An undeniable truth: someone will disappoint you at some point in your life. An undeniable falsehood: 9 CFR 416.2(a) prohibits insects and rodents within an official establishment.
Tangles with the USDA: A Member Testimonial
I’d been selling grass-fed meat products for several years and had never had any issues with the USDA. Until one day, I received a phone call from a distraught lady about the photo of our meat that I had posted online. The image was a big pile of meat that had “not for sale” written on…
Appealing FSIS Noncompliance Records
A noncompliance record is the basic building block for FSIS enforcement actions. Like my grandchildren’s LEGO objects, some noncompliance records have purpose; others are pure imagination.
Insanitary Condition
My definition of insanitary condition is not always my wife’s definition of insanitary condition. Not a problem. In our house, my wife’s opinion rules the day. The same should not be true in an official establishment…
Adulterated: The Most Significant Term in Food Law
In 1991, I entered a graduate program in veterinary pathology. I knew the pathological conditions. Recognizing them under a microscope took practice, but I got there. The same is true of the term “adulterated,” arguably the most significant term in food law…
The Devil is Always in the Details: A Member’s Question
Understanding FSIS compliance is a challenging component of farming, and oftentimes can be confusing. Recently, an FTCLDF member had a question regarding the 20,000 exemption for poultry. Dr. Fisher provided a thoughtful, thorough response, and we thought it would be helpful….
Understanding FSIS Language
Fall 1979. I received the book list for my first semester classes in veterinary college. Top of the list: Dorland’s Illustrated Medical Dictionary. That first year, I opened this book more than any other. Regulatory agencies, like medicine, have their own language. Unless you understand that language, you do not know what you are talking….
The Rules of the Game
We are pleased to announce that Dr. Michael Fisher joins the FTCLDF website as a monthly contributor. Dr. Fisher is a retired United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food Safety and Inspection Services (FSIS) veterinarian, bringing decades of experience enforcing FSIS regulations during the slaughter and processing of animals for which the USDA…
An Open Rescue at Long Shadow Farm
The Rameys are dedicated to providing a happy life for their animals and sharing what they have learned through their years of farming with others. The owners frequently host chicken processing workshops welcoming interested foodies, farmers, and people looking to raise birds for meat and eggs to participate and volunteer. On September 17…
Wisconsin DATCP’s Secret Rules
The Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) is commissioned by the state legislature to promote the interests of Wisconsin agriculture. The DATCP’s mission statement describes their effort to “partner with all citizens of Wisconsin to grow the economy by promoting quality food, healthy plants and animals, sound use of land and water resources, and a fair marketplace.” However, as many of our Wisconsin members can attest, DATCP behavior is far from consistent with their virtuous mission statement…