Dive Brief:
- The USDA has established new reforms on poultry inspection, in an effort to cut down the number of foodborne illnesses reported each year.
- Among the notable changes: The USDA is cutting back on the number of inspectors it uses, but will push them to pull more birds to test for pathogens. Much of the responsibility for testing will fall to the companies themselves, a move which consumer organizations view as risky.
- Another controversial proposal to increase the speed of inspection lines angered labor. The USDA has now backtracked on that proposal, saying that the cap will stay at 140 birds per minute.
Dive Insight:
The existing system in poultry inspection had been in place for more than a half century, and given the number of outbreaks of foodborne illness in recent years, it was clear that the old way didn't work well enough.
But, the USDA's efforts to made sure that everyone got something out the new rules has led to some anger. Consumer groups and health activists are upset by what they see as pro-industry slant to the rules. The industry is upset by what they see as the pro-labor decision on line speed.