I’m an avid reader of the Hagstrom Report.  You should too.  And, if you did not think the Sequester would have an impact in food safety – think again!

FSIS delivers meat inspection furlough notice to unions

The Agriculture Department’s Food Safety and Inspection Service today delivered to the National Joint Council of Food Inspection Locals official notification to bargain on the impact and implementation of the furlough, the agency told The Hagstrom Report in an email.

“This action directly impacts how 6,351 FSIS unionized employees will be furloughed due to sequestration,” the agency said.

Under its contract, the union will have 15 days from today to respond to the notice and begin the bargaining process, but since 15 days would fall on a Saturday, they will actually have until the following Monday, March 25, a USDA source said.

No inspectors, means no meat production.