B-163450, OCT. 19, 1970

B-163450, OCT. 19, 1970

FEDERAL POULTRY PLANT INSPECTION - SANITATION STANDARDS ADVISING THAT IN REVIEWING THE DEP'T OF AGRICULTURE ENFORCEMENT OF SANITATION STANDARDS IN FEDERALLY INSPECTED POULTRY PLANTS, PARTICULARLY THOSE RELATED TO HEALTH AND SANITATION, NO ATTEMPTS ARE MADE TO MAKE JUDGEMENT INDEPENDENTLY OF INSPECTION PERSONNEL IN THE AGENCIES THEMSELVES. GAO HAVING THE RESPONSIBILITY TO THE CONGRESS TO ASSURE THAT FEDERAL PROGRAMS FOR INSPECTION AND SANITATION ARE CARRIED OUT EFFICIENTLY, COOPERATION OF ORGANIZATION SUCH AS CAMPBELL SOUP IS REQUIRED. THERE IS NO EFFORT TO SINGLE OUT THE CAMPBELL COMPANY, RATHER THE INTEREST IS IN CROSS SECTION OF PLANTS THAT WILL ENABLE GAO TO DRAW A VALID CONCLUSION ABOUT WHETHER SUCH POLICIES

TO MR. MURPHY:

SINCE TALKING WITH YOU ON THE TELEPHONE I HAVE INQUIRED INTO THE STATUS OF OUR WORK IN REVIEWING THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE'S ENFORCEMENT OF SANITATION STANDARDS IN FEDERALLY INSPECTED POULTRY PLANTS. THIS REVIEW IS ONE OF SEVERAL WHICH WE HAVE UNDERTAKEN TO EVALUATE THE ADEQUACY OF VARIOUS INSPECTION PROGRAMS OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, PARTICULARLY THOSE WHICH RELATE TO HEALTH AND SANITATION.

I SHOULD LIKE TO EMPHASIZE THAT WE DO NOT ATTEMPT TO MAKE JUDGMENTS INDEPENDENTLY OF THOSE OF THE INSPECTION PERSONNEL IN THE AGENCIES THEMSELVES. WE ARE PRIMARILY CONCERNED WITH PROCEDURES, METHODS, FOLLOW UP AND DISPOSITION OF CASES IN WHICH CONDITIONS ARE FOUND TO NEED ATTENTION.

CONSISTENT WITH THIS OBJECTIVE, WE DO NOT INCLUDE IN OUR REPORTS OF THIS TYPE THE NAMES OF THE PLANTS VISITED. RATHER, WE ATTEMPT TO VISIT A SUFFICIENT NUMBER OF PLANTS TO SATISFY OURSELVES WITH RESPECT TO THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE FEDERAL AGENCY REGULATIONS.

IN OUR TELEPHONE CONVERSATION, YOU INDICATED THAT THE GENERAL ACCOUNTING OFFICE STAFF HAD ENTERED THE PARIS, TEXAS, PLANT UNDER FALSE PRETENSES, INDICATING THAT THEY WERE THERE TO MAKE A REVIEW OF OVERTIME PAYMENTS. AM SURE THERE IS A MISUNDERSTANDING ON THIS POINT. I AM ADVISED THAT THE PURPOSE OF THE VISIT WAS MADE KNOWN TO YOUR PLANT REPRESENTATIVE BY THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE INSPECTOR. YOUR STATEMENT, HOWEVER, REPRESENTS A SERIOUS ALLEGATION, AND ONE WHICH WOULD CONCERN ME GREATLY IF THE FACTS WHICH YOU CITE WERE ACCURATE. FOR THIS REASON, I WOULD LIKE FOR YOU TO FURNISH ME WITH FURTHER CORROBORATION ON THIS POINT, INCLUDING, IF YOU AGREE IT IS APPROPRIATE, A STATEMENT FROM THE PLANT MANAGER THAT SUCH A MISREPRESENTATION ACTUALLY TOOK PLACE.

YOU ALSO INDICATED IN OUR CONVERSATION THAT THE ORIGINAL INSPECTION REPORT FILED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE INSPECTOR WAS PROTESTED BY YOUR PLANT REPRESENTATIVE AND THAT SUBSEQUENTLY IT WAS REVISED TO REFLECT LESS SERIOUS CHARGES OF VIOLATION. I HAVE OBTAINED A COPY OF THE REPORT, WHICH IS ENCLOSED, AND I WOULD APPRECIATE IT VERY MUCH IF YOU COULD SUPPLY ME WITH ANY OTHER REPORT WHICH HAS COME INTO YOUR POSSESSION. I AM NOT AWARE THAT ANY EXISTS.

THIS OFFICE HAS AN IMPORTANT RESPONSIBILITY TO THE CONGRESS TO ASSURE THAT FEDERAL PROGRAMS ARE CARRIED OUT EFFICIENTLY AND IN A MANNER INTENDED BY THE CONGRESS. IF THIS RESPONSIBILITY IS TO BE EFFECTIVELY CARRIED OUT, WE MUST HAVE THE COOPERATION OF ORGANIZATIONS SUCH AS YOUR OWN. I AM ADVISED THAT SINCE WE TALKED ON THE TELEPHONE, MEMBERS OF OUR STAFF, IN THE COMPANY OF A DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE INSPECTOR, HAVE VISITED YOUR PLANT IN FAYETTEVILLE, ARKANSAS, AND RECEIVED SUCH COOPERATION FROM YOUR REPRESENTATIVES. WE APPRECIATE THIS.

I ASSURE YOU THAT ANY REPORT WHICH WE ISSUE WILL BE PLACED IN THE PERSPECTIVE OF HOW WELL THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE IS DISCHARGING ITS RESPONSIBILITIES. THERE HAS, OF COURSE, BEEN NO EFFORT TO SINGLE OUT YOUR COMPANY. RATHER, WE ARE INTERESTED IN A CROSS SECTION OF PLANTS WHICH WILL ENABLE US TO DRAW VALID CONCLUSIONS.

I WOULD APPRECIATE HEARING FROM YOU.