USDA Seeks to Speed Up Slaughter Lines

In February, the US Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) proposed two rules to allow most poultry and pig slaughter plants to increase line speeds (the rate at which animals are slaughtered, eviscerated, and processed). One rule would allow chicken processing plants to boost line speeds from 140 to 175 birds per minute (bpm) and turkey processors to raise speeds from 55 to 60 bpm. The other rule would allow pig slaughter facilities that maintain “effective process control” (as determined by federal inspectors) to set their own line speeds.

Increasing line speeds raises a host of serious concerns for humans and animals alike. More hastily handled and processed animals could result in more injuries, more throats cut while the animals are still conscious, and more animals dropped in scalding water while still breathing. And unless plants hire additional workers, faster line speeds likely means more animal parts handled per person on the line, which the FSIS has acknowledged can increase workers’ risk of acute and chronic musculoskeletal disorders. It could also make it harder for inspectors to detect contamination, signs of disease, and other factors that would make meat unfit for human consumption, raising the health risk to consumers as well.

In collaboration with a coalition of worker safety, food safety, environmental, and animal protection organizations, AWI intends to comment on the rules and, if necessary, challenge them in court.

See more AWI Quarterly articles about: Farmed Animals

See more AWI Quarterly articles of type: Quick Read