Had inspectors not been deemed essential – and been furloughed – U.S. packing plants and the 500,000 workers they employ would have been idled.

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Government shutdown: Meat inspectors are still on the job

Despite reports from the news and social media, federal meat inspectors are working in meat packing plants during the government shutdown.

The National Pork Producers Council – and other livestock groups – a year ago urged Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue to deem as essential USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service inspectors. Without inspections, NPPC said in a Jan. 19, 2018 letter to the secretary, “meat and poultry processing plants are prohibited by law from operating.”

“NPPC and U.S. livestock and poultry farmers are very grateful for the dedication and professionalism shown by FSIS inspectors during what we know are difficult times with this government shutdown,” says NPPC President Jim Heimerl, a pork producer from Ohio. “These inspectors are performing a job that ensures for American consumers the safety of our food supply.”

Had inspectors not been deemed essential – and been furloughed – U.S. packing plants and the 500,000 workers they employ would have been idled, causing significant disruptions throughout the meat supply chain, from livestock producers unable to market their animals to grocery stores unable to stock the meat case.

Also continuing to operate during the shutdown are USDA Market News Service staff who produce the twice-daily livestock mandatory price reports, which are the sole source of market information on sales to packers of cattle, hogs and lambs and on the subsequent sale of meat products. As he did for FSIS inspectors, Perdue made Market News Service employees essential.

“The mandatory price report is a critical tool used by livestock producers, packers and others when making marketing decisions,” Heimerl says. “It plays a central role in ensuring competition in the meat industry and in keeping the livestock industry vibrant.”

Source: National Pork Producers Council, which is solely responsible for the information provided, and wholly owns the information. Informa Business Media and all its subsidiaries are not responsible for any of the content contained in this information asset.

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