Three major meat-processing plants were closed by federal inspectors this week because of concerns over food safety. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) revealed yesterday that inspectors had encountered rodents and other sanitary problems during their inspections at Plymouth Beef, Real Kosher Sausage and Park Avenue Meats.
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The revealing inspections were just the first in a series planned for the area around New York and northern New Jersey, an operation to be coordinated by Roger C. Viadero, inspector general at the USDA.
Viadero also dispatched 48 agents in the last few weeks; to act as watchdogs on the inspectors and ensure the operation was running smoothly. Methods used by federal inspectors have come under increased scrutiny over the last few years, and Viadero admits that the impetus has been placed on the plants themselves to keep health and safety adequate.
The three companies so far found guilty of violating sanitary laws have been temporarily disqualified from shipping their products, but they can resume business when the health violations have been remedied.
Thomas J. Billy, administrator of the USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service, told a Senate hearing in Washington that enforcement teams would carry out 50 inspections by the end of March, adding that he is personally outraged by some of the alleged problems in the New York vicinity.
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By GlobalDataHe added that he would “do whatever is necessary” to address the problems.
