Pilgrim's Pride is recalling 27.4 million pounds of cooked sandwich meat under the Wampler Foods, Block & Barrel, Bonos, Golden Acre, and Reliance brands because of possible listeria contamination. The recall, ordered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), is the largest in U.S. history.
The nationwide recall covers meat processed from May 1 through October 11 at the Pilgrim Pride plant in Franconia, Pa.
Moderator's Comment: Do the number of recalls made in the past year indicate a problem with the current meat inspection system or is it evidence that it is working?
A number of consumer and environmental groups have accused the Bush administration of failing to set adequate safety standards for the meat industry. This politicking seems a bit disingenuous considering the USDA has been ordering the recalls. We have not seen concrete evidence to suggest that the current administration is any chummier with meat processors than the previous one. [George Anderson - Moderator]