Govt Ignores Threat Of Contaminated Meat Exported To US Market As MPI Admits Faecal Contamination Not Food Safety Issue – PSA

Risk to export markets from privatisation of meat inspectors exposed

The privatisation plan to replace independent government meat inspectors with inspectors directly employed by meat companies raises the risk of export meat being contaminated by traces of faecal matter.

MPI has for the first time admitted to the PSA that the new company meat inspectors will not be treating faecal contamination as a food safety issue.

“This is extremely alarming – MPI is effectively saying it will tolerate traces of faecal matter, however small, on export meat. This raises the risk of contaminated meat being exported,” said Fleur Fitzsimons, National Secretary for the Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi.

In an OIA response to the PSA (attached) after repeated requests over many years to clarify the position, Vince Arbuckle, MPI’s Deputy Director General Food Safety stated that faecal contamination was only a ‘wholesomeness or processing defect’.

Further he stated that ‘The regulatory approach is that faecal contamination must be managed and removed by the operator to ensure product wholesomeness and compliance with good hygienic practices.’

“Our largest red meat market is the USA. It has zero tolerance for faecal contaminated meat following an e coli outbreak in 1992 from contaminated hamburger meat which killed four children – why are we taking this risk?”

Under the current model, government meat inspectors employed by AsureQuality, scrutinise all meat being processed on the chain and defective meat is diverted to the ‘detain rail’ where it is trimmed and made fit human consumption. This means faecal contaminated meat regardless of whether it’s treated as a food safety or wholesomeness issue is always detected and cleaned up.

“In the past AsureQuality meat inspectors have faced disciplinary action for failing to identify faecal contamination, it’s that important. AsureQuality meat inspectors have always treated faecal contamination as a food safety issue.”

Now for the first time, that safeguard is being torn up under the proposed privatisation.

The proposal to privatise meat inspection will mean much reduced oversight of company-employed inspectors by independent assessors, with fewer independent inspectors able to see what’s happening on the chain. In addition, defective or contaminated meat which is diverted to the ‘detain rail’, will not be subject to independent oversight, currently carried out by government meat inspectors.

Crucially, the change would see faecal contamination become the responsibility of company-employed inspectors, who are answerable to their company supervisors, rather than independent AsureQuality inspectors, to pick up and rectify.

“There is a clear conflict of interest. Company meat inspectors will be under pressure from the company to quickly assess and maintain production – this means production will take priority over food safety. Under the proposed model there will be just one government meat inspector at the end of the chain to sign off on meat before it is graded, and that inspector’s role will no longer involve inspecting every animal carcass for faecal contamination.

“Shortcuts will undoubtedly occur when the pressure is on during times of peak production, raising the risk of contaminated meat or diseased meat slipping through.

“We are deeply concerned that MPI is now openly stating that faecal contamination is not a food safety issue. That’s why we are raising our concerns with the US Embassy and requesting an urgent meeting – the stakes are too high – the USA market buys around $2.8 billion of NZ red meat every year.

“The PSA urges MPI to consult with the US Department of Agriculture before it’s too late and lasting damage is done to our reputation.”