FSIS veterinarians are in meat and poultry plants in the US every day to ensure that only healthy, wholesome products enter commerce.

• A. False
• B. True
• C. Sometimes
• D. Only in large plants

Answer: (B)

Daily in-plant oversight by FSIS veterinarians is how the system ensures that only healthy, wholesome products enter commerce. These veterinary medical officers and inspectors are on-site during slaughter and processing to perform ante-mortem and post-mortem inspections, identify diseased or unfit animals or carcasses, and condemn anything that doesn’t meet standards. They enforce HACCP and sanitation requirements, verify humane handling and stunning, and check labeling and packaging to prevent adulterated or misrepresented products from leaving the plant. They can take corrective actions, segregate or re-inspect lots, and ensure temperature controls and sanitary practices are followed. This continuous presence during operating hours is what keeps the product integrity and public health protections in place, so the statement is true.