Food Safety
search
cart
facebook twitter linkedin
  • Sign In
  • Create Account
  • Sign Out
  • My Account
Food Safety
  • NEWS
    • Latest News
    • White Papers
  • PRODUCTS
  • TOPICS
    • Contamination Control
    • Food Types
    • Management
    • Process Control
    • Regulatory
    • Sanitation
    • Supply Chain
    • Testing and Analysis
  • PODCAST
  • EXCLUSIVES
    • Food Safety Five Newsreel
    • eBooks
    • FSM Distinguished Service Award
    • Interactive Product Spotlights
    • Videos
  • BUYER'S GUIDE
  • MORE
    • ENEWSLETTER >
      • Archive Issues
      • Subscribe to eNews
    • Store
    • Sponsor Insights
  • WEBINARS
  • FOOD SAFETY SUMMIT
  • EMAG
    • eMagazine
    • Archive Issues
    • Editorial Advisory Board
    • Contact
    • Advertise
  • SIGN UP!
News

Senate Approves Bill to Avert USDA Meat-Inspector Furloughs

March 21, 2013

Source: Bloomberg

A provision in a spending bill passed by the Senate would avoid furloughs of U.S. meat inspectors as part of budget cuts, lowering the risk of disrupting plants run by companies including Tyson Foods Co. (TSN)

The spending bill was approved 73-26 today and now goes to the House. Earlier, in a voice vote, senators amended the measure to let the U.S. Department of Agriculture shift funds among programs to avoid pulling inspectors from meatpacking plants that require federal oversight to operate.

The possibility that plants may shut for 11 days from July through September drew protests from the American Meat Institute and other industry groups. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, who earlier estimated the disruptions could cost the industry as much as $10 billion, said the amendment should avert furloughs.

Meatpackers welcomed the vote. “Meat inspection is an essential government service, and should not be interrupted,” Gary Mickelson, spokesman for Springdale, Arkansas-based Tyson, the biggest U.S. meat processor, said in an e-mail. Mike Martin, spokesman for Minneapolis-based Cargill Inc., said “it appears as though the best interest of the American public is being served in Washington today in a bipartisan way.”

House Action
The Senate spending bill would fund the federal government through Sept. 30. House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan yesterday said his Republican colleagues may accept the Democrats’ spending measure as-is. House Appropriations Committee Chairman Hal Rogers said he expects the bill to pass tomorrow.

The USDA began notifying union representatives that furloughs are possible after the budget-cutting measure known as sequestration took effect March 1. The mechanism is part of a 2011 deficit-reducing agreement that requires $85 billion in across-the-board cuts to government agencies this fiscal year.

Meat, poultry and egg processing plants are prohibited from operating without the presence of federal inspectors. Having to furlough inspectors for 15 days would cost the industry more than $10 billion in production losses, and workers at meat plants could lose more than $400 million in wages, Vilsack said in a letter to Senate Appropriations Committee Chairwoman Barbara Mikulski in February.

Under the amendment, $55 million would be transferred from USDA school-equipment grants and maintenance budgets for buildings and facilities to the department’s Food Safety and Inspection Service, which pays inspectors.

Share This Story

Looking for a reprint of this article?
From high-res PDFs to custom plaques, order your copy today!

Recommended Content

JOIN TODAY
to unlock your recommendations.

Already have an account? Sign In

  • people holding baby chicks

    Serovar Differences Matter: Utility of Deep Serotyping in Broiler Production and Processing

    This article discusses the significance of Salmonella in...
    Meat/Poultry
    By: Nikki Shariat Ph.D.
  • woman washing hands

    Building a Culture of Hygiene in the Food Processing Plant

    Everyone entering a food processing facility needs to...
    Sanitation
    By: Richard F. Stier, M.S.
  • graphical representation of earth over dirt

    Climate Change and Emerging Risks to Food Safety: Building Climate Resilience

    This article examines the multifaceted threats to food...
    Contamination Control
    By: Maria Cristina Tirado Ph.D., D.V.M. and Shamini Albert Raj M.A.
Manage My Account
  • eMagazine Subscription
  • Subscribe to eNewsletter
  • Manage My Preferences
  • Website Registration
  • Subscription Customer Service

More Videos

Sponsored Content

Sponsored Content is a special paid section where industry companies provide high quality, objective, non-commercial content around topics of interest to the Food Safety Magazine audience. All Sponsored Content is supplied by the advertising company and any opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and not necessarily reflect the views of Food Safety Magazine or its parent company, BNP Media. Interested in participating in our Sponsored Content section? Contact your local rep!

close
  • Two men standing in a produce storage facility having a discussion.
    Sponsored byOrkin Commercial

    Staying Compliant With FSMA

  • Deli Salads
    Sponsored byCorbion

    How Food Safety is Becoming the Ultimate Differentiator in Refrigerated and Prepared Foods

Popular Stories

Corporate manager talking with factory employees

Turning Resistance into Opportunity: Motivating Change in the Food Industry

Microphone in a conference room used for receiving public comment

FDA Seeks Input on New Method for Ranking Chemicals in Food for Post-Market Assessments

Bowl of colorful breakfast cereal

General Mills Plans to Remove Certified Colors from All U.S. Cereals and K-12 Foods by Summer 2026

Events

June 26, 2025

How to Design and Conduct Challenge Studies for Safer Products and Longer Shelf Life

Live: June 26, 2025 at 2:00 pm EDT: During this webinar, attendees will learn how to conduct challenge studies for microbial spoilage and pathogen growth, including the common challenges encountered, laboratory selection, and use of predictive models.

July 15, 2025

Hygienic Design Risk Management: Industry Challenges and EHEDG Guidance

Live: July 15, 2025 at 11:00 am EDT: From this webinar, attendees will learn the importance of hygienic design to ensure food safety and sanitation effectiveness.

July 22, 2025

Beyond the Binder: Digital Management of Food Safety

Live: July 22, 2025 at 3:00 pm EDT: During this webinar, attendees will learn best practices for the use of digital food safety management systems across industry and regulatory agencies.

View All

Products

Global Food Safety Microbial Interventions and Molecular Advancements

Global Food Safety Microbial Interventions and Molecular Advancements

See More Products
Environmental Monitoring Excellence eBook

Related Articles

  • Congress Passes Bill to Avert Meat Inspector Furloughs

    See More
  • cheeseburger on a platter

    Real MEAT Act Reintroduced to Senate to Tighten Labeling Requirements for Imitation Meat Products

    See More
  • Senate Passes Farm Bill 68-32; Now on to the President's Desk

    See More
×

Never miss the latest news and trends driving the food safety industry

eNewsletter | Website | eMagazine

JOIN TODAY!
  • RESOURCES
    • Advertise
    • Contact Us
    • Directories
    • Store
    • Want More
  • SIGN UP TODAY
    • Create Account
    • eMagazine
    • eNewsletter
    • Customer Service
    • Manage Preferences
  • SERVICES
    • Marketing Services
    • Reprints
    • Market Research
    • List Rental
    • Survey/Respondent Access
  • STAY CONNECTED
    • LinkedIn
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • X (Twitter)
  • PRIVACY
    • PRIVACY POLICY
    • TERMS & CONDITIONS
    • DO NOT SELL MY PERSONAL INFORMATION
    • PRIVACY REQUEST
    • ACCESSIBILITY

Copyright ©2025. All Rights Reserved BNP Media.

Design, CMS, Hosting & Web Development :: ePublishing