Can the federal government order a recall of contaminated meat Of course it can that is how the quality of our food is protected Under current law, the USDA (Department of Agriculture) cannot demand a recall It can only consult with a company that has shipped bad meat, and suggest that it withdraw ...

From a legal standpoint the federal government specifically the US Department of Agriculture USDA does not have the explicit legal authority to order ...

Can the federal government order a recall of contaminated meat? Of course it can; that is how

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Can the federal government order a recall of contaminated meat?

Of course it can; that is how the quality of our food is protected.
Under current law, the USDA (Department of Agriculture) cannot demand a recall. It can only consult with a company that has shipped bad meat, and suggest that it withdraw the meat from interstate commerce. There are often long delays, and companies are under no legal obligation to inform the public about a recall when it takes place.
This is not a problem, the meatpacking industry voluntarily pulls contaminated meat from the market without being asked. There are many cases of this in Schlosser's chapter.
Our American politicians would not stand for the distribution of contaminated meat; huge fines have been imposed and the names of companies are always made public as soon as such an incident of contamination is reported.