The updated procedures let meat companies kill pigs as quickly as they want and pass inspection responsibilities from government officials to plant employees.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced updates on Tuesday to the nation's hog slaughterhouse inspection procedures that critics warn yield more oversight to the industry and could endanger workers and consumers.
"With less government oversight over hog slaughter inspection, big meat companies will have the freedom to inspect themselves and push towards their goal of increasing line speeds," the nonprofitsaid in a statement."There's no doubt about it: faster line speeds + less inspection=more food contamination."
In addition, responsibilities previously in the remit of USDA inspectors will be ceded to employees of the plants, such as the removal of meat with particular defects from the processing line. Critics argue this move essentially privatizes the inspection process and will lead to more instances of contamination.
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