07/19/2026
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
UFCW Local 27 Calls for Increased Protections for Grocery Workers Amid Cyclospora Outbreak
UFCW Local 27 is urging grocery employers, growers and federal regulators to take every possible step to protect produce department workers as federal officials continue investigating a growing outbreak of Cyclospora linked to fresh produce.
Every day, workers unload, stock, trim, rotate, and handle thousands of pounds of fresh fruits and vegetables that feed our communities. While consumers are understandably concerned about contaminated produce reaching their dinner tables, the workers who handle these products throughout the day deserve the same level of attention and protection.
"Produce workers are an essential part of the food supply chain," said UFCW Local 27 President Jason Chorpenning. "They deserve to know that every reasonable precaution is being taken to protect their health while they continue serving the public."
We are confident that the union grocery employers with whom UFCW Local 27 works recognize the seriousness of this issue and are committed to maintaining strong food safety and sanitation standards. We encourage these employers to continue communicating openly with workers, reinforcing safe handling procedures, and providing any additional training or resources necessary as more information becomes available.
At the same time, we are concerned that workers in production and non-union grocery stores may not receive the same level of communication, training, or workplace protections. Every worker deserves a safe workplace, regardless of who they work for, and every worker should feel empowered to report food safety concerns without fear of retaliation.
UFCW Local 27 is also calling on the federal government, including the Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, to strengthen oversight of imported and domestically grown produce, expand testing and inspections, improve traceability throughout the food supply chain, and dedicate additional resources to identifying the source of Cyclospora contamination before more workers and consumers become ill.
"Hard working people should not bear the burden of gaps in our nation's food safety system," Chorpenning said. "We need stronger oversight, better tracking of contaminated products, and faster action to identify the source of outbreaks. Protecting workers means protecting every family that depends on our food supply."
UFCW Local 27 stands ready to work with responsible grocery employers, public health officials, and government agencies to ensure grocery workers remain safe while maintaining public confidence in the nation's food supply.
—UFCW Local 27, the largest private sector union in Maryland and Delaware represents nearly 18,000 hardworking members not only in Maryland, and Delaware, but also in Pennsylvania and the Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia. The union represents workers in grocery stores, food processing, retail, healthcare, cannabis, and other essential industries, advocating for fair wages, good benefits, safe workplaces, and dignity on the job.-
