{"id":23620,"date":"2025-04-14T23:02:47","date_gmt":"2025-04-15T03:02:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.law.georgetown.edu\/georgetown-law-journal\/in-print\/volume-113\/volume-113-issue-3-february-2025\/broadening-slaughterhouse-inspections\/"},"modified":"2025-05-12T11:12:40","modified_gmt":"2025-05-12T15:12:40","slug":"broadening-slaughterhouse-inspections","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.law.georgetown.edu\/georgetown-law-journal\/in-print\/volume-113\/volume-113-issue-3-february-2025\/broadening-slaughterhouse-inspections\/","title":{"rendered":"Broadening Slaughterhouse Inspections"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><em>On September 3, 1991, a fire erupted inside a poultry plant in Hamlet, North Carolina.\n\t\t<span class='js-footnote footnote'>\n\t\t\t<button type='button' aria-controls='abstract_footnote_23620_1' class='footnote_inline_btn js-footnote-toggle-btn' aria-describedby='footnote_btn_text_abstract_footnote_23620_1'>\n\t\t\t\t<sup class='footnote_inline_btn_number'>1<\/sup>\n\t\t\t\t<span id='footnote_btn_text_abstract_footnote_23620_1' class='visually_hide'>Open footnote #1<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/button>\n\t\n\t\t\t<cite id='abstract_footnote_23620_1' class='footnote_content_cite js-footnote-content'>\n\t\t\t\t<span class='footnote_content_wrap'>\n\t\t\t\t\t<button type='button' class='footnote_content_number js-footnote-toggle-btn' aria-controls='abstract_footnote_23620_1' tabindex='-1'>1<\/button>\n\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class='footnote_content_wrap_inner'>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class='footnote_content'>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class='visually_hide'>Footnote #1 content: <\/span>John Drescher, <em>The Forgotten Lessons of the Hamlet Fire<\/em>, THE ASSEMBLY (Sept. 1, 2021), https:\/\/ www.theassemblync.com\/politics\/the-forgotten-lessons-of-the-hamlet-fire\/ [https:\/\/perma.cc\/5HH2- J6FD].\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class='footnote_close_btn_wrap'>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<button type='button' class='footnote_close_btn js-footnote-close-btn' aria-label='Back to content'>close<\/button>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/cite>\n\t\t<\/span>\n\t Workers ran for the exits, but they were trapped by doors locked from the outside, without sprinklers or an evacuation plan.\n\t\t<span class='js-footnote footnote'>\n\t\t\t<button type='button' aria-controls='abstract_footnote_23620_2' class='footnote_inline_btn js-footnote-toggle-btn' aria-describedby='footnote_btn_text_abstract_footnote_23620_2'>\n\t\t\t\t<sup class='footnote_inline_btn_number'>2<\/sup>\n\t\t\t\t<span id='footnote_btn_text_abstract_footnote_23620_2' class='visually_hide'>Open footnote #2<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/button>\n\t\n\t\t\t<cite id='abstract_footnote_23620_2' class='footnote_content_cite js-footnote-content'>\n\t\t\t\t<span class='footnote_content_wrap'>\n\t\t\t\t\t<button type='button' class='footnote_content_number js-footnote-toggle-btn' aria-controls='abstract_footnote_23620_2' tabindex='-1'>2<\/button>\n\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class='footnote_content_wrap_inner'>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class='footnote_content'>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class='visually_hide'>Footnote #2 content: <\/span><em>Id.<\/em>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class='footnote_close_btn_wrap'>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<button type='button' class='footnote_close_btn js-footnote-close-btn' aria-label='Back to content'>close<\/button>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/cite>\n\t\t<\/span>\n\t Twenty-five workers died.\n\t\t<span class='js-footnote footnote'>\n\t\t\t<button type='button' aria-controls='abstract_footnote_23620_3' class='footnote_inline_btn js-footnote-toggle-btn' aria-describedby='footnote_btn_text_abstract_footnote_23620_3'>\n\t\t\t\t<sup class='footnote_inline_btn_number'>3<\/sup>\n\t\t\t\t<span id='footnote_btn_text_abstract_footnote_23620_3' class='visually_hide'>Open footnote #3<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/button>\n\t\n\t\t\t<cite id='abstract_footnote_23620_3' class='footnote_content_cite js-footnote-content'>\n\t\t\t\t<span class='footnote_content_wrap'>\n\t\t\t\t\t<button type='button' class='footnote_content_number js-footnote-toggle-btn' aria-controls='abstract_footnote_23620_3' tabindex='-1'>3<\/button>\n\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class='footnote_content_wrap_inner'>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class='footnote_content'>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class='visually_hide'>Footnote #3 content: <\/span><em>Id.<\/em>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class='footnote_close_btn_wrap'>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<button type='button' class='footnote_close_btn js-footnote-close-btn' aria-label='Back to content'>close<\/button>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/cite>\n\t\t<\/span>\n\t In the eleven years that the plant was in operation, a worker safety inspector had never visited.\n\t\t<span class='js-footnote footnote'>\n\t\t\t<button type='button' aria-controls='abstract_footnote_23620_4' class='footnote_inline_btn js-footnote-toggle-btn' aria-describedby='footnote_btn_text_abstract_footnote_23620_4'>\n\t\t\t\t<sup class='footnote_inline_btn_number'>4<\/sup>\n\t\t\t\t<span id='footnote_btn_text_abstract_footnote_23620_4' class='visually_hide'>Open footnote #4<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/button>\n\t\n\t\t\t<cite id='abstract_footnote_23620_4' class='footnote_content_cite js-footnote-content'>\n\t\t\t\t<span class='footnote_content_wrap'>\n\t\t\t\t\t<button type='button' class='footnote_content_number js-footnote-toggle-btn' aria-controls='abstract_footnote_23620_4' tabindex='-1'>4<\/button>\n\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class='footnote_content_wrap_inner'>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class='footnote_content'>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class='visually_hide'>Footnote #4 content: <\/span><em>Id.