American meat inspector says pilot program gives too much control to private industry and raises food safety concerns
(Reuters) — Processing lines at some U.S. hog slaughterhouses are moving too fast for inspectors to adequately address contamination and food safety concerns, says a whistle-blower protection organization.
The Government Accountability Project said it has obtained affidavits from four government meat inspectors.
They say the documents detail experiences inside pork-processing plants participating in a pilot program developed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture to speed up lines while improving food safety and reducing inspection costs.
The inspectors, three of whom work for the USDA and a fourth who recently retired, allege they have seen practices that increase the risk of salmonella contamination of meat on the processing line.
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They also noted an increased level of contamination of meat with “cystic kidneys” and “bladder stems” from slaughtered animal carcasses.
Joe Ferguson, a USDA inspector with 23 years at the agency who retired last year, said in one affidavit that the program is giving too much control over food safety to private industry.
The pilot program is being conducted in five pork processing plants.
A similar program is in place at U.S. poultry plants, and the labour union representing U.S. poultry inspectors has been battling the USDA in federal court, claiming the new program jeopardizes food safety.
Under the program, plant operators take on more responsibility for carcass inspection while government inspectors verify the effectiveness of the company’s work.
Hormel Foods Corp. operates or contracts with three plants piloting the government program.
The Government Accountability Project’s food integrity campaign said it was launching a petition drive urging Hormel to slow down its processing lines and conduct closer inspections.
Hormel said food safety is a top priority, and it has found that the government program allows for more efficient and effective oversight.
Hormel’s facilities meet or exceed USDA standards, it said.
The USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service also said that the new model is more efficient and provides enhanced food safety protection.
In November, the USDA issued a report about the hog slaughter inspection program, which concluded that the plants in the program are performing as well as those not in it.
USDA spokesperson Catherine Cochrain said the USDA has not yet determined whether it will expand the program beyond the five pork plants.
