By Ros Krasny WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced on Thursday reforms to decades-old processes for inspecting poultry facilities in a bid to cut down on the number of foodborne illnesses, but dropped an industry-backed plan to speed up production. The move could prevent as many as 5,000 foodborne illnesses each year, USDA officials said. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said the plan "imposes stricter requirements on the poultry industry and places our trained inspectors where they can better ensure food is being processed safely." The agriculture department said maximum line speeds for chicken and turkey processing plants operated by companies such as Tyson Foods, Pilgrim's Pride, Sanderson Farms and Foster Farms would remain capped at 140 birds per minute "in response to public comment." Tom Brown, president of the National Chicken Council, said not allowing faster speeds meant "that politics have trumped sound science." A successful U.S. pilot program had been conducted with plants operating at 175 birds per minute, and broiler plants in several other countries "operate at line speeds of 200 or more birds per minute," Brown said. via Health News Headlines - Yahoo News Read More Here..
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