Meat Industry Showing Signs Of Larger Problems

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food safety <http://consumerist.com/consumer/food-safety/>

 

 

Meat Industry Showing Signs Of Larger Problems

<http://consumerist.com/consumer/food-safety/meat-industry-showing-signs-of-larg\

er-problems-306330.php>

 

http://consumerist.com/consumer/food-safety/meat-industry-showing-signs-of-large\

r-problems-306330.php

 

This summer, almost 6 million pounds of beef were recalled due to E.

coli contamination. Last week, almost 22 million pounds of frozen

hamburger meat were recalled after reports surfaced of E. coli

infections. It was the biggest meat recall in 10 years, and " the

American Meat Institute (AMI) says it noticed a slight rise in positive

E. coli tests by the government this summer

<http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/food/2007-10-01-meat-recall_N.htm>, "

says a USA Today article. In fact, 2007 is the first time in 3 years

that the rate of positive USDA sample-tests have gone up. At the same

time, the Chicago Tribune reports that in July, a congressman from

Minnesota slipped a special measure into the 2007 farm bill that would

reduce the need for federal inspections for small meat producers

<http://www.chicagotribune.com/services/newspaper/printedition/tuesday/chi-meat_\

02oct02,0,7565723.story?coll=chi_home_top>.

 

The Chicago Tribune writes that " the requirement for a USDA inspection

and stamp on meat that will be sold interstate hampers sales for smaller

meat processors, according to beef industry advocates, " and that the

state of Minnesota feels its own state inspection procedures are equal

to the those of the FDA. However, not all states have quality inspection

procedures, or any at all.

 

The union that represents federal meat inspectors has argued against the

measure:

 

" [it] would seriously endanger food safety by weakening the USDA

federal meat and poultry inspection program and by increasing

reliance on the more lenient, institutionally weaker state

inspection programs -- at a time when our nation's food supply is

subject to increased risks from both accidental and intentional

adulteration. "

 

Over the weekend, the Topps recall was expanded to include a full year's

worth of meat production--- " an unusually long time frame -- after USDA

inspectors found that the plant lacked appropriate controls regarding

beef carried over from one day's production to the next. "

 

 

" Meat recalls point to possibility threat is growing "

<http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/food/2007-10-01-meat-recall_N.htm>

[uSA Today]

" Bill would reduce meat inspections "

<http://www.chicagotribune.com/services/newspaper/printedition/tuesday/chi-meat_\

02oct02,0,7565723.story?coll=chi_home_top>

[Chicago Tribune]

 

Read More:

 

* Should Artificially Colored Meat Have A Warning Label?

<http://www.consumerist.com/consumer/food-safety/should-artificially-colored-mea\

t-have-a-warning-label-306305.php>