Tyson Foods will be allowed to replace USDA inspectors with its own workers at its beef-processing plant in Holcomb, Kansas.
Tyson applied to USDA for an exemption to use its own workers for some inspections, which was granted in April. However, grappling with the coronavirus led Tyson to delay the change until this month.
Tyson will hire 15 workers per shift to conduct inspections on its lines that had been done by USDA employees. The USDA said in a statement to Reuters that its personnel will still inspect all carcasses and parts but will leave “quality assurance and trimming tasks” to Tyson. The USDA inspectors who remain will do more complex tasks like monitoring animal welfare and testing product. The Tyson inspectors have been trained with materials developed in conjunction with Iowa State University.
The move came under criticism from consumer advocates, with an attorney for Food & Water Watch calling it “really problematic.”
