The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Office of Inspector General (OIG) this month reported that the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) appropriately handles industry appeals of its humane handling enforcement actions. An audit was performed at the request of the Office of Food Safety to ensure that FSIS was appropriately enforcing federal humane handling laws.
“The OIG determination shows that FSIS’ enforcement of humane handling regulations, as well as its appeals process, is fair and consistent,” Under Secretary for Food Safety Elisabeth Hagen said in a press release. “As OIG noted, FSIS has taken many steps to improve its inspectors’ understanding of humane handling requirements and the tools they have to ensure the humane handling of livestock.”
FSIS said that the audit of the agency’s performance is among several measures it announced in December 2010 that it was undertaking to better ensure the humane treatment and slaughter of all livestock presented for processing at FSIS-inspected facilities. To read other measures, click here.
