U.S. Clears Meat Check System Despite Issues

The government plans to proceed with an experimental meat inspection system despite test results that showed some plants had more problems with contaminated products than before.

Under the new system, federal inspectors no longer do hand checks of carcasses, leaving that job to company employees. The inspectors are supposed to spend more time monitoring sanitation equipment, overseeing plant workers and sampling products for contamination.

Five of 11 chicken-processing plants participating in the program had higher rates of salmonella contamination than they had before, according to a report by the General Accounting Office, the investigative arm of Congress.

Test results also showed higher rates of defects such as bruises on chickens produced by many of the 11 plants, the GAO said, disputing assertions by the Agriculture Department that the program had resulted in safer products.