report as new lockdown regulations threaten to force suppliers to cease operations.

The committee has called for the Government to consult on the ‘right to food’ after the National Food Strategy is published. It has also pressed them to appoint a minister for food security, to draw together policy across departments on food supply, nutrition and welfare in order to deliver sustainable change.