Is COVID-19 affecting supply of NDT?

[vocalEK]

Might this affect the supply of Armour thyroid? Some commented on this story that much of this plant's pork is shipped to China. nypost.com/2020/04/12/smith...

[helvella Administrator]

One of the problems we have in understanding the impact is having pretty much no idea what the supply chain is like.

Several years ago, when there were supply issues with all USA desiccated thyroid, it took several months for the availability to dwindle, and several months (or longer?) for it to recover.

There could be vast quantities of stock, or none.

We also have no idea if porcine thyroids from that plant are used, or not.

And how long the shutdown will take. If it is just to clean it, probably not much impact. If the staff cannot be protected, that could have a considerable impact on when it re-opens.

But Wiki seems to imply that Armour thyroid might be impacted if it is a very extended closure:

Presently, the Armour food brands are split between refrigerated meat (Armour, owned by Smithfield Foods) and canned shelf-stable meat products (Armour Star, owned by ConAgra Brands).

[jgelliss in reply to helvella]

helvella thank you for your very calming demeaner. I hope it pans out the way you say it. Many depend on the porcine thyroid meds.

[jgelliss]

Thank you for sharing vocaIEK . It's like we needed this too to worry about . It's very concerning for many of us that depend on the NDT for our well-being. I hope it gets resolved very soon so that it doesn't affect us.

[Framboise]

I read a BBC article about the Smithfield plant in Sioux Falls, and they were not treating their staff at all well there. I wondered at the time if they were part of the Armour supply chain. I've just found it and will link at the bottom, it's quite long and details workers' stories. Ownership details of the company are interesting too. It makes me want to switch to T3 only!

Edited to say that HU seem to think I'm giving away personal details, but I can't see what they want me to remove!

bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-can...

[helvella Administrator in reply to Framboise]

Any link causes that warning to appear.

And that is all it is, as you have obviously understood, you can just carry on.

[Framboise in reply to helvella]

Ah thank you, I didn't realise it was the link, but as I couldn't see any obvious breach of personal or national security, I went ahead anyway