They call it a science-based breakthrough in food safety. The union inspectors, who fought the new system, contend that a recent series of listeria-related food recalls has exposed the system's inherent dangerous flaws. We are no longer monitoring sanitation. We're no longer doing these kinds of things.
Listeria is out of control.
Bil Mar Foods was among the first plants to begin operating under the system, called Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points. It was based on a model developed for preparing astronaut food and was supposed to reduce bacterial hazards. Federal officials say they still aren't sure what caused a dangerous strain of listeria to slip into Bil Mar products, leading to a deadly outbreak. Inspectors this month began reviewing those efforts to see whether plants have done what they can to address the problem. In The Box restaurants.