Where there is reason to believe that adulterated meat or poultry is in commerce, FSIS under its current practices, can request that the establishment conduct a recall. Recalls are currently determined through collaborative, cooperative efforts by USDA's Emergency Response Staff working with the officials at the establishment that produced the product. In such cases, the establishment s owners and managers risk criminal prosecution while FSIS can immediately institute retention, detention, seizure and, perhaps the most persuasive power of all, publicity. Under the existing statutory requirements, establishments are required to keep records and to provide them to FSIS officials. When issues of recall occur, a company's cooperation to produce records is essential and has traditionally met very high standards of compliance.
Records are complex and differ in format from firm to firm.
Processors and distributors have been almost universally cooperative with USDA and other agencies in identifying and recovering product in recall situations and USDA has existing authority to obtain these records in the event that a firm is not forthcoming. National Meat Association believes that USDA's rush to seek additional authorities misreads the lessons of the Hudson recall. USDA needs to make better use of its existing authorities, so that consumers are better protected by risk evaluation, traceback and consumer information.