What is the primary objective of meat and poultry inspection?

• A. