[Note: This material is copyright by The Gazette, and is reproduced here as a matter of "fair use" for non-commercial, educational purposes only. Any other use may require the prior approval of The Gazette.]

    Myth: USDA thinks it’s OK to not enforce humane slaughter laws and regulations.

    Fact: USDA takes very seriously any violations of humane animal handling and humane slaughter regulations. USDA has taken and will continue to take strong enforcement action against slaughter plants that fail to follow humane handling and slaughter requirements.

    Apparently, though, none of this applies to government inspectors who are supposed to enforce the regulations. A case in Postville indicates USDA practices may be closer to the myth than the agency would like to admit. Given a chance to show that laws — and breaking them — really do matter, the USDA did exactly the opposite.

    The USDA found that employees at the Agriprocessors plant violated animal cruelty laws, not just once but repeatedly. Video footage taken in 2004 of the slaughter of cattle showed some animals conscious when their windpipes were removed.

    According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Iowa, the case was not prosecutable, and no criminal charges were filed against Agriprocessors because the company has since modified its practices. That’s good.

    But the USDA also found that government inspectors observed the violations and did nothing to stop them, and in some cases were playing video games or sleeping when they should have been working. One inspector was suspended for 14 days; two others were given letters of reprimand. The pittance of punishment is pathetic. They should have been fired or at least faced far more severe sanctions. This little slap on the wrist sends one message to other inspectors: Your jobs are safe, even if you break the rules.

    The minimal repercussions also belie the statement in 2004 by Garry McKee, administrator of the Food Safety and Inspection Service that the service ‘‘places a very high priority on ensuring that animals produced for food are treated in a humane manner . . .’’

    Americans depend on those inspectors to make sure their food is safe and that laws are followed in the slaughter, butchering and packaging of meat that makes its way to market. It’s a pretty straightforward expectation that animals be treated according to humane laws Congress has enacted.

    The USDA should have been more mindful of its reputation, for much work has been done to improve the process for slaughtering animals and the regulation and inspection laws and practices that apply to slaughterhouses. The most recent improvement came in 2001 when the Farm Bill included a call for the Humane Slaughter Act to be properly enforced. One would think should include taking swift and stern action when government inspectors fail in their duties.