Are Food-Safety Inspector Shortages Endangering Public Health?
By Laurel Maloy, contributing writer, Food Online
The jury is still out on the success of the proposed Poultry Modernization Inspection rules; the evidence will speak for itself, if, in fact, it is allowed to have a voice
Is a shortage of food safety inspectors endangering the public’s health? That’s a tough question to answer, but one that bears investigating, at least according to the consumer group Food & Water Watch (FWW). The group’s Executive Director, Wenonah Hauter, recently drafted another scathing letter to Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack.
In the letter, Vilsack has again been called on the carpet about rampant understaffing in the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS). During testimony before the House Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee in April, the number one topic was the poultry slaughter rule, especially in light of the Salmonella outbreak at Foster Farms. Ongoing since March 2013, Foster Farms refused to issue a recall and FSIS did not have the authority to do so. This topic of discussion, unsurprisingly, led to allegations of a sorely understaffed and struggling FSIS.
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While responding to a New York Times article addressing a possible shortage of inspectors, Deputy Assistant Director for FSIS, Aaron Lavallee, defended the agency’s position in an agency blog post. He states that because legally FSIS was required to have a sufficient number of inspectors in each plant, the service does have the required number of inspectors in every American plant. He pointed to no slowdown in production as proof, insinuating that if the required number of FSIS inspectors were not present, production would cease. Lavallee went on to say that inspector vacancy rates should not be confused with plant inspector shortages.
However, the fact remains; an FSIS front-line inspector was able to give examples of severe inspection staff shortages. This same inspector provided emails directing inspectors in Alabama to cover slaughter assignments as opposed to visiting processing plants. This appears to be evidence of a systemic problem that has led to more frequent recalls due to products being released for public consumption without the benefit of inspection.
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A draft of the FY 2015 USDA Budget Summary and Annual Performance Plan was posted on the USDA’s website last March. The notes explain the agency’s reluctance to hire new inspectors until such time as the Poultry Slaughter Modernization rule is implemented. The new inspection process, currently being field tested in 20 poultry processing plants, calls for fewer FSIS inspectors. Hauter strongly believes the new rules will further endanger the public’s health, though there is, as yet, no evidence of that.
Hauter states unequivocally that FSIS is in disarray and needs a complete overhaul of leadership. It may be that not enough emphasis is put on consumer safety, especially when it comes down to dollars on paper — but, it may also be the case of a government agency finding creative ways to operate with less, while becoming much more effective.