USDA weighs new rules in recalls
But consumer groups and Democratic lawmakers contend the public should have access to the names of retailers in all meat recalls. The plan is being considered as the USDA puts the final touches on a proposed disclosure rule. It had lingered in draft form for two years until getting pushed to the forefront in February, when 143 million pounds of beef were recalled by Westland/Hallmark Meat Packing Co. in Chino, Calif., after undercover video by an animal-rights activist showed workers abusing crippled cows. Had the rule under consideration been in place last month, consumers wouldn’t have been told whether their supermarkets sold meat from Westland/Hallmark.Agriculture Department spokesman Chris Connelly confirmed Wednesday that the agency is weighing whether to make naming the stores mandatory only for so-called Class I recalls, which pose the greatest health hazard. The Chino recall was categorized as Class II because authorities determined there was minimal risk to human health. Partly for competitive reasons, industry groups support the way recalls are currently done, where a description of the recalled product is released by the Agriculture Department’s Food Safety and Inspection Service along with some other information including where it was produced. Retailers must remove recalled meat from their shelves, but there’s no requirement that they notify their customers about meat already sold, though some take voluntary steps to do so.
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