Meat&Poultry - March 2013 - 14

Washington
BY BERNARD SHIRE

meatpoultry@sosland.com

Consequences of
inspection cuts
else, will blame the other side for the

operation of the industry, but to ensure

situation. Each party has said that if the

the health of the American public. Meat

massive across-the-board cuts in federal

and poultry can’t be made or sold with-

spending occur, there will be a huge neg-

out government inspection, because that

ative effect on the American economy,

inspection ensures the food products are

which continues to struggle to shake off

safe for the public to buy and consume.

the recession, and that President Obama,

If that doesn’t happen, there is the pos-

or the GOP-led House of Representatives,

sibility of foodborne illness taking place.

depending on your viewpoint, will be
held responsible.
By the time you read this, the seques-

I

t seems like day by day America’s

tration debate may well have been re-

government is becoming less able

solved. Either the sequestration will have

to operate in a cohesive manner.

gone forward, with massive across-the-

The “sequestration”, that odd word

board federal spending cuts taking place,

being used to describe massive federal

or the threat will have been resolved,

government funding cuts in government

with no required, automatic cuts at all.

services being threatened, point more and

But in a sense, that doesn’t matter.

more to the wrong direction we seem to

Because there’s another issue here – the

be heading – and then some.

The issue itself
centers on what
government
services are
necessary and
what services
can be dispensed
with for a period
of time.

question of why the idea of sequestration

So, meat and poultry inspection,

As usual here in Washington, the is-

was raised to begin with. And particu-

most people agree, is one of those gov-

sue has become greatly embroiled in poli-

larly, why the Obama Administration

ernment services that can’t be postponed

tics. President Obama is suggesting this

and US Dept. of Agriculture raised the

or stopped for a while because to do so

sequestration, or cutbacks in federal gov-

threat of furloughs of meat and poultry

would have massive negative effects,

ernment funding and programs, be de-

inspectors as part of this government-

not only on life in this country, but on

layed until the end of the year. The meat

spending cutback.

American public health.

and poultry industry said government is

This political gamesmanship really

There are other government servic-

obliged to provide inspection services

goes beyond the idea of FSIS inspec-

es that also fall in this category, such as

because the industry can’t operate and

tor furloughs shutting down the meat

defense. That’s where meat and poultry

produce food for the American people

and poultry slaughter and processing in-

inspection rank in importance in this

without the inspection services provid-

dustries. The issue itself also centers on

country. For anyone in the government to

ed by the government. So, if that were to

what government services are necessary

threaten furloughing of meat and poultry

happen, the American poultry and meat

and what services can be dispensed with

inspectors is an action verging on irre-

industry would be forced to close, result-

for a period of time. There is no doubt

sponsibility, cheap politics and a disre-

ing in layoffs and great unemployment

USDA poultry and meat inspection falls

gard for one of government’s most impor-

in the industry.

into the category of a government service

tant duties – protecting public health. ■

The Democrats and Republicans have
blamed each other for the situation, each

for any period of time. Food inspection,

thinking the American public, being in-

including meat and poultry inspection,

terested more in results than anything

14

that is critical and cannot be eliminated

are necessary not only for the continued

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

Bernard Shire, based in Lancaster, Pa., is a
contributing editor and M&P’s Washington
correspondent. Shire also works as a foodsafety consultant for Shire & Associates LLC.
http://www.MeatPoultry.com
Meat&Poultry - March 2013

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