USDA Responds To Consumer Reports Article Regarding Meat Safety

You may have seen a Consumer Reports article recently that alleges the Agricultural Department's Meat Inspection System has been finding trace amounts of drugs residues in meat samples, and not stopping that meat from being marketed.  The magazine based that article on partial screening data received from USDA, however,

"This reliance on a document that contains data that "Consumer Reports" didn't know how to read has really resulted in unnecessarily causing concern," said Carmen Rottenberg USDA Food Safety Inspection Service head.

She added the magazine only used one data-point for each sample tested, and that led them down the wrong path because each screening involves multiple tests and confirmation.

"Data that Consumer Reports was relying on was a data-point, the greater scheme, of many data-points. The final result of all of those poultry samples  was screened "negative", meaning that drug residue did not exist in the product."

She adds the USDA's rigorous inspection and testing at multiple levels ensures meat and poultry is safe to eat.

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