US vets support poultry inspection findings

09-09-2013 | | |
US vets support poultry inspection findings
US vets support poultry inspection findings

In response to the Government Accountability Office (GAO) report regarding poultry inspection practises, the National Association of Federal Veterinarians issued a press release agreeing with the findings and urged FSIS to publish the final rule as soon as practicable.

“Our experience is that the new poultry inspection system results in safer meat. Under the new system, establishment employees sort good chicken carcasses from bad carcasses. This sorting is overseen by a federal veterinarian and their inspection team. After sorting, every passed carcass is inspected by a federal inspector. The carcasses are being checked twice. Traditionally inspected carcasses are only checked once,” says Dr Douglas Fulnechek, a veterinarian and president of the National Association of Federal Veterinarians.



Dr Fulnechek said, “The new method preserves inspection for carcass wholesomeness, but emphasises microbiological control of the slaughter and dressing process to reduce the foodborne illness causing organisms Salmonella and Campylobacter.”



“It is difficult to analyze extensive data from multiple sources over an extended period,” stated Dr William James, retired chief public health veterinarian of FSIS. “However, the science and art of public health demand that its best practitioners pull information from the data that’s critical to protecting the public. In this case, we see the new system increases company accountability and helps FSIS inspection personnel focus on the safety of the product. This makes the new poultry inspection system an improvement for protecting public health.”

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