Does anybody know anything about the meat inspection process?

Question

I keep finding quotes by ex-meat inspectors for the USDA and they continuously say that only a small fraction of meat gets inspected for containing anything harmful. and is it true that every McDonald's hamburger, on average, contains 1,000 different cows from across the world?

Answer 1

the usda does not inspect every piece of meat but they do a good job in my opinion as  far as McDonald's hamburger containing 1000 different i do not believe it whatsoever

Answer 2

Meat inspection has really kicked it up with the recent bio-terrorism scares.  I know everyone is freaked out by all the recalls that seem to happen more and more, but that is because they are catching more stuff.   A long time ago there was no meat inspection at all.  The have been improvingever since.  Those quotes (if true) may be really old.

Not every animal is tested.  They have a set number they test though.  It's like 1 in 500 beef sides and 1 in 1000 chickens or something like that.  Not sure on the exact number off the top of my head.  In these they are testing for antibiotics and such.  There is a zero tolerance for antibiotic residue.  The facilities are very thoroughly inspected.  

I'm sure it is not true about the McDonald's thing.  That just doesn't make economical sense.

Answer 3

They don't inspect every single piece of meat that comes out of a plant.

But they inspect the conditions of the plant, and regularly test samples from the plant. And of course, if there is a sudden breakout of something from meat, they will hone in on whichever plant it came from.

As for the McDonalds part, each burger probably wouldn't contain 1,000 cows, but even if it did, thats not a big deal. Its all low-quality meat anyway. They buy meat from wherever they can get a lot for cheap, then grind whatever they get together, and spit out little patties. These are frozen and shipped off to your favorite franchises.

But ground beef isn't all the nasty parts that nobody else will eat whole. Its actually usually made up of the trimmings from everything else, like ribs, sirloin, chuck. Whenever they divide the cow into the different cuts, there is always some stuff that just doesn't "work" with whatever cut. So they grind that up.

Answer 4

I rather doubt 1000 different cows.

Answer 5

Every single cow does not get federally inspected. The stuff in a fast food burger pattie- yikes! I don't eat them! McDonalds says "all beef" but what does that mean? Non soy or other filler? I wouldn't doubt the 1,000 cow theory either. Ground beef is a bunch of the stuff from the meat processingg plant that isn't fit to be eaten whole, like a steak. You should read "Fast Food Nation."

Answer 6

When you eat at McDonald's, 1 meal can contain ingredients from 50 different countries, so I guess it could be true.

It would be impossible for them to check all the meat...That's true too.  USDA prime meat can have big goiters and tumors hanging off of it...They just trim it and send it through:)  Yummo!  I think the worst part is the fact that some cows can't even walk when they get to the slaughter house.  They have to use a fork lift to get them off the truck.