USDA Certain Poultry Products at Gold Kist Safe

February 14, 2000

Poultry products from two Gold Kist plants in Alabama are safe, says Thomas J. Billy, Administrator, USDA. s Food Safety and Inspection Service. He called allegations to the contrary "disturbing because they call into question the quality and safety of the products we regulate."

According to a REUTERS article, the Austin (TX) American Statesman reported last week that school children in Texas and 30 other states were being fed chicken nuggets made in part from diseased poultry at Gold Kist plants in Alabama. The newspaper quoted federal inspectors at the plants who said the food was unwholesome because it was made with small amounts of meat from chickens with sores, bruises and pus.

"I want to assure the public that we have excellent controls over meat and poultry products in plants operating under a HACCP(hazard analysis and critical control point) program as well as in plants operating under the traditional system," said Billy. "As a result of ... stringent oversight, meat and poultry products that enter commerce can be eaten with confidence."

He added that such controls and oversight included products for the National School Lunch Program. "We have no reason to believe product leaving these Gold Kist plants is anything other than safe and wholesome."

For the past five years, Billy continued, FSIS has "pursued a strategy for change, successfully implementing the prevention-oriented food safety system known as HACCP in all plants across the country." Under the system, FSIS sets standards for food safety and other consumer protection concerns and through inspection verifies that plants are meeting the standards.

"Finally, I want to commend Gold Kist, Inc., in Guntersville, AL, and the other plants that have volunteered to permit the agency to demonstrate the value of the new system in their facilities," said Billy. "These plants have the foresight to recognize that improving food safety and quality benefits all of us, and we appreciate their cooperation."