10 replies to this topic

[irheavyd]

I am the Assistant Manager of a small jerky and sausage manufacturing plant in Oregon.  I am curious as to how other facilities in this district are being treated.  I ask because are experiencing extreme over inspecting, retaliation NR's and suspensions, along with many many more issues with USDA. They have gotten a god complex and instead of ensuring we follow our plan, they have extended there self proclaimed authority way beyond what is regulatory requirements.  We have the same plant inspectors for  more than 5 years.  They have developed false friendships with people, hatred towards people (myself being there main focus because i push back and challenge them when they are not following there regulations.  We have received 93 NR's this year alone.  We have received a 90 percent from SQF and ODA has praised our facility.  Everyone that comes here gives nothing but positive feedback except for USDA.  I am wondering if other plants get this treatment.  We have one of the most complex HACCP systems around as we make over 100 different products with many variations in size and packaging of those 100 products.  We have 7 separate HACCP plans as well as many prerequisites.  Our SSOP is robust as well as our Listeria Control Program.       

[rjeronimus]

Replying in an effort to follow this discussion thread. We recently acquired a well established line of enrichment broths for food safety screening (PDX, for listeria, salmonella, and STEC detection). While trying to connect with previous customers and critical consultants and learn more about our product application, I was told that USDA regulations changed and that testing had to be sent to outside labs. That would have a serious impact on companies being able to test onsite. We were unable to substantiate the response we received, but I am wondering if it is a trend or perhaps regional. The consultant and related customers also produced similar items - RTE meats, sausage, jerky, etc. - but in Florida. 

[kfromNE]

Not in the Oregon though it wouldn't be hard for you to figure out the other companies in your area then google them and ask them. 

Over the years, I've seen inspectors who are more difficult to work with. Who write more NRs than others. 

 

What were the NRs and suspensions regarding. What was the SQF auditor's opinion on the NRs. 

Edited by kfromNE, 07 November 2025 - 08:10 PM.

[G M]

The rate of NRs unfortunately has more to do with inspector personalities than it should.  We're in different districts, but overall I'd say our numbers are down compared to a year ago with different IIC stationed with some plants.

[irheavyd]

In-house testing is still allowed.  USDA is not permitted to add any new regulations at this time from what I know.  I think that was a presidential order.  USDA likes to pick on Facilities that do there own testing when i fact there testing procedures are the ones that should be put into question.  They use 3M testing methods.  The problem with what they do is the sponges they use for sampling come pre-moistened with the broth.  When they actually use the sponges, the broth only covers parts of the sponges and not the entire surface of the sponge.  

[irheavyd]

Unfortunately our inspectors have "god syndrome".  They retaliate any time you challenge them.  Over the years, due to pacifying them to avoid regulatory sanctions, they have progressively gotten farther and farther away from there own regulations and are basing everything on there personal interpretation of regulations and the plans we have written.   

[kfromNE]

Unfortunately our inspectors have "god syndrome".  They retaliate any time you challenge them.  Over the years, due to pacifying them to avoid regulatory sanctions, they have progressively gotten farther and farther away from there own regulations and are basing everything on there personal interpretation of regulations and the plans we have written.   

 

What about their district boss. To avoid some of the personal opinions of inspectors, we get questions answered from the district boss and/or from an expert at the local land grant university. Ask FSIS works well too. 

 

I use a bunch of scientific articles too. 

Edited by kfromNE, 11 November 2025 - 07:22 PM.

[AZuzack]

What about their district boss. To avoid some of the personal opinions of inspectors, we get questions answered from the district boss and/or from an expert at the local land grant university. Ask FSIS works well too. 

 

I use a bunch of scientific articles too. 

 

What kfromNE said and you can always file a complaint with your district and have the inspector banned from your facility... It's not as uncommon as it might sound.  

