Because they didn t, I am presenting them now. We are pilot testing a new system of inspection that raises the bar for food safety and other consumer protection concerns. Now we have, and the data tells us there is plenty of room for improvement. Too many defects are getting through the traditional slaughter inspection system. This includes defects that are food safety related, and defects that are not food safety concerns but that are unacceptable to the public.
Consumers deserve better.
With this pilot project, we have put both types of defects food safety and other consumer protection into categories, and set performance standards for them that plants must achieve. This does not mean that defects unacceptable under the traditional slaughter inspection system are now acceptable, as has been reported. The things we condemn under traditional slaughter inspection are the same things we condemn under the new system. Just as with the traditional system, FSIS provides continuous inspection under the pilot. The pilot also adds enhanced verification to ensure that these standards are met.