Why even inspect?

Very long, but worth the time. We are at the mercy of the greed of the 1%.

Thanks for posting.

Where they really fail is correlating official policy and what is actually happening in the plant. It is impossible to observe every process and make sure it is being done correctly in one or two days. Then there is the fact that they are expected. Most audits are announced so extra cleaning and be on your best behavior speeches go on a week or so before the audit. Even if it would be unannounced, it was common for someone to go running through the plant saying "The auditor is here," and having employees doing last minute prep. Most auditors are not insistent that they see the plant right away and can be stalled for hours. The "easy" audits include points for some really basic stuff. If a company does not pass one, they shouldn't legally be in business. The differences between the higher ratings can be very subjective and depend on the auditor. The more thorough ask for specific records from a specific time frame. Others just ask whether these records are kept without asking for proof or accepting any proof, such that the test might have only been done for one week for one line for that is the paperwork that they see. Customer audits vary. At my previous company, we received a 98% from one customer and a 60% from another. The 98% was two weeks before the 60% so it had nothing to do with what was actually going on. The GFSI audits, which they had been talking about, are harder but still there are limitations that I mentioned above. My former company had planned to have one this year, but it didn't happen so they aren't ready evidently.
To be fair to the food industry, I have heard that it actually has gotten better. I have a geography book from the 1960's that shows people in the US working on a food processing line without hair nets for example.