WASHINGTON, DC — Robb MacKie, president and CEO of the American Bakers Association (ABA), released a statement today criticizing President Joe Biden’s action plan to combat COVID-19 and facilitate a return to normal.
The statement comes one day after Biden debuted his most sweeping vaccine mandate, which will affect as many as 100 million Americans, according to a report from the Associated Press. The executive order, which will mandate all employers with more than 100 workers to require vaccinations or get tested weekly, comes as the Delta variant spreads throughout the country and hundreds of thousands of Americans are hospitalized.
Although MacKie said he supported the goal of vaccination, he also expressed apprehension toward the new plan.
“While ABA supports President Biden’s overall goal of vaccinating Americans against COVID-19, we are extremely concerned that the decision to mandate vaccines or weekly testing for all companies with 100 or more employees could overwhelm an already challenged workforce environment,” MacKie said. “Additionally, the administration issued an executive order requiring some employees of federal contractors to be fully vaccinated.”
He also commented that the baking industry, along with the entire food and beverage sector, has worked on COVID-19 mitigation efforts with both presidential administrations in office during the pandemic.
“We are eager to continue this collaboration to ensure our members’ efforts of providing a healthy and safe workplace for their valued employees while providing a steady supply of baked goods to feed American families,” he said. “It is important that essential critical infrastructure, such as the baking industry, not be disrupted by unreasonable and overly burdensome regulations.”
“As we have throughout the pandemic, ABA will work with our food and beverage industry partners to fully engage with the Biden administration to ensure the best possible solutions.”
ABA’s statement was released as federal officials shared new studies highlighting the efficacy of the vaccine in preventing infections, hospitalizations and deaths. Studies found that unvaccinated individuals were 4.5 times more likely to become infected, 10 times more likely to be hospitalized and 11 times more likely to die from the virus, according to a report in the New York Times.
In the statement, ABA said it will communicate with its members as soon as more information becomes available.