US Food Authorities Allow Tainted Meat in Supermarkets, Says Report

Food inspectors in the US have failed to test beef for 23 pesticides before allowing them into the supermarkets, according to an USDA official.

USDA inspector general Phyllis K Fong said inspectors charged with checking cattle for disease and meats for contaminants are unable to determine if meat has unacceptable levels of potentially hazardous substances.

Non-regulation of permissible standards of dangerous substances such as copper and dioxin has led to these toxic materials entering the country’s food chain, Fong said.

The audit report cited instances when inspectors found beef containing excessive levels of contaminants, but declined to recall it.

The report also found copper made its way into US beef.