<\/em>; Anna Diamond, <em>The Deadly 1991 Hamlet Fire Exposed the High Cost of \u201cCheap<\/em>,<em>\u201d<\/em> SMITHSONIAN MAG. (Sept. 8, 2017), https:\/\/www.smithsonianmag.com\/history\/deadly-1991-hamlet- f ire-exposed-high-cost-cheap-180964816\/ [https:\/\/perma.cc\/6GHU-TGFG].\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class='footnote_close_btn_wrap'>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<button type='button' class='footnote_close_btn js-footnote-close-btn' aria-label='Back to content'>close<\/button>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/cite>\n\t\t<\/span>\n\t In contrast, a meat safety inspector had been there every day and had approved locking a door, ostensibly to keep flies out.\n\t\t<span class='js-footnote footnote'>\n\t\t\t<button type='button' aria-controls='abstract_footnote_23620_5' class='footnote_inline_btn js-footnote-toggle-btn' aria-describedby='footnote_btn_text_abstract_footnote_23620_5'>\n\t\t\t\t<sup class='footnote_inline_btn_number'>5<\/sup>\n\t\t\t\t<span id='footnote_btn_text_abstract_footnote_23620_5' class='visually_hide'>Open footnote #5<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/button>\n\t\n\t\t\t<cite id='abstract_footnote_23620_5' class='footnote_content_cite js-footnote-content'>\n\t\t\t\t<span class='footnote_content_wrap'>\n\t\t\t\t\t<button type='button' class='footnote_content_number js-footnote-toggle-btn' aria-controls='abstract_footnote_23620_5' tabindex='-1'>5<\/button>\n\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class='footnote_content_wrap_inner'>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class='footnote_content'>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class='visually_hide'>Footnote #5 content: <\/span>Drescher, <em>supra<\/em> note 1.\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class='footnote_close_btn_wrap'>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<button type='button' class='footnote_close_btn js-footnote-close-btn' aria-label='Back to content'>close<\/button>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/cite>\n\t\t<\/span>\n\t Conflict between overlapping regulatory systems had deadly consequences in 1991, and similar conflicts continue to regularly occur. Slaughterhouses contain two radically different safety regimes: one for meat, and another for workers. This Note compares the ever-present inspections performed by the Department of Agriculture\u2019s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) and the never-present inspections of the Department of Labor\u2019s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). Both inspection regimes fall short. To improve them, Congress should require FSIS meat inspectors in slaughterhouses to identify and enforce violations of federal workplace safety laws. The American meat\n\t\t<span class='js-footnote footnote'>\n\t\t\t<button type='button' aria-controls='abstract_footnote_23620_6' class='footnote_inline_btn js-footnote-toggle-btn' aria-describedby='footnote_btn_text_abstract_footnote_23620_6'>\n\t\t\t\t<sup class='footnote_inline_btn_number'>6<\/sup>\n\t\t\t\t<span id='footnote_btn_text_abstract_footnote_23620_6' class='visually_hide'>Open footnote #6<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/button>\n\t\n\t\t\t<cite id='abstract_footnote_23620_6' class='footnote_content_cite js-footnote-content'>\n\t\t\t\t<span class='footnote_content_wrap'>\n\t\t\t\t\t<button type='button' class='footnote_content_number js-footnote-toggle-btn' aria-controls='abstract_footnote_23620_6' tabindex='-1'>6<\/button>\n\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class='footnote_content_wrap_inner'>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class='footnote_content'>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class='visually_hide'>Footnote #6 content: <\/span>In this Note, meat refers to both poultry (such as chicken, turkey, and duck) and the things traditionally included in the definition of meat (such as beef, pork, and mutton).\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class='footnote_close_btn_wrap'>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<button type='button' class='footnote_close_btn js-footnote-close-btn' aria-label='Back to content'>close<\/button>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/cite>\n\t\t<\/span>\n\t industry was in crisis during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.\n\t\t<span class='js-footnote footnote'>\n\t\t\t<button type='button' aria-controls='abstract_footnote_23620_7' class='footnote_inline_btn js-footnote-toggle-btn' aria-describedby='footnote_btn_text_abstract_footnote_23620_7'>\n\t\t\t\t<sup class='footnote_inline_btn_number'>7<\/sup>\n\t\t\t\t<span id='footnote_btn_text_abstract_footnote_23620_7' class='visually_hide'>Open footnote #7<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/button>\n\t\n\t\t\t<cite id='abstract_footnote_23620_7' class='footnote_content_cite js-footnote-content'>\n\t\t\t\t<span class='footnote_content_wrap'>\n\t\t\t\t\t<button type='button' class='footnote_content_number js-footnote-toggle-btn' aria-controls='abstract_footnote_23620_7' tabindex='-1'>7<\/button>\n\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class='footnote_content_wrap_inner'>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class='footnote_content'>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class='visually_hide'>Footnote #7 content: <\/span>Jodi Schwan, <em>Smithfield to Close Sioux Falls Plant Indefinitely<\/em>, SIOUXFALLS.BUS., https:\/\/www. siouxfalls.business\/smithfield-to-close-sioux-falls-plant-indefinitely\/ [https:\/\/perma.cc\/EQQ2-72NN] (last visited Dec. 30, 2024).\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class='footnote_close_btn_wrap'>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<button type='button' class='footnote_close_btn js-footnote-close-btn' aria-label='Back to content'>close<\/button>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/cite>\n\t\t<\/span>\n\t In the second week of April 2020, Smithfield, the largest pork processor in the country, closed a plant in South Dakota because of COVID-19.\n\t\t<span class='js-footnote footnote'>\n\t\t\t<button type='button' aria-controls='abstract_footnote_23620_8' class='footnote_inline_btn js-footnote-toggle-btn' aria-describedby='footnote_btn_text_abstract_footnote_23620_8'>\n\t\t\t\t<sup class='footnote_inline_btn_number'>8<\/sup>\n\t\t\t\t<span id='footnote_btn_text_abstract_footnote_23620_8' class='visually_hide'>Open footnote #8<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/button>\n\t\n\t\t\t<cite id='abstract_footnote_23620_8' class='footnote_content_cite js-footnote-content'>\n\t\t\t\t<span class='footnote_content_wrap'>\n\t\t\t\t\t<button type='button' class='footnote_content_number js-footnote-toggle-btn' aria-controls='abstract_footnote_23620_8' tabindex='-1'>8<\/button>\n\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class='footnote_content_wrap_inner'>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class='footnote_content'>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class='visually_hide'>Footnote #8 content: <\/span>Seth Millstein, <em>The Top Pork Producer in the U.S. Is Owned by China, But Harming Local Communities<\/em>, SENTIENT MEDIA (Feb. 26, 2024), https:\/\/sentientmedia.org\/top-pork-producing-states\/ [https:\/\/perma.cc\/CK3W-H8J9]; Schwan, <em>supra<\/em> note 7.\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class='footnote_close_btn_wrap'>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<button type='button' class='footnote_close_btn js-footnote-close-btn' aria-label='Back to content'>close<\/button>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/cite>\n\t\t<\/span>\n\t That plant accounted for approximately 4%\u20135% of U.S. pork production.\n\t\t<span class='js-footnote footnote'>\n\t\t\t<button type='button' aria-controls='abstract_footnote_23620_9' class='footnote_inline_btn js-footnote-toggle-btn' aria-describedby='footnote_btn_text_abstract_footnote_23620_9'>\n\t\t\t\t<sup class='footnote_inline_btn_number'>9<\/sup>\n\t\t\t\t<span id='footnote_btn_text_abstract_footnote_23620_9' class='visually_hide'>Open footnote #9<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/button>\n\t\n\t\t\t<cite id='abstract_footnote_23620_9' class='footnote_content_cite js-footnote-content'>\n\t\t\t\t<span class='footnote_content_wrap'>\n\t\t\t\t\t<button type='button' class='footnote_content_number js-footnote-toggle-btn' aria-controls='abstract_footnote_23620_9' tabindex='-1'>9<\/button>\n\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class='footnote_content_wrap_inner'>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class='footnote_content'>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class='visually_hide'>Footnote #9 content: <\/span>Schwan, <em>supra<\/em> note 7.\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class='footnote_close_btn_wrap'>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<button type='button' class='footnote_close_btn js-footnote-close-btn' aria-label='Back to content'>close<\/button>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/cite>\n\t\t<\/span>\n\t During the week of April 25, 2020, production of beef, pork, and chicken declined by 13%, compared to the same week one year prior.\n\t\t<span class='js-footnote footnote'>\n\t\t\t<button type='button' aria-controls='abstract_footnote_23620_10' class='footnote_inline_btn js-footnote-toggle-btn' aria-describedby='footnote_btn_text_abstract_footnote_23620_10'>\n\t\t\t\t<sup class='footnote_inline_btn_number'>10<\/sup>\n\t\t\t\t<span id='footnote_btn_text_abstract_footnote_23620_10' class='visually_hide'>Open footnote #10<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/button>\n\t\n\t\t\t<cite id='abstract_footnote_23620_10' class='footnote_content_cite js-footnote-content'>\n\t\t\t\t<span class='footnote_content_wrap'>\n\t\t\t\t\t<button type='button' class='footnote_content_number js-footnote-toggle-btn' aria-controls='abstract_footnote_23620_10' tabindex='-1'>10<\/button>\n\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class='footnote_content_wrap_inner'>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class='footnote_content'>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class='visually_hide'>Footnote #10 content: <\/span>JOEL L. GREENE, CONG. RSCH. SERV., IN11366, COVID-19 DISRUPTS U.S. MEAT SUPPLY; PRODUCER PRICES TUMBLE 2\u20133 (2020).\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class='footnote_close_btn_wrap'>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<button type='button' class='footnote_close_btn js-footnote-close-btn' aria-label='Back to content'>close<\/button>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/cite>\n\t\t<\/span>\n\t Meat prices for producers cratered soon after.\n\t\t<span class='js-footnote footnote'>\n\t\t\t<button type='button' aria-controls='abstract_footnote_23620_11' class='footnote_inline_btn js-footnote-toggle-btn' aria-describedby='footnote_btn_text_abstract_footnote_23620_11'>\n\t\t\t\t<sup class='footnote_inline_btn_number'>11<\/sup>\n\t\t\t\t<span id='footnote_btn_text_abstract_footnote_23620_11' class='visually_hide'>Open footnote #11<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/button>\n\t\n\t\t\t<cite id='abstract_footnote_23620_11' class='footnote_content_cite js-footnote-content'>\n\t\t\t\t<span class='footnote_content_wrap'>\n\t\t\t\t\t<button type='button' class='footnote_content_number js-footnote-toggle-btn' aria-controls='abstract_footnote_23620_11' tabindex='-1'>11<\/button>\n\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class='footnote_content_wrap_inner'>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class='footnote_content'>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class='visually_hide'>Footnote #11 content: <\/span><em>See id.<\/em> Producer prices for beef, pork, and chicken each declined by 10%, 18%, and 29%, respectively. <em>Id.<\/em> at 2.\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class='footnote_close_btn_wrap'>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<button type='button' class='footnote_close_btn js-footnote-close-btn' aria-label='Back to content'>close<\/button>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/cite>\n\t\t<\/span>\n\t Following public outcry and pressure from elected officials, the President issued an executive order designating the meat and poultry supply chain as critical infrastructure, forcing them to remain open.\n\t\t<span class='js-footnote footnote'>\n\t\t\t<button type='button' aria-controls='abstract_footnote_23620_12' class='footnote_inline_btn js-footnote-toggle-btn' aria-describedby='footnote_btn_text_abstract_footnote_23620_12'>\n\t\t\t\t<sup class='footnote_inline_btn_number'>12<\/sup>\n\t\t\t\t<span id='footnote_btn_text_abstract_footnote_23620_12' class='visually_hide'>Open footnote #12<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/button>\n\t\n\t\t\t<cite id='abstract_footnote_23620_12' class='footnote_content_cite js-footnote-content'>\n\t\t\t\t<span class='footnote_content_wrap'>\n\t\t\t\t\t<button type='button' class='footnote_content_number js-footnote-toggle-btn' aria-controls='abstract_footnote_23620_12' tabindex='-1'>12<\/button>\n\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class='footnote_content_wrap_inner'>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class='footnote_content'>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class='visually_hide'>Footnote #12 content: <\/span>Exec. Order No. 13917, 85 Fed. Reg. 26313 (Apr. 28, 2020); <em>see also Hoeven Statement on Guidance Providing Flexibility to Meat Processing Facilities: Senator Worked with Agriculture Secretary to Help Maintain Food Supply Chain, Keep Facilities Operating Safely<\/em>, U.S. SENATOR FOR N.D. JOHN HOEVEN (Apr. 27, 2020), https:\/\/www.hoeven.senate.gov\/news\/news-releases\/hoeven- statement-on-guidance-providing-flexibility-to-meat-processing-facilities1 [https:\/\/perma.cc\/S425-U9T6] (urging administration officials to work toward guidance to keep meat processing facilities open and safe amidst COVID-19).\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class='footnote_close_btn_wrap'>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<button type='button' class='footnote_close_btn js-footnote-close-btn' aria-label='Back to content'>close<\/button>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/cite>\n\t\t<\/span>\n\t There is evidence that the meatpacking industry drafted the executive order in order to keep processing plants open.\n\t\t<span class='js-footnote footnote'>\n\t\t\t<button type='button' aria-controls='abstract_footnote_23620_13' class='footnote_inline_btn js-footnote-toggle-btn' aria-describedby='footnote_btn_text_abstract_footnote_23620_13'>\n\t\t\t\t<sup class='footnote_inline_btn_number'>13<\/sup>\n\t\t\t\t<span id='footnote_btn_text_abstract_footnote_23620_13' class='visually_hide'>Open footnote #13<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/button>\n\t\n\t\t\t<cite id='abstract_footnote_23620_13' class='footnote_content_cite js-footnote-content'>\n\t\t\t\t<span class='footnote_content_wrap'>\n\t\t\t\t\t<button type='button' class='footnote_content_number js-footnote-toggle-btn' aria-controls='abstract_footnote_23620_13' tabindex='-1'>13<\/button>\n\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class='footnote_content_wrap_inner'>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class='footnote_content'>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class='visually_hide'>Footnote #13 content: <\/span>Michael Grabell &amp; Bernice Yeung, <em>Emails Show the Meatpacking Industry Drafted an Executive Order to Keep Plants Open<\/em>, PROPUBLICA (Sept. 14, 2020, 2:43 PM), https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/article\/ emails-show-the-meatpacking-industry-drafted-an-executive-order-to-keep-plants-open [https:\/\/perma. cc\/ZPS9-Z2ZW].\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class='footnote_close_btn_wrap'>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<button type='button' class='footnote_close_btn js-footnote-close-btn' aria-label='Back to content'>close<\/button>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/cite>\n\t\t<\/span>\n\t In 2020, OSHA received over 100 complaints related to meatpacking facilities, but it issued just nine citations in response.\n\t\t<span class='js-footnote footnote'>\n\t\t\t<button type='button' aria-controls='abstract_footnote_23620_14' class='footnote_inline_btn js-footnote-toggle-btn' aria-describedby='footnote_btn_text_abstract_footnote_23620_14'>\n\t\t\t\t<sup class='footnote_inline_btn_number'>14<\/sup>\n\t\t\t\t<span id='footnote_btn_text_abstract_footnote_23620_14' class='visually_hide'>Open footnote #14<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/button>\n\t\n\t\t\t<cite id='abstract_footnote_23620_14' class='footnote_content_cite js-footnote-content'>\n\t\t\t\t<span class='footnote_content_wrap'>\n\t\t\t\t\t<button type='button' class='footnote_content_number js-footnote-toggle-btn' aria-controls='abstract_footnote_23620_14' tabindex='-1'>14<\/button>\n\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class='footnote_content_wrap_inner'>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class='footnote_content'>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class='visually_hide'>Footnote #14 content: <\/span>Memorandum from the Majority Staff to the Members of the Select Subcomm. on the Coronavirus Crisis 11 (Oct. 27, 2021), https:\/\/www.documentcloud.org\/documents\/21093338-20211027-meatpacking- report [https:\/\/perma.cc\/CHY3-97GN] [hereinafter Memorandum from Majority Staff].\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class='footnote_close_btn_wrap'>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<button type='button' class='footnote_close_btn js-footnote-close-btn' aria-label='Back to content'>close<\/button>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/cite>\n\t\t<\/span>\n\t Meanwhile, managers at Tyson, the largest chicken processor in the country, made bets on how many employees would get sick.\n\t\t<span class='js-footnote footnote'>\n\t\t\t<button type='button' aria-controls='abstract_footnote_23620_15' class='footnote_inline_btn js-footnote-toggle-btn' aria-describedby='footnote_btn_text_abstract_footnote_23620_15'>\n\t\t\t\t<sup class='footnote_inline_btn_number'>15<\/sup>\n\t\t\t\t<span id='footnote_btn_text_abstract_footnote_23620_15' class='visually_hide'>Open footnote #15<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/button>\n\t\n\t\t\t<cite id='abstract_footnote_23620_15' class='footnote_content_cite js-footnote-content'>\n\t\t\t\t<span class='footnote_content_wrap'>\n\t\t\t\t\t<button type='button' class='footnote_content_number js-footnote-toggle-btn' aria-controls='abstract_footnote_23620_15' tabindex='-1'>15<\/button>\n\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class='footnote_content_wrap_inner'>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class='footnote_content'>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class='visually_hide'>Footnote #15 content: <\/span>Laurel Wamsley, <em>Tyson Foods Fires 7 Plant Managers Over Betting Ring on Workers Getting COVID-19<\/em>, NPR (Dec. 16, 2020, 5:30 PM), https:\/\/www.npr.org\/sections\/coronavirus-live-updates\/ 2020\/12\/16\/947275866\/tyson-foods-fires-7-plant-managers-over-betting-ring-on-workers-getting-covid-19 [https:\/\/perma.cc\/F8AF-TZMD].\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class='footnote_close_btn_wrap'>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<button type='button' class='footnote_close_btn js-footnote-close-btn' aria-label='Back to content'>close<\/button>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/cite>\n\t\t<\/span>\n\t Nearly 60,000 workers in meatpacking plants contracted COVID-19, and hundreds died.\n\t\t<span class='js-footnote footnote'>\n\t\t\t<button type='button' aria-controls='abstract_footnote_23620_16' class='footnote_inline_btn js-footnote-toggle-btn' aria-describedby='footnote_btn_text_abstract_footnote_23620_16'>\n\t\t\t\t<sup class='footnote_inline_btn_number'>16<\/sup>\n\t\t\t\t<span id='footnote_btn_text_abstract_footnote_23620_16' class='visually_hide'>Open footnote #16<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/button>\n\t\n\t\t\t<cite id='abstract_footnote_23620_16' class='footnote_content_cite js-footnote-content'>\n\t\t\t\t<span class='footnote_content_wrap'>\n\t\t\t\t\t<button type='button' class='footnote_content_number js-footnote-toggle-btn' aria-controls='abstract_footnote_23620_16' tabindex='-1'>16<\/button>\n\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class='footnote_content_wrap_inner'>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class='footnote_content'>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class='visually_hide'>Footnote #16 content: <\/span>Memorandum from Majority Staff, supra note 14, at 6. Between March 1, 2020 and February 1, 2021, at least 269 workers in meatpacking plants died from COVID-19. <em>Id.<\/em>;<em> see also<\/em> Sky Chadde, <em>Tracking COVID-19\u2019s Impact on Meatpacking Workers and Industry<\/em>, INVESTIGATE MIDWEST (Apr. 16, 2020), https:\/\/investigatemidwest.org\/2020\/04\/16\/tracking-covid-19s-impact-on-meatpacking-workers- and-industry [https:\/\/perma.cc\/5546-FDKH] (finding that there have been 423 reported worker deaths across 29 states since April 2020).\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class='footnote_close_btn_wrap'>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<button type='button' class='footnote_close_btn js-footnote-close-btn' aria-label='Back to content'>close<\/button>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/cite>\n\t\t<\/span>\n\t By May 2020, four USDA meat inspectors had died.\n\t\t<span class='js-footnote footnote'>\n\t\t\t<button type='button' aria-controls='abstract_footnote_23620_17' class='footnote_inline_btn js-footnote-toggle-btn' aria-describedby='footnote_btn_text_abstract_footnote_23620_17'>\n\t\t\t\t<sup class='footnote_inline_btn_number'>17<\/sup>\n\t\t\t\t<span id='footnote_btn_text_abstract_footnote_23620_17' class='visually_hide'>Open footnote #17<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/button>\n\t\n\t\t\t<cite id='abstract_footnote_23620_17' class='footnote_content_cite js-footnote-content'>\n\t\t\t\t<span class='footnote_content_wrap'>\n\t\t\t\t\t<button type='button' class='footnote_content_number js-footnote-toggle-btn' aria-controls='abstract_footnote_23620_17' tabindex='-1'>17<\/button>\n\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class='footnote_content_wrap_inner'>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class='footnote_content'>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class='visually_hide'>Footnote #17 content: <\/span>Kelly Struthers Montford &amp; Tessa Wotherspoon, <em>The Contagion of Slow Violence: The Slaughterhouse and COVID-19<\/em>, 10 ANIMAL STUD. J. 80, 95 (2021).\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class='footnote_close_btn_wrap'>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<button type='button' class='footnote_close_btn js-footnote-close-btn' aria-label='Back to content'>close<\/button>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/cite>\n\t\t<\/span>\n\t During a national meat shortage, worker safety became a footnote.\n\t\t<span class='js-footnote footnote'>\n\t\t\t<button type='button' aria-controls='abstract_footnote_23620_18' class='footnote_inline_btn js-footnote-toggle-btn' aria-describedby='footnote_btn_text_abstract_footnote_23620_18'>\n\t\t\t\t<sup class='footnote_inline_btn_number'>18<\/sup>\n\t\t\t\t<span id='footnote_btn_text_abstract_footnote_23620_18' class='visually_hide'>Open footnote #18<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/button>\n\t\n\t\t\t<cite id='abstract_footnote_23620_18' class='footnote_content_cite js-footnote-content'>\n\t\t\t\t<span class='footnote_content_wrap'>\n\t\t\t\t\t<button type='button' class='footnote_content_number js-footnote-toggle-btn' aria-controls='abstract_footnote_23620_18' tabindex='-1'>18<\/button>\n\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class='footnote_content_wrap_inner'>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class='footnote_content'>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class='visually_hide'>Footnote #18 content: <\/span><em>See<\/em> Michael Corkery, David Yaffe-Bellany &amp; Derek Kravitz, <em>As Meatpacking Plants Reopen, Data About Worker Illness Remains Elusive<\/em>, N.Y. TIMES (Sept. 30, 2021), https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/ 2020\/05\/25\/business\/coronavirus-meatpacking-plants-cases.html (discussing executive order issued to keep meatpacking plants open, which did not address proper COVID-19 testing for employees).\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class='footnote_close_btn_wrap'>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<button type='button' class='footnote_close_btn js-footnote-close-btn' aria-label='Back to content'>close<\/button>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/cite>\n\t\t<\/span>\n\t This Note is not about the COVID-19 crises in American slaughterhouses; it is about the crises that the pandemic revealed. The appalling events that happened within the industry during the pandemic exacerbated pre-existing failures, demonstrated by the 1991 Hamlet fire, to keep workers safe.\n\t\t<span class='js-footnote footnote'>\n\t\t\t<button type='button' aria-controls='abstract_footnote_23620_19' class='footnote_inline_btn js-footnote-toggle-btn' aria-describedby='footnote_btn_text_abstract_footnote_23620_19'>\n\t\t\t\t<sup class='footnote_inline_btn_number'>19<\/sup>\n\t\t\t\t<span id='footnote_btn_text_abstract_footnote_23620_19' class='visually_hide'>Open footnote #19<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/button>\n\t\n\t\t\t<cite id='abstract_footnote_23620_19' class='footnote_content_cite js-footnote-content'>\n\t\t\t\t<span class='footnote_content_wrap'>\n\t\t\t\t\t<button type='button' class='footnote_content_number js-footnote-toggle-btn' aria-controls='abstract_footnote_23620_19' tabindex='-1'>19<\/button>\n\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class='footnote_content_wrap_inner'>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class='footnote_content'>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class='visually_hide'>Footnote #19 content: <\/span>In this respect, meat processing plants resembled prisons, jails, and tribal reservations\u2014places where longstanding health inequities existed long before the pandemic, with deadly consequences when COVID-19 hit. <em>See<\/em> Victoria Law, <em>Health Care in Jails and Prisons Is Terrible. The Pandemic Made It Even Worse<\/em>, VOX (June 28, 2022, 7:00 AM), https:\/\/www.vox.com\/23175978\/health-care-prison-jail- covid-pandemic [https:\/\/perma.cc\/KMW9-CZPF]; Gloria Oladipo, <em>Native American Communities Lashed by Covid, Worsening Chronic Inequities<\/em>, GUARDIAN (Dec. 13, 2021, 5:00 AM), https:\/\/www. theguardian.com\/us-news\/2021\/dec\/13\/pandemic-challenges-native-american-communities [https:\/\/ perma.cc\/L82T-BT5N].\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class='footnote_close_btn_wrap'>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<button type='button' class='footnote_close_btn js-footnote-close-btn' aria-label='Back to content'>close<\/button>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/cite>\n\t\t<\/span>\n\t These events also demonstrate the vast power disparity between slaughterhouse workers and their employers, as well as the need for change. In 2020, the country prioritized meat over worker safety, just as it had in response to Upton Sinclair\u2019s 1906 novel, <\/em>The Jungle<em>. Sinclair famously chronicled a fictional immigrant worker\u2019s hardship\u2014including violence, abuse, and low pay\u2014while working for a meat processing company in Chicago.\n\t\t<span class='js-footnote footnote'>\n\t\t\t<button type='button' aria-controls='abstract_footnote_23620_20' class='footnote_inline_btn js-footnote-toggle-btn' aria-describedby='footnote_btn_text_abstract_footnote_23620_20'>\n\t\t\t\t<sup class='footnote_inline_btn_number'>20<\/sup>\n\t\t\t\t<span id='footnote_btn_text_abstract_footnote_23620_20' class='visually_hide'>Open footnote #20<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/button>\n\t\n\t\t\t<cite id='abstract_footnote_23620_20' class='footnote_content_cite js-footnote-content'>\n\t\t\t\t<span class='footnote_content_wrap'>\n\t\t\t\t\t<button type='button' class='footnote_content_number js-footnote-toggle-btn' aria-controls='abstract_footnote_23620_20' tabindex='-1'>20<\/button>\n\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class='footnote_content_wrap_inner'>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class='footnote_content'>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class='visually_hide'>Footnote #20 content: <\/span>UPTON SINCLAIR, THE JUNGLE 246\u201347 (Simon &amp; Brown 2012) (1906).\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class='footnote_close_btn_wrap'>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<button type='button' class='footnote_close_btn js-footnote-close-btn' aria-label='Back to content'>close<\/button>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/cite>\n\t\t<\/span>\n\t The novel was published in a socialist magazine, and Sinclair hoped that it would garner opposition to \u201cwage slavery.\u201d\n\t\t<span class='js-footnote footnote'>\n\t\t\t<button type='button' aria-controls='abstract_footnote_23620_21' class='footnote_inline_btn js-footnote-toggle-btn' aria-describedby='footnote_btn_text_abstract_footnote_23620_21'>\n\t\t\t\t<sup class='footnote_inline_btn_number'>21<\/sup>\n\t\t\t\t<span id='footnote_btn_text_abstract_footnote_23620_21' class='visually_hide'>Open footnote #21<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/button>\n\t\n\t\t\t<cite id='abstract_footnote_23620_21' class='footnote_content_cite js-footnote-content'>\n\t\t\t\t<span class='footnote_content_wrap'>\n\t\t\t\t\t<button type='button' class='footnote_content_number js-footnote-toggle-btn' aria-controls='abstract_footnote_23620_21' tabindex='-1'>21<\/button>\n\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class='footnote_content_wrap_inner'>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class='footnote_content'>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class='visually_hide'>Footnote #21 content: <\/span>Christopher Klein, <em>How Upton Sinclair\u2019s \u2018The Jungle\u2019 Led to US Food Safety Reforms<\/em>, HISTORY (May 10, 2023), https:\/\/www.history.com\/news\/upton-sinclair-the-jungle-us-food-safety-reforms [https:\/\/ perma.cc\/YA5N-XUYN].\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class='footnote_close_btn_wrap'>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<button type='button' class='footnote_close_btn js-footnote-close-btn' aria-label='Back to content'>close<\/button>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/cite>\n\t\t<\/span>\n\t Instead of inspiring a public outrage against abusive working conditions, Sinclair\u2019s novel sparked an outcry against stomach- turning food processes.\n\t\t<span class='js-footnote footnote'>\n\t\t\t<button type='button' aria-controls='abstract_footnote_23620_22' class='footnote_inline_btn js-footnote-toggle-btn' aria-describedby='footnote_btn_text_abstract_footnote_23620_22'>\n\t\t\t\t<sup class='footnote_inline_btn_number'>22<\/sup>\n\t\t\t\t<span id='footnote_btn_text_abstract_footnote_23620_22' class='visually_hide'>Open footnote #22<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/button>\n\t\n\t\t\t<cite id='abstract_footnote_23620_22' class='footnote_content_cite js-footnote-content'>\n\t\t\t\t<span class='footnote_content_wrap'>\n\t\t\t\t\t<button type='button' class='footnote_content_number js-footnote-toggle-btn' aria-controls='abstract_footnote_23620_22' tabindex='-1'>22<\/button>\n\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class='footnote_content_wrap_inner'>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class='footnote_content'>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class='visually_hide'>Footnote #22 content: <\/span><em>Id.<\/em>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class='footnote_close_btn_wrap'>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<button type='button' class='footnote_close_btn js-footnote-close-btn' aria-label='Back to content'>close<\/button>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/cite>\n\t\t<\/span>\n\t <\/em>The Jungle<em> led to federal investigations and ultimately federal laws, including the Federal Meat Inspection Act and Pure Food and Drug Act, which created the Food and Drug Administration and the general framework that regulates food in the United States today.\n\t\t<span class='js-footnote footnote'>\n\t\t\t<button type='button' aria-controls='abstract_footnote_23620_23' class='footnote_inline_btn js-footnote-toggle-btn' aria-describedby='footnote_btn_text_abstract_footnote_23620_23'>\n\t\t\t\t<sup class='footnote_inline_btn_number'>23<\/sup>\n\t\t\t\t<span id='footnote_btn_text_abstract_footnote_23620_23' class='visually_hide'>Open footnote #23<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/button>\n\t\n\t\t\t<cite id='abstract_footnote_23620_23' class='footnote_content_cite js-footnote-content'>\n\t\t\t\t<span class='footnote_content_wrap'>\n\t\t\t\t\t<button type='button' class='footnote_content_number js-footnote-toggle-btn' aria-controls='abstract_footnote_23620_23' tabindex='-1'>23<\/button>\n\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class='footnote_content_wrap_inner'>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class='footnote_content'>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class='visually_hide'>Footnote #23 content: <\/span><em>Id.<\/em>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class='footnote_close_btn_wrap'>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<button type='button' class='footnote_close_btn js-footnote-close-btn' aria-label='Back to content'>close<\/button>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/cite>\n\t\t<\/span>\n\t Linking FSIS and OSHA inspections is not a new idea. In 1994, in the aftermath of the Hamlet fire, the two agencies signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to collaborate and train meat inspectors to recognize and report OSHA violations and otherwise resolve tensions between the two regulatory systems.\n\t\t<span class='js-footnote footnote'>\n\t\t\t<button type='button' aria-controls='abstract_footnote_23620_24' class='footnote_inline_btn js-footnote-toggle-btn' aria-describedby='footnote_btn_text_abstract_footnote_23620_24'>\n\t\t\t\t<sup class='footnote_inline_btn_number'>24<\/sup>\n\t\t\t\t<span id='footnote_btn_text_abstract_footnote_23620_24' class='visually_hide'>Open footnote #24<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/button>\n\t\n\t\t\t<cite id='abstract_footnote_23620_24' class='footnote_content_cite js-footnote-content'>\n\t\t\t\t<span class='footnote_content_wrap'>\n\t\t\t\t\t<button type='button' class='footnote_content_number js-footnote-toggle-btn' aria-controls='abstract_footnote_23620_24' tabindex='-1'>24<\/button>\n\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class='footnote_content_wrap_inner'>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class='footnote_content'>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class='visually_hide'>Footnote #24 content: <\/span>OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY &amp; HEALTH ADMIN., U.S. DEP\u2019T OF LAB., MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH ADMINISTRATION AND THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE FOOD SAFETY AND INSPECTION SERVICE (1994), https:\/\/www.osha.gov\/laws-regs\/mou\/1994-02-04 [https:\/\/perma.cc\/5BQN-5D2N].\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class='footnote_close_btn_wrap'>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<button type='button' class='footnote_close_btn js-footnote-close-btn' aria-label='Back to content'>close<\/button>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/cite>\n\t\t<\/span>\n\t That MOU has failed. A governmental report issued more than twenty years after the MOU was enacted found that it had not been fully implemented.\n\t\t<span class='js-footnote footnote'>\n\t\t\t<button type='button' aria-controls='abstract_footnote_23620_25' class='footnote_inline_btn js-footnote-toggle-btn' aria-describedby='footnote_btn_text_abstract_footnote_23620_25'>\n\t\t\t\t<sup class='footnote_inline_btn_number'>25<\/sup>\n\t\t\t\t<span id='footnote_btn_text_abstract_footnote_23620_25' class='visually_hide'>Open footnote #25<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/button>\n\t\n\t\t\t<cite id='abstract_footnote_23620_25' class='footnote_content_cite js-footnote-content'>\n\t\t\t\t<span class='footnote_content_wrap'>\n\t\t\t\t\t<button type='button' class='footnote_content_number js-footnote-toggle-btn' aria-controls='abstract_footnote_23620_25' tabindex='-1'>25<\/button>\n\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class='footnote_content_wrap_inner'>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class='footnote_content'>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class='visually_hide'>Footnote #25 content: <\/span>U.S. GOV\u2019T ACCOUNTABILITY OFF., GAO-18-12, BETTER OUTREACH, COLLABORATION, AND INFORMATION NEEDED TO HELP PROTECT WORKERS AT MEAT AND POULTRY PLANTS 34 (2017).\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class='footnote_close_btn_wrap'>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<button type='button' class='footnote_close_btn js-footnote-close-btn' aria-label='Back to content'>close<\/button>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/cite>\n\t\t<\/span>\n\t This Note proposes a statutory amendment to <\/em>require <em>FSIS inspectors to report OSHA violations, and to subject inspectors to oversight from both the Departments of Agriculture and Labor. This proposal would not be a panacea for all the ills of modern slaughterhouse work and would be most effective if paired with other reforms. However, requiring FSIS inspectors to report OSHA violations could meaningfully make workers safer. Embedding worker safety within the FSIS inspection regime would realize the promise of the 1994 MOU by forcing agency action. Enacting this proposal would force the federal government to take a more holistic approach to food safety and strengthen worker safety enforcement for a vulnerable workforce. The Note begins with a discussion of FSIS\u2019s and OSHA\u2019s histories, practices, and challenges in Parts I and II, respectively. Part III outlines a potential reform: amending the statute to require FSIS inspectors to enforce violations of worker safety in slaughterhouses. This reform would address areas of overlap and tension between worker safety and food safety rules and enhance protections for a particularly vulnerable workforce. Part IV addresses counterarguments related to agency capture, overburdening inspectors, and constitutional challenges. Finally, the Note contextualizes this proposal alongside other proposals to improve modern meatpacking and concludes.<\/em><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Continue reading <em><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.law.georgetown.edu\/georgetown-law-journal\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/26\/2025\/04\/Sethi_Broadening-Slaughterhouse-Inspections.pdf\">Broadening Slaughterhouse Inspections<\/a><\/strong><\/em>.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.law.georgetown.edu\/georgetown-law-journal\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/26\/2025\/04\/Sethi_Broadening-Slaughterhouse-Inspections.pdf\" class=\"pdfemb-viewer\" style=\"\" data-width=\"max\" data-height=\"max\" data-toolbar=\"bottom\" data-toolbar-fixed=\"off\">Sethi_Broadening-Slaughterhouse-Inspections<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>On September 3, 1991, a fire erupted inside a poultry plant in Hamlet, North Carolina. 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