USDA Cuts Red Tape On Meat Processing

U.S. pig and poultry processing speed could get a whole lot faster. 

Breaking barriers: The Trump administration announced plans to speed up poultry and hog slaughter permanently. The USDA will start a process that allows for faster processing speeds. 

Under the new rule, poultry plants with a waiver can process up to 175 birds per minute, compared to 140. Currently, hog processing cannot exceed 1,106 head per hour. The goal is to ensure packers can meet demand without government interference. 

Industry advocates say that time is money. And pork producers could incur up to $10 per head in additional losses without the program. 

The National Pork Producers Council has advocated for faster line speeds since 2019.

Hogwash: Not everyone is celebrating the rule, though. The Retail, Wholesale, and Department Store Union said faster slaughter lines would hurt workers and jeopardize food safety. The union said the new rules would not promote worker safety, and “facilities cannot operate at these speeds without increased staffing, which cannot happen the way they are constructed now.”

Soundbite: “Under President Trump’s leadership, we are cutting unnecessary red tape, empowering businesses to operate more efficiently, and strengthening American agriculture—all while upholding the highest food safety standards.” — USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins

Where this goes: The USDA said the rulemaking to formalize the increases will begin immediately. Additionally, the agency’s Food Safety and Inspection Service will no longer require plants to submit worker safety data.