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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsNew Rules Say Poultry Plants Can Conduct Own Checks
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/08/01/us/politics/new-rules-say-poultry-plants-can-inspect-their-birds.html?_r=0WASHINGTON The Agriculture Department released long-awaited poultry-inspection rules on Thursday that will give plant operators the option of conducting their own inspections for bird defects and feces on the processing lines and allow government inspectors to concentrate on other food-safety issues in the plant.
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said the new rules were the most significant change in food-safety inspections in nearly 60 years. They will increase the chances of us detecting problems by placing the burden of finding contaminates such as salmonella on the plants, he said.
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The Agriculture Department has run a pilot program since 1998 testing a system that gives plants the responsibility of inspecting the birds. Under existing procedures, inspectors from the departments Food Safety and Inspection Service are stationed along poultry plant assembly lines to examine the birds for blemishes, feces or visible defects before they are processed. Not all plants may choose to inspect themselves under the new rules, in which case a government inspector would remain on the processing line.
The department also announced that it would limit speeds on poultry plant lines to 140 birds per minute to protect workers from repetitive-stress injuries like carpal tunnel syndrome. The current average is about 130 birds a minute, officials said, but food-safety groups were worried because earlier proposals indicated the limit would be significantly raised.
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The groups said the rules were based on incomplete data and put in place without adequate public review. Food & Water Watch said it was exploring options to try to stop the new rules.
Good Ole Monsanto Vilsack.
blkmusclmachine
(16,149 posts)Historic NY
(37,451 posts)TxVietVet
(1,905 posts)dembotoz
(16,808 posts)marble falls
(57,106 posts)MohRokTah
(15,429 posts)A chicken coop in every yard.
sabrina 1
(62,325 posts)the terrible conditions and environmental damage they cause for years.
This is truly very bad news.
RFK Jr has been the target of a smear campaign lately, not surprising considering all the work he has tried to do to stop the destruction of our natural environment.
Art_from_Ark
(27,247 posts)sabrina 1
(62,325 posts)Hopefully it has been rightfully slapped down since most Democrats are not stupid enough to think it's about anything other than RFK Jr using his fame to go after Corrupt Corporations.
NCarolinawoman
(2,825 posts)sabrina 1
(62,325 posts)MohRokTah
(15,429 posts)Seriously, RFK Jr. destroyed his own credibility. Now others have to take up the slack on other issues because he is a poor spokesperson on ANY issue.
sabrina 1
(62,325 posts)Lol, I couldn't have explained it better if I tried. That is exactly what I have been saying, that this is the goal, and has little to do with the issue BEING USED. It is, as you so kindly pointed out, to try to destroy his credibility on what they really care about, the environmental crimes he has been vigilant about, committed by Big Corrupt Corporations.
The ONLY people who have destroyed their credibility are those who are, either wittingly or unwittingly, aiding and abetting the latest smear campaign against a great Democrat.
RFK Jr, has zero to worry about regarding HIS credibility and will continue to fight against these corrupt anti-environmental, corrupt Corporations as he always has.
You need to make it clear when you speak about the credibility of good Democrats, like RFK Jr, that you are speaking ONLY for yourself.
We Dems are not stupid, we recognize the tactics of Corrupt Corporations because we've witnessed them before, analyzed them, right here on DU actually, and are better than most at detecting where they are coming from.
Jackpine Radical
(45,274 posts)Nobuddy but us chikkins.
flvegan
(64,408 posts)Mnemosyne
(21,363 posts)newfie11
(8,159 posts)Spider Jerusalem
(21,786 posts)hatrack
(59,587 posts). . . all-of-the-above energy extraction (especially with fracking) - gosh, it's all about health, safety and the environment!!
Thank you, President Obama!