Meat Industry May Shut Down For Weeks Due To U.S. Spending Cuts…(Load Up!!)

Sunday, February 10, 2013
By Paul Martin

Huffingtonpost.com
02/08/2013

* Without USDA inspectors, meat plants would have to close

* Production losses of $10 billion possible

* White House ties budget cuts to everyday life (Meatpackers say USDA can avoid mass shutdowns)

By Charles Abbott

WASHINGTON, Feb 8 (Reuters) – The Obama administration warned on Friday that across-the-board spending cuts set to take effect in March may result in furloughing every U.S. meat and poultry inspector for two weeks, causing the meat industry to shut down.

By law, meatpackers and processors are not allowed to ship beef, pork, lamb and poultry meat without the Agriculture Department’s inspection seal.

The prospect of mass furloughs of meat and food inspectors was part of a broader White House warning about the effects of the potential spending cuts on everyday life. Meatpackers said a shut-down would devastate consumers as well as their industry.

President Barack Obama and congressional Republicans still must resolve differences over spending cuts and tax increases, dubbed the “fiscal cliff,” which essentially was delayed by both sides from happening on Jan. 1 and was pushed back until March.

“USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service may have to furlough all employees for approximately two weeks,” a White House statement said.

An estimated $10 billion in production would be lost during a two-week furlough, said a USDA official, and consumers could see meat shortages and higher prices as a result.

The Rest…HERE

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