The processing speed at meat processing plants has been increased in the USA

A 90-day experiment to increase the processing-line speed at six meat processing plants was agreed upon by the US Department of Agriculture (USDA).

The experiment will increase production and at the same time assess the increase in injuries and other factors.

The decision is a victory for meat processors Tyson Foods and JBS SA, as well as their pig farmers. Activists of the Food & Water Watch organization opposed program, pointing out the threat to food safety.

Under a Trump-era, manufacturers have achieved the lifting processing speedsIn 2021, the court upheld a lawsuit by the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) union over worker safety issues and ordered a reduction in speed. In 2022, two plants obtained permission to increase the processing speed, subject to ensuring the safety of workers

The US Occupational Safety and Health Administration said that data collected so far was not sufficient to assess the impact on workers. The further data would be commissioned in the coming 90 days.

"We respect the decision of the U.S. Department of Agriculture to extend the tests so that the data becomes the basis for making an informed decision about the speed of production lines and the safety of workers," said UFCW President Mark Perrone.

Nearly 40% of the 74 million hogs in the United States are within 100 miles of one of the six plants. Republicans on the US Senate Agriculture Committee warned that pork prices could rise and demand for pork could fall.

SOURCE: emeat