FSIS Swine Slaughter Post-Mortem Inspection

Current understanding

FSIS is revising post-mortem inspection procedures for market hogs in swine slaughter establishments, eliminating mandatory mandibular lymph node incision and viscera palpation in favor of visual-only inspection. The agency’s rationale is that condemnation rates for the conditions historically detected via incision/palpation are low, and visual detection is sufficient for food safety. Effects: potentially faster line speeds and lower labor/inspection costs for processors; no expected change in consumer-facing food safety outcomes or prices per FSIS analysis; some worker and consumer advocates have historically raised concerns about visual-only regimes. Status: final rule.

Evidence log

• 2025-03-31 — LOCAL Foods Act of 2025: cross-connection with fsis-personal-use-slaughter-exemption: Both concern FSIS inspection scope under FMIA/PPIA — one adjusts exempted personal-use slaughter, the other governs mandatory post-mortem inspection procedures for commercial swine. (novelty: 2)

Open questions

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