Protecting Food. Empowering Whistleblowers.
Protecting Food. Empowering Whistleblowers.
President Trump’s Department of Agriculture has a simple new recipe it is eager for you to try.
First, generously add as much political influence from a powerful meat industry as the American public can tolerate. Next, stir in a generous amount of animal abuse, environmental damage, and worker exploitation. Lastly, while no one is paying attention, reduce all community concern and input from the decision-making pot. Let that simmer for a bit, and voila—you’ve cooked up the new slaughter rules governing pork inspection!
That’s right. Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue has expressed interest in making Hog HIMP—a regulation that would deregulate the meat industry—the new national norm. Less regulation of industry makes it a lot cheaper for corporations to operate. Under HIMP, line speeds at pilot plants run up to 20 percent faster than those at plants operating under traditional inspection.
Quicker speeds make it even more difficult for plant employees and USDA inspectors to detect contamination on carcasses. Toenails, hair, and fecal matter are finding their way into the food supply. A few years ago, FIC published the affidavits of federal meat inspectors exposing how awful these pilot plants are. We also marshaled a recent campaign to stop Hormel (currently piloting a Hog HIMP program) from using the HIMP model.
Now, Trump wants to take HIMP national!
Quicker speeds make it even more difficult for plant employees and USDA inspectors to detect contamination on carcasses.
We need to let the White House know that we don’t want what they are trying to feed us!
We will have more opportunities to speak out against HIMP as rule unveils. When this rule shows up, let’s be ready to fight it!
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