| Recall the crazy regulatory scheme for eggs. At the USDA, the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS), grades shell eggs based on size and appearance; the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) regulates the health of the hens (but not the eggs); and the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS), regulates the safety of liquid, dried and frozen egg products. The FDA, on the other hand, regulates the safety of shell eggs.
So you've already got USDA inspectors in the egg operation that sold the tainted eggs, only they aren't looking for salmonella.
According to the AP article "Former egg farm workers say complaints ignored by USDA employees working at the site:
The USDA employees worked next to areas where roughly 7.7 million caged hens laid eggs at the two operations, but agency spokesman Caleb Weaver said their main duties are "grading" the eggs and they aren't primarily responsible for looking for health problems.
While they were busy grading the eggs, did they notice or (no pun intended) give a shit about the 8 foot piles of manure and rodents? Nope.
Two former workers at Wright County Egg facilities, Robert and Deanna Arnold, said they reported problems such as leaking manure and dead chickens to USDA employees, but nothing was done.
The USDA "graders" worked in buildings adjacent to where hens laid eggs, focusing on weighing, measuring and inspecting eggs before they were packaged. They are the people who determine if an egg is A or AA, for instance.
"It didn't matter which USDA officer was working, if we reported something they would just turn their heads," Deanna Arnold said. "They didn't care."
Any else in favor of one single food safety agency instead of the regulatory mess we've got?
See also: Deep Harm's diary on this subject. |
