safer meat?

on tuesday, july 28, 2009:

U.S. Senator Tom Udall, D-N.M., today introduced legislation giving the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) authority to initiate mandatory meat product recalls. Under current law, USDA does not have the authority to issue a mandatory recall of meat believed to be dangerous. The decision to recall or comply with requests from the USDA to recall unsafe products is left in the hands of food processors. This forces the USDA to engage in time-consuming negotiations with meatpackers before pulling tainted meat from store shelves, and it gives meatpackers an effective veto on recalls.

it should be obvious that we deserve safe meat. safe food, in general. but, if the USDA had this ability, would they use it? they have yet to prove to use their power to protect the consumer. tainted food should leave the shelves immediately. maybe the store owners should face shut-down for lack of cooperation.