Tufekci: Regulation why food-borne illness isn’t more common

Lax practices at a Boar’s Head plant show why regulation and inspection are necessary for the food industry.

By Zeynep Tufekci / The New York Times

“How could this happen?” is a natural question to ask after hearing that nine people are dead and dozens have fallen ill from eating deli meats tainted with listeria, a hardy, deadly bacterium that can survive refrigeration and freezing. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said that this is certainly an undercount.

But amid the tragedy, Americans should also pause to ask, “How does this not happen all the time?”

The sobering Department of Agriculture inspection reports from a Boar’s Head plant in Jarratt, Va., make it clear that the failures are inexcusable. There are repeated citations for noncompliance with crucial rules like avoiding dripping or standing water (which can facilitate listeria growth). But the same inspection reports should also remind us of the extensive efforts — comprehensive regulations and diligent inspectors — to ensure that such failures are scandals rather than everyday events.

The USDA inspectors duly noted that plastic or tarp was covering pipes; signs of a temporary fix to a leak. They noted small pieces of meat residue on food contact surfaces, even if those pieces were as small as one-fifth of an inch long. They noted pooled blood on the plant floor and rancid smells in coolers. They noted if any product was unlabeled. They noted “black moldlike substances” ranging from as small as a pinhead to the size of a quarter on walls. They noted when workers were on their phones while operating equipment. And so on.

It’s easy for companies to complain about excessive regulation, but consumers shouldn’t forget how hard it is to keep mass-produced food safe. Your food is kept safe quietly, day after day, because of extensive regulations born of experience and science. Eagle-eyed inspectors who notice even the tiniest bit of misplaced raw meat can save lives.

As this tragic listeria outbreak reminds us, regulations don’t work without accountability. When companies shirk their responsibilities, swift consequences should kick in, before someone dies or falls ill. Reports by the USDA so far show there were no enforcement actions against Boar’s Head in the past year, despite these reports. It is unclear what penalties, if any, the company will face. Whatever they are, one can only hope they will deter other failures.

This article originally appeared in The New York Times, c.2024.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Opinion

toon
Editorial. cartoons for Friday, Nov. 22

A sketchy look at the news of the day.… Continue reading

FILE - In this Jan. 22, 2019, file photo, Washington Supreme Court Justice Steven González listens to testimony during a hearing in Olympia, Wash. González has been elected as the next chief justice of the Washington state Supreme Court. He was elected by his colleagues on Thursday, Nov. 5, 2020, according to a news release sent by the court. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren, File)
Editorial: Daunting fix to fund right to public defenders

With a court system in crisis, threatening justice, local governments say they can’t pick up the tab.

Schwab: Incompetence of Trump’s Cabinet is the whole point

Knowledge and experience aren’t necessary if the plan is to scuttle an agency and its duties.

Allegation of slurs by Arlington football team baseless, unfair

I am reaching out to bring to your attention the recent events… Continue reading

Herald should better represent minority who support Trump

I would like to subscribe to The Herald, but I cannot stand… Continue reading

Trump will prove Sid Schwab’s warnings were correct

A recent letter to the editor accused Herald columnist Sid Schwab of… Continue reading

Comment: To fix schools, Trump will need Education Department

Blowing up the agency and its centralization will make it harder to implement needed reforms.

toon
Editorial cartoons for Thursday, Nov. 21

A sketchy look at the news of the day.… Continue reading

Commentary: County budget proposal deserves clear explanation

The proposal would use banked tax capacity, but would raise property taxes by $15 for a $650,000 home.

Killer whales not trapped in nets during the 1970 Penn Cove capture stayed near penned kin until the last one was hauled away on a truck. (Wallie Funk/Whidbey News-Times file)
Editorial: After 50 years, the message in orcas’ Penn Cove return

The return by L pod, following deadly roundups in 1970-71, should serve as a reminder of responsibility.

FILE — Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (D-Wash.) on a ride-along with a Skamania County paramedic captain near Carson, Wash. on Feb. 26, 2024. Perez, who is on track to win re-election in her rural Washington district, says her party needs to stop demonizing others and recruit candidates from diverse backgrounds. (M. Scott Brauer/The New York Times)
Editorial: What Washington state’s results say about election

Both parties should consider what state voters had to say on the economy and government investments.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.