Inspector ranks thin for keeping meat safe

Last update: February 21, 2008 - 7:51 PM

Government inspectors responsible for examining slaughterhouse cattle for mad cow disease and other ills are so short-staffed that they find themselves looking at hundreds of animals at once.¶ The ranks of inspectors are so thin that slaughterhouse workers often figure out when "surprise" visits are about to take place and make sure they are on their best behavior.¶ These allegations were raised by former and current Agriculture Department inspectors in the wake of the biggest beef recall in history -- 143 million pounds from a California meatpacker accused of sending "downer" cows to slaughter.

A CHRONIC SHORTAGE?

The inspectors told the Associated Press that they fear chronic staff shortages in their ranks are allowing sick cows to get into the nation's food supply. According to the department's figures, inspector ranks nationwide had vacancy rates of 10 percent or more in 2006-07. Minneapolis had a 9.1% vacancy rate in that time frame.

"They're not covering all their bases. There's a possibility that something could go through because you don't have the manpower to check everything," said Lester Friedlander, a former inspector at a plant in Wyalusing, Pa.

DEFENDING ITS RECORD

Amanda Eamich, a spokeswoman for the Agriculture Department's Food Safety and Inspection Service, acknowledged that the department has been struggling to fill vacancies but denied that the food supply is at risk.

"Every single animal must past antemortem inspection before it's presented for slaughter, so only healthy animals are going to pass," she said. "We do have continuous inspection at slaughter facilities."

Similarly, Janet Riley, a spokeswoman for the American Meat Institute, defended the industry's safety record. "It is interesting to keep in mind how heavily regulated we are," she said. "Nobody has this level of inspection."

THE RECALL

The Agriculture Department recalled the California beef after the Humane Society of the United States released undercover video that showed slaughterhouse workers at the Chino-based Westland/Hallmark Meat Co. kicking and shoving sick and crippled cows and forcing them to stand with electric prods, forklifts and water hoses.

Wayne Pacelle, the Humane Society's president, said that the video was filmed over a six-week period last fall and that all of the abuse happened when inspectors were not present.

"The inspection system obviously has enormous gaps if these routine abuses could happen," Pacelle said.

MORE ONLINE

How does Minneapolis' FDA inspector vacancy compare with other cities? See a comparison graphic at www.startribune.com/nation.

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