Inspector Vacancies At USDA Hurt Meat Inspections
February 25th, 2008 joshua
The nation’s largest beef recall may just be the start of a trend in the industry, the Associated Press recently reported. Through its own investigation, more beef could be tainted, and the future supply of U.S. beef could be in jeopardy due to a staggering lack of inspectors.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture is operating at a 10 percent vacancy rate for its inspection team. And even at those levels, inspectors may only get to make a quick pass by a line of more than a hundred cattle to check for any diseased in the herd.
This means the likelihood of sick cattle entering the slaughter line, and subsequently tainting an entire supply of beef is increasing. Industry insiders told AP that beef slaughter houses know when “surprise” inspections are about to occur, and can make accommodations to hide the sick cattle.
A Congressional hearing on the safety of the beef industry is set for the end of the month












