Laws in place today make meat processing the most highly regulated sector of the American food industry. Because contaminated meat has the potential to cause serious illness and even death among thousands of consumers, the development of an effective, federally regulated meat inspection program was a critical step in the prevention of food-borne illness in the United States. Indeed, America is now widely considered to have the safest meat supply in the world.

Beginning in the late 1800s, when exported salt pork and bacon were subject to inspection for trichinosis, federal laws have mandated the inspection of meat to prevent the spread of food-borne illnesses. Because meat is subject to contamination at many points during processing, careful inspection is necessary to ensure that consumers purchase a wholesome product free from food-borne pathogens. While the benefits to public health are undeniable, the passage of federal meat inspection laws has...