The potential impact of meat inspector furloughs within the Food Safety Inspection Service over the next month concerns processors across the country, including JBS USA, which relies on inspectors at its protein processing plants to approve products for shipment out of state.

 

JBS representatives have met with the USDA, but as of Friday afternoon (March 1) the company doesn't know how the sequester will affect it, Cameron Bruett, JBS head of sustainability and corporate communications, told Meatingplace.

 

JBS still doesn't know how many inspectors the USDA may furlough, what JBS plants would be affected first, and for how long, Bruett added.

 

The US$85 billion in federal spending cuts were scheduled to kick in on Friday evening. The cut, known as the sequester, could shutdown meat and poultry plants across the country, the USDA has warned.

 

Meat inspector furloughs could lead to 15 days of lost production resulting in more than US$10 billion in losses, and industry labor would lose $400 million in wages, while consumers see higher meat prices, the USDA warned legislators this week.

 

Meat inspectors may receive a 30-day or 60-day notice of the furloughs, depending on the contract their union has with the USDA, so meat inspector furloughs aren't expected to hit processors until at least April 1.

 

Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack said Friday that he does not have the discretion to determine how budget cuts are applied within USDA, and noted meat inspector furloughs were highly concerning. He said 87 percent of the food safety budget involves employing inspectors.

 

JBS USA and Pilgrim's Pride operate eight beef, three pork, one lamb and 31 poultry processing plants in the U.S., Mexico and Puerto Rico.

 

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