Tyson Foods has just changed this important measure of food security
One of the world's largest producers of meat replaces some federal food safety inspectors.
Editor's note: This item has been updated to include comments from Tyson Foods.
Tyson Foods recently announced that it would replaceMore than a dozen federal food security inspectorswith employees of the company to abeef plant In Holcomb, Kans. AlthoughTyson got a renunciation of the federal government To do this, food safety experts expressed concerns about increased deregulation andtransparency.
In September, theAsset Administration of safety control requirements significantly rolled up for domesticegg producing plants. The new rule has removed government inspectors on time full ofFood processing plants, transferring the responsibility of the employees of the company. Now one of the world's largest producers of meat has also been used. (In touch:8 groceries who can soon be in the short diet.)
The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) has published the waiver in accordance with a rule whose purpose is "to allow experimentation so that new procedures, equipment and / or treatment techniques can be tested to facilitate Defined improvements ". The waiver will relate to several of the regulatory functions of the Holcomb plant, including microbiological testing, line speed and inspection staff. Ysonintend to use "Vision and learning systems of the machine in the beef carcass inspection", "the public waiver's request does not mention these technologies. (In touch:The new decision of the USDA makes it possible to produce chicken from sick birds.)
The USDA saidReuters that it would continue to inspect carcasses and animal parts that Tyson undertakes "quality assurance and cutting tasks". Although the total number of USDA inspectors at the plant will decrease, the Agency added that there would be "more extremely qualified inspectors who work more complex, such as the monitoring of animal welfare or Meat tests. " Tyson's waiver claim asserted that changes to the inspection process would not have a negative impact on food security.
"Tyson works in partnership with the USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service to modernize the Beef Inspection Process at Tyson Fresh Woods' Holccomb, Kansas Facility. As part of the ongoing efforts of USDA to modernize pre-session practices, this project is an opportunity to introduce new technologies (for example, vision systems, automatic learning) innovate to the current system of beef harvest to improve food safety and the Inspection presentation, "said a representative of Tyson FoodsEat this, not that! "This approach is designed to maintain the supervision of the USDA's 100% inspection when conducting a continuous improvement of the industry and the provision of safe and healthy beef products for consumers."
For more news about food security, be sure to read aboutThe 6 new FDA food safety tips.
