Agriculture Secretary Re-Deploys Poultry Inspectors

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack is proposing a new system for inspecting poultry. He says it could save the government $95 million in the next three years. The jobs of 1,000 government inspectors would change. Instead of inspecting birds for flaws, they would be re-deployed to jobs with more impact on food safety. Such as sampling for pathogens and checking sanitary conditions at slaughter sites. Chicken processors would take over the inspections of birds. The poultry industry supports the move, but some consumer groups oppose it.