Meat&Poultry - March 2013 - 10

Business Notes

Vilsack details sequester impact on meat industry
The US Dept. of Agriculture is no-

spokesman for Cargill. “This is be-

year to operate the program. Fund-

tifying union representatives of meat

cause there is a statutory requirement

ing for FSIS meat inspection recently

inspectors that furloughs are possible,

to provide meat plant inspectors as

has been at about $890 million a year.

although the process will take several

a priority. We are hopeful the fed-

Vilsack said 87 percent of the USDA’s

months, according to news reports.

eral government resolves this situa-

overall food-safety budget was ear-

tion before any meat plant furlough

marked to employ the meat inspectors,

is implemented.”

and because of the way the sequester

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack
told the House Agriculture Committee
that USDA was looking at a “several-

Worth Sparkman, spokesman for

was written, there was virtually no

month period” before furloughs could

Tyson Foods, said the company is

flexibility that may be found to avoid

be implemented because workers must

hopeful there will be no interruption

a furlough of meat inspectors.

be notified ahead of time. Vilsack es-

in meat inspections, and that Tyson

Vilsack also pointed out the fur-

timated that furloughs could last up

does not expect any immediate impact

lough process itself was complicated

to 12 days and will be staggered, ac-

to its business.

and may result in increased produc-

cording to the USDA. A 15-day fur-

“Disrupting food inspection is a

tion disruptions at meat plants toward

lough of meat inspectors could cost

disservice to all consumers, including

the end of the fiscal year. This was be-

the meat and poultry industry more

those who work in our plants, raise our

cause under law, the USDA must give

than $10 billion in production loss-

cattle, chickens and hogs and invest in

a 30-day notice to unions represent-

es and workers could lose more than

our company,” Sparkman said.

ing the meat inspectors, and to each

$400 million in wages.

There currently are about 8,400

meat inspector individually, of the in-

Until USDA settles on a plan of

FSIS in-plant meat inspectors and

tent to initiate the furlough process.

action, large meat processors such as

other front-line federal personnel lo-

Only after that notice is delivered and

Cargill and Springdale, Ark.-based

cated at approximately 6,290 slaugh-

a designated process of addressing in-

Tyson Foods Inc., remain in a hold-

tering and processing plants and

dividuals’ concerns completed will the

ing pattern.

import houses and other federally

USDA and meat inspector unions be

regulated facilities.

able to negotiate how the furloughs

“We believe there are other non-essential personnel at USDA that should

FSIS meat inspection is funded as

will be implemented. This may push

be considered for furlough before meat

a discretionary program, which means

the actual furloughs toward the end

plant inspectors,” said Mike Martin,

Congress must appropriate funds each

of the fiscal year. ■

More horse meat detected in European products
The scandal over horse meat being

on EU member states to better respect

lished March 1. More than 99 per-

labeled and sold as beef has swept

existing rules on food labeling and to

cent of tests show no horse DNA at

Europe, prompting officials with the

better collaborate on traceability.

or above the level of 1 percent. The

European Union to hold emergency

Traces of horse meat were found in

products sold by Taco Bell, Birds Eye

meetings to address the problem. Also,

products sold at Taco Bell, some Birds

and Brakes were covered by 10 results

several high-profile companies such as

Eye products and spicy minced beef

that show horse DNA at or above the

Aldi, Nestlé and Ikea initiated product

skewers manufactured by Brakes, a

1 percent threshold, the agency said.

recalls because horse-meat DNA was

catering supplier, the United King-

There are currently 17 products con-

found in their food products.

dom’s Food Standards Agency report-

firmed as having more than 1 percent

ed March 1.

of horse DNA.

The European Parliament suggested more testing and stronger sanctions

Traces of horse DNA were also

has received 5,430 test results, which

found in beef samples taken from

and food-safety committee also called

10

The FSA said the agency so far

to address the issue. A public health

includes more than 1,700 results pub-

three meat processors in Poland. ■

• Meat&Poultry • March 2013 • www.MeatPoultry.com
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Meat&Poultry - March 2013

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