7 replies to this topic

[Ahead]

I just received word that our inspector’s last day is today, along with his boss from the District Office and two other inspectors in our region—all due to them accepting the recently offered buyout. When I asked about coverage moving forward, he stated that he didn't believe there’s a formal plan in place yet. He also noted that our area isn’t the only one experiencing a significant number of inspectors choosing to take the buyout.

 

Is anyone else seeing this in their region? How is coverage being handled?

[SQFconsultant]

Yes. And the goal is massive reduction in US Corp government. When complete it will be about 10% of what is was before.

 

Thus lots of needless workers are being made offers and in some other ways just being fired.

 

Our country is in the final phase of moving from the US Corporation of the US and back to our Republic of these United States.

 

There are many agencies (such as the IRS, FDA, USDA, etc) that were never part of the Republic - they were created after our country was taken over.

 

What is interesting is that many people that began "working" at home when the plannedDemic hit were not really working so when the call went out for workers to return and few showed up it was easy to let them go.

 

I do not know how the FDA, FSIS etc will be redone, or eliminated fully and replaced with a multi- agency.

 

I only know that the IRS is gone and the FDA is being taken apart as they failed to serve the American people abd instead put themselves in the pocket of BIG Food, ag and pharma.

[kfromNE]

I just received word that our inspector’s last day is today, along with his boss from the District Office and two other inspectors in our region—all due to them accepting the recently offered buyout. When I asked about coverage moving forward, he stated that he didn't believe there’s a formal plan in place yet. He also noted that our area isn’t the only one experiencing a significant number of inspectors choosing to take the buyout.

 

Is anyone else seeing this in their region? How is coverage being handled?

 

 

I didn't see it in my area. Though I work in a processing plant vs slaughter. (Processing plants are a more desired route.  What will happen - your current inspectors will be doubled up until replacements can be found. Or you will get a relief inspector. I would of assumed USDA inspectors would have been exempt. 

[Scampi]

This happening during this :

 

Overall, the report finds that while the single biggest reason for food recalls last year was undeclared allergens or ingredients, the number of recalls because of Listeria, Salmonella, and E coli increased by 41% and accounted for 39% of all recalls in 2024. Recalls because of Listeria contamination rose from 47 to 65, and recalls for Salmonella increased from 27 to 41. 

 

https://www.cidrap.u...recalls in 2024.

[kfromNE]

This happening during this :

 

Overall, the report finds that while the single biggest reason for food recalls last year was undeclared allergens or ingredients, the number of recalls because of Listeria, Salmonella, and E coli increased by 41% and accounted for 39% of all recalls in 2024. Recalls because of Listeria contamination rose from 47 to 65, and recalls for Salmonella increased from 27 to 41. 

 

https://www.cidrap.u...recalls in 2024.

 

Yeah.... Also some of the people working on Avian flu were accidently fired. Side note: We all have those employees that do very little. However, one must study the LEAN process to determine who those individuals are first then make the cuts. 

[GMO]

Well I'm not in the US and so cannot and do not want to talk to the politics of it.  But I've also experienced very sensible legislation which was driven from the EU in the UK's time within it.  I don't think there is anything inherently nonsensical about one standard for all.  In fact, the opposite.  At least you haven't got someone in a different state undercutting costs by dropping food safety standards.

 

But have the FDA been weak and out of kilter with the rest of the world, probably due to the influence of the big companies and lobbyists?  From an outside point of view, yes.  But then I'd personally ban the lobbyists not the organisations.

 

There is a view among some in the EU and UK that the US food standards are weak and your competent authorities don't have sufficient powers.  Not all of that is true.  A lot of where there is good food safety in Europe is driven by retailers not governments and it's certainly not all good.  I've seen plenty of bad.  After all, we had horse gate  But that said, this is not going to do anything to counter that wrong impression if powers and authority are weakened further and food safety is left up to states.  It's only going to make export harder isn't it?

[MDaleDDF]

I have seen an FDA inspector maybe three times in my almost 20 years here.    So I don't think I'll notice if someone doesn't come for a while.   In their defense we're very low risk, and I'm sure they have other things to do.

It's difficult to wade into these waters without involving politics, which I generally refuse to discuss online.   I will say this:  a different approach is being tried to many things.   We'll see how they work.    I don't think there's any doubt that some change was needed.   I'll check back in four years from now and see where we're at, lol.

Finger's crossed.

[G M]

...We all have those employees that do very little. ... determine who those individuals are first then make the cuts. 

 

That sounds more nuanced and time consuming than what we're getting.

 

I haven't seen any local personnel change, but the inspectors we have currently aren't new or near retirement.  One of them might be happy they didn't get promoted to a regional position -- as I understand it, entering a new position for any reason, even merit, was cause for being let go.