Packer inspection is a hot potato.

It looks as though our government has found it too hot to handle.

According to today’s Des Moines Register in a story by Peter Brasher, USDA relied on independent auditors to tell them if everything was up to snuff at Westland/Hallmark, the California meat processor found to be abusing and using downer cows. According to two different sets of independent auditors, Westland/Hallmark was doing a heck of a job.  

Apparently Westland employees were clever enough to evade the notice of inspectors, or the inspectors, and the inspectors of the inspectors, were careful not to notice. Either way it’s not nearly so important how it happened, as the fact that it did happen, and quite frequently.

Maybeinspectors should carry briefcase mounted cameras on the job so they can double check at the end of the day?. 

The bottomline: Inspection was inadequate. USDA wasn’t doing their job, and neither was management. Apparently the private contractors weren’t either.

  Now that we know the truth, will we have to repurchase USDA from special interests with tax dollars in order to regain control, or should we just ask them nicely to give it back?

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