If a meat processor were to spend $16 million a year on vaccines for its cattle to prevent bacterial contamination, but a recall still takes place due to contamination further down the line, is the earlier pre-harvest investment worth it?
That is the dilemma meat and poultry processors have been grappling with since the USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) instituted tougher standards in 2005 (and which are due to be further enhanced shortly).