Changes coming to meat, poultry inspections (AP/CNN) [View All]

[eppur_se_muova]

WASHINGTON (AP) -- The first major changes to food inspection in a decade will increase federal scrutiny of meat and poultry plants where the danger from E. coli and other germs is high or where past visits have found unsafe practices.

The new policy will result in fewer inspections at plants with lower risks and better records for handling meat and poultry.

"We're just putting resources where the risk is greatest, and those plants that demonstrate excellent control will get less of our resources," said Richard Raymond, the Agriculture Department's top food safety official.

To decide the level of scrutiny a plant should get, the "risk-based" system will consider the type of product and the plant's record of food safety violations.

A plant that makes hamburger and has repeated violations would get more inspection. A plant that makes cooked, canned ham and has a clean track record would get less scrutiny.
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Consumer groups, the inspectors' union and the meat industry all say the concept has merit. But there are many objections to the way the department is going about it:
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more: http://www.cnn.com/2007/HEALTH/02/19/meat.inspection.ap/index.html

ANY change implemented under Bu**sh** should be regarded with suspicion. Even if it sounds OK in and of itself, expect it to be implemented in a way that opens the door to new abuses.