Under the pretense of modern science, meat inspectors are now generally prohibited from examining the entire meat processing line to prevent fecal matter, rotten meat or other objectionable contamination from reaching consumers. Chemical interventions and irradiation are being substituted for good sanitation practices, which means that in many cases companies attempt to sterilize fecal matter rather than remove it. The agency could have maintained continuous inspection, while adding microbial testing and other science-based tools, thus increasing needed protections. Instead, the USDA, an agency that is overly responsive to agribusiness concerns, has betrayed consumer trust by facilitating the partial dismantling of the meat inspection system. The meat inspection process must be reexamined.
Adulteration covers more than merely microbial contamination.
The use of any of these interventions should be, at the very least, clearly labeled.