2008 Woodie Awards
The Real Deal: Don't let your meat inspector loaf
Paul McNeill
Issue date: 10/9/07 Section: Opinions
What would you do if during an increase in fires and arson your local government voted to cut funds, manpower, and water to the fire department? You'd probably form a posse, march to city hall, throw the bums out of office, and then take your local officials to the insane asylum to get their heads examined.
Well, get your pitchforks and torches ready.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture is dealing with one of the largest meat recalls in history. How is Congress responding? The Senate is considering legislation that would reduce required federal inspections for meat.
Oy, vey!
The legislation would require only state inspections for meat products that do not cross state lines. State inspection standards are typically more lenient and weaker than federal inspection standards. If passed, the legislation could hamper food safety, specifically for meat products produced in smaller plants.
"I'm not sure the smaller plants are capable of meeting federal standard," Stan Painter told a reporter for The Chicago Tribune last week. Painter is a USDA inspector and an official with the American Federation of Government Employees union, which represents federal meat inspectors.
More relaxed standards for meat inspection are being considered during the recall of 21.7 million pounds of hamburger produced by Topps Meat Co., of Elizabeth, N.J., because of E. coli contamination, the culprit behind most of the USDA's meat recalls. As of last week, 25 illnesses were under investigation because of the tainted meat. So far this year, the USDA has recalled 28 million pounds of ground beef.
If members of Congress insist on imposing more moderate inspection standards during a time that should remind them why stricter quality controls are needed, one can only come to three conclusions: Congress is evil, Congress is lazy, or Congress is stupid - perhaps all three. Criticizing the government shouldn't be this easy.
If politicians insist on imposing themselves into every facet of our public and private lives, the least they could do is appear somewhat competent, or short of that, they could at least pretend to put our safety before interest groups, unions, and lobbyists.
Well, get your pitchforks and torches ready.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture is dealing with one of the largest meat recalls in history. How is Congress responding? The Senate is considering legislation that would reduce required federal inspections for meat.
Oy, vey!
The legislation would require only state inspections for meat products that do not cross state lines. State inspection standards are typically more lenient and weaker than federal inspection standards. If passed, the legislation could hamper food safety, specifically for meat products produced in smaller plants.
"I'm not sure the smaller plants are capable of meeting federal standard," Stan Painter told a reporter for The Chicago Tribune last week. Painter is a USDA inspector and an official with the American Federation of Government Employees union, which represents federal meat inspectors.
More relaxed standards for meat inspection are being considered during the recall of 21.7 million pounds of hamburger produced by Topps Meat Co., of Elizabeth, N.J., because of E. coli contamination, the culprit behind most of the USDA's meat recalls. As of last week, 25 illnesses were under investigation because of the tainted meat. So far this year, the USDA has recalled 28 million pounds of ground beef.
If members of Congress insist on imposing more moderate inspection standards during a time that should remind them why stricter quality controls are needed, one can only come to three conclusions: Congress is evil, Congress is lazy, or Congress is stupid - perhaps all three. Criticizing the government shouldn't be this easy.
If politicians insist on imposing themselves into every facet of our public and private lives, the least they could do is appear somewhat competent, or short of that, they could at least pretend to put our safety before interest groups, unions, and lobbyists.
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
B
posted 10/12/07 @ 10:28 AM EST
I would like to comment on statement regarding "State inspection standards are typically more lenient and weaker than federal inspection standards." If the author was better educated in the requirements of state inspection programs they would realize that statement is not really accurate. (Continued…)
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