A Better Way for the Department of Agriculture To Inspect Meat and Poultry Processing Plants

The Federal Meat and Poultry Inspection Program provides for inspection of meat and poultry products moving in interstate and foreign commerce. Inspection is essential to protect the health and welfare of consumers and is carried out at slaughter and processing plants. The total federal meat and poultry inspection cost has increased rapidly in the last several years, from about $135 million in 1970 to about $242 million in 1976, an increase of 79 percent.