We don’t know how USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service did last year because final data is not yet available. Data is available through June 30, though, and that gives some indication of how 2024 went for the nation’s slaughter businesses.
One trend in 2024 is that fewer cattle were being presented for inspection. During the quarter, cattle inspections fell below 2 million head during each of the three quarters that were reported. Before 2024, inspections topped two million head quarterly.
The compliance for the three quarters that were reported was 98.9 percent.
Appeal actions for non-compliance records or NRs were also lower for the quarter, falling to 267, and 70 were granted on appeal.
Imported meat and poultry products for various re-inspection tasks reached 4,150 278,748. Most are subject to routine inspection. Re-inspection of egg products alone total 3,732 968,
In actual production, it was not until the third quarter that the inspection of carcasses fell below 40 million, at 39,493,867. This is another sign that cattle operations are trimming their herds.
FSIS detention actions were also down for the quarter, at 218,645, down from 1,904,795 in the first quarter.
During the period, FSIS sent three prohibited activity notices, and 35 administrative actions were issued.
Large Establishments inspected by FSIS continue to escape much attention. Only five large meat businesses were charged with NRs during the third period.
That is consistent with a few recent NRs reported for large establishments.
FSIS’s “Quarterly Enforcement Reports” cover administrative, civil, and criminal activity related to its enforcement responsibility. For the most recent time, Nestor Reyes agreed to pay $3,540, and Champion Food Services agreed to a civil penalty of $880.
Astoria Live Poultry and Meat was ordered to pay a significant civil penalty.
Finally, USDA sent several pages of warning letters to all sorts of businesses.
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