-Caveat Lector- washingtonpost.com http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A26251-2003Feb4.html Meat Plants Faulted on Safety Rules
Reuters Wednesday, February 5, 2003; Page A24 About 60 percent of the largest U.S. meat plants failed to meet federal food safety regulations for preventing a deadly E. coli bacteria in their products, the Agriculture Department said yesterday. The new information, coming after a series of massive meat recalls last year linked to scores of illnesses, shows that companies need to do more to keep food safe, consumer groups said. In September, the USDA ordered all U.S. beef slaughter and grinding plants to reexamine their food safety systems after inspectors discovered E. coli 0157:H7 was more prevalent in meat than previously thought. A preliminary review of these reassessments found 60 percent of 35 large meat plants did not meet federal food safety regulations, USDA officials said. The USDA said it was the first examination of the so-called Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) system implemented in the late 1990s as a way for companies to set food safety checkpoints throughout the plant. However, the USDA said consumers should not be alarmed. "They were scientific and design issues and not direct food safety issues," said Garry McKee, administrator for USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service. For example, many plants cannot verify that their food safety systems do prevent E. coli contamination, he said. Meat plants assessed in the study have been told to fix the problem within 30 days, McKee said. � 2003 The Washington Post Company Forwarded for your information. The text and intent of the article have to stand on their own merits. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. section 107, this material is distributed without charge or profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving this type of information for non-profit research and educational purposes only. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "Do not believe in anything simply because you have heard it. Do not believe simply because it has been handed down for many genera- tions. Do not believe in anything simply because it is spoken and rumoured by many. Do not believe in anything simply because it is written in Holy Scriptures. Do not believe in anything merely on the authority of teachers, elders or wise men. Believe only after careful observation and analysis, when you find that it agrees with reason and is conducive to the good and benefit of one and all. Then accept it and live up to it." The Buddha on Belief, from the Kalama Sut <A HREF="http://www.ctrl.org/";>www.ctrl.org</A> DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER ========== CTRL is a discussion & informational exchange list. Proselytizing propagandic screeds are unwelcomed. Substance�not soap-boxing�please! These are sordid matters and 'conspiracy theory'�with its many half-truths, mis- directions and outright frauds�is used politically by different groups with major and minor effects spread throughout the spectrum of time and thought. That being said, CTRLgives no endorsement to the validity of posts, and always suggests to readers; be wary of what you read. CTRL gives no credence to Holocaust denial and nazi's need not apply. Let us please be civil and as always, Caveat Lector. ======================================================================== Archives Available at: http://peach.ease.lsoft.com/archives/ctrl.html <A HREF="http://peach.ease.lsoft.com/archives/ctrl.html";>Archives of [EMAIL PROTECTED]</A> http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/ <A HREF="http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/";>ctrl</A> ======================================================================== To subscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SUBSCRIBE CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] To UNsubscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SIGNOFF CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] Om