[Rassmutten]

I am not familiar with your district but having delt with a lot of USDA agents it sounds as if your inspector may be trying to get a promotion by having a lot of findings. If you are confident in your procedures, then you may want to call the district office and speak with the top brass and express your concern. There is a way to ask for another inspector to be assigned to you. Is there a specific area of the plant they are focusing on? If so, make sure that area or procedure is solid before contacting the top brass at District Office. I have known of more than a few inspectors that get the God Complex and some deserve to be removed. Brand new inspectors get it a lot.

[GMO]

I'm not familiar with USDA inspections so cannot comment on that but I have found this thread fascinating just looking at people's behaviour and language.  

 

Can I play a few things back to you? 

 

"They have gotten a god complex"

"they have extended there self proclaimed authority"

"They have developed... hatred towards people (myself being there main focus because i push back and challenge them when they are not following there regulations"

"Unfortunately our inspectors have "god syndrome"."

"They retaliate any time you challenge them." 

 

Every time you go into an interaction with them, all of the above will be in your mind and probably obvious to the inspector.

 

I'm not sure what the answer is but I'd love it if you could somehow find a way to clear the air.  I bet there are frustrations on "the other side" about peoples' approach to them too.  The reality might lie somewhere between how you're both perceiving the situation. 

 

I was talking with someone yesterday about an old employee of mine who has ended up in a pickle with a customer.  I always rated this employee but honestly on looking back, the one area she had some problems with was if she took a dislike to the retail customer.  There were times I needed to step in and help that relationship, which I did, smoothed it over etc.  For all of my slightly gruff demeanour on here, I have the ability to be charming when needed   

 

Anyway, this ex employee has moved onto another site in the group and is now being managed out to retirement sadly because she's faced into another retailer issue where the site have had issues and she's not managed the relationship well.  I know this retailer.  They can be absolute a***holes.  I have no doubt that she's been straight up, honest but probably with her thoughts all over her face that "I don't like you, you're a jumped up little tw** straight out of university who knows f all."

 

I feel a bit annoyed with myself that I didn't help her get out of this habit in my time managing her but I did support the relationship in that time and unfortunately now her direct line manager is more hands off so has let the problem get too severe.  But I'm wondering if something similar is happening here.  There are retailers, regulators and customers out there who are absolute knobs.  But they still have a huge potential impact on your site so you need to find a way and, unfortunately, as the person with less power in this dynamic, it's incumbent on you to find that way.

 

A book I read years ago which had a huge impact on my abilities to influence others is called "Influence" by Robert Cialdini. It might be worth reading a summary of it.  There are ways to build rapport with people which will help difficult relationships. It doesn't mean that you're not right, that they have a "god complex" or whatever.  There are certain kinds of people who are attracted to roles like that who perhaps shouldn't be doing them.  But being right that the people are idiots doesn't help your situation, whereas putting effort into that relationship might.

 

There is a therapy technique in CBT called ABC (it's also used in behaviour change).  Antecedents, behaviour, consequences.  The way it's used in therapy though is more around trying to break the link between antecedent and behaviour because there's actually another step of a "thought" which puts a layer or spin onto the antecedent. 

 

When you interact with these regulators, you will have them raising things you believe are out of scope.  Your thought might be "they're acting like they're gods!" Your behaviour may then be dismissive or rude (unconsciously) which then leads to them getting worse.  What if you actively try to change that thought to something more neutral that you could honestly believe, for example, "they're just doing their jobs" or "they're a bit nitpicky but they are thinking about consumers and that's ethical"?

 

You might find that your relationship starts to change because your internal environment and thoughts about those people start to change...

 

Good luck whatever you do.

[kfromNE]

What about their district boss. To avoid some of the personal opinions of inspectors, we get questions answered from the district boss and/or from an expert at the local land grant university. Ask FSIS works well too. 

 

I use a bunch of scientific articles too. 

 

If you get the opinion of the district supervisor - cc your current inspector. Say you are doing it for clarification. Then save the emails.