The EU banned antibiotics in animal feed due to the concern that their use could promote the development of such antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Meat inspectors say random testing for bacteria lets carcasses zip past them carrying loads of fecal contamination. They also say relying on companies to do their own testing isn't meeting the federal goal of zero tolerance of fecal contamination. Inspectors told the Agriculture Department they are overwhelmed. They say that, in many cases, carcasses go by at thousands or more an hour.
Inspectors say the new system is an improvement over the old one.
The old system relied almost entirely on detecting defects by sight, smell or feel. But inspectors say the new system of microbial testing leaves a large part of the responsibility to the companies. An industry group counters that meatpackers have incentives to produce clean meat.