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Proverbs 31 8-9 Speak out on behalf of the voiceless, and for the rights of all who are vulnerable. Speak out in order to judge with righteousness and to defend the needy and the poor.
Script
January 18, 2026
Environmental issues often dominate global conversations, but another crisis is unfolding quietly within our own borders; one that intersects with human rights, food security, and the ethics of the American supply chain. As Human Trafficking Awareness Month brings renewed attention to exploitation, recent headlines involving JBS Foods in Greeley, Colorado highlight just how deeply labor trafficking and child labor violations have become embedded in parts of our food system.
JBS Foods, the nation’s largest meatpacking processor, recently agreed to provide $4 million to support individuals and communities harmed by unlawful child labor practices. This follows a major investigation released in fall 2025 that uncovered troubling recruitment tactics and labor violations.
Investigators found that JBS Human Resources representatives used TikTok and other social media platforms to recruit primarily Haitian and Mexican migrants—promising fair wages, safe housing, and a better life. The only requirement: get to Greeley, Colorado.
On January 13, JBS entered into an agreement committing to hold its supply chain, contractors, and service providers accountable for illegal child labor. The company also pledged to launch a targeted advertising campaign to raise awareness about unlawful labor practices.
The broader picture is even more alarming. In fiscal year 2024 alone, federal investigators identified over 4,000 children working in violation of federal child labor laws, with more than 1,000 open investigations still underway.
JBS has issued statements emphasizing new HR leadership, updated recruitment training, and collaboration with labor organizations to ensure compliance. They assert that they do not charge workers for transportation, medical screenings, or housing, and that allegations of unsafe living conditions are “unacceptable and upsetting.”
Yet the tension remains: consumers are paying more for meat than ever, while companies like JBS—whose brands include Just Bare Chicken, Swift Pork, and Certified Angus Beef—continue expanding operations and reporting strong financial performance. In the third quarter of 2025, JBS reported $22.6 billion in revenue, a 13% increase from the previous year.
And JBS is not alone. Tyson, Smithfield, and other major processors have faced investigations and complaints related to labor violations and immigration enforcement.
All of this raises a difficult question:
How can the U.S. maintain a stable food supply when the jobs that sustain it are low-paying, dangerous, and increasingly filled by vulnerable migrant workers?
Food insecurity remains one of America’s most pressing challenges. Yet the system designed to keep grocery shelves stocked often relies on people with the fewest protections—those living in the shadows, those desperate for work, and too often, children.
Nonprofits and advocacy groups urge consumers to “vote with their wallets,” supporting local farms and ethical producers. But for many Americans—especially those in cities or living paycheck to paycheck—local, sustainable protein simply isn’t accessible or affordable.
This is the uncomfortable truth:
Our food system is built on contradictions—feeding the nation while exploiting the vulnerable, promoting American agriculture while depending on migrant labor, and celebrating abundance while millions remain food insecure.
So where do we go from here?
We cannot solve these issues overnight, but we can take meaningful steps:
- Stay informed. Awareness is the first line of defense against exploitation.
- Support organizations fighting labor trafficking and advocating for worker protections.
- Ask questions about where your food comes from and how companies treat their workers.
- Engage in local and national conversations about food policy, immigration, and labor rights.
- Share stories like this one to keep pressure on corporations and policymakers.
Call to Action
If we want a food system that is ethical, sustainable, and truly secure, we must demand it.
Not just with our wallets—but with our voices, our advocacy, and our willingness to confront uncomfortable truths.
Change begins when ordinary people refuse to look away.
References
Release, I. (2025). JBS to fund $4 million towards preventing illegal child labor, supporting victims. National Hog Farmer, http://ezproxy.apus.edu/login?qurl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.proquest.com%2Ftrade-journals%2Fjbs-fund-4-million-towards-preventing-illegal%2Fdocview%2F3166382100%2Fse-2%3Faccountid%3D8289
Harvey, S. (2024, Sep 30). US union accuses meat giant JBS of human-trafficking violations. Just - Food Global News http://ezproxy.apus.edu/login?qurl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.proquest.com%2Fwire-feeds%2Fus-union-accuses-meat-giant-jbs-human-trafficking%2Fdocview%2F3111075274%2Fse-2%3Faccountid%3D8289
Workers allege abuse at JBS meatpacking plant in Greeley. ‘Who is supposed to get better living conditions? Us or the cows we are killing?’ By Haylee May
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Sep. 26, 2024, 10:04 https://www.cpr.org/2024/09/26/greeley-meatpacking-human-trafficking-abuse-union-investigation/
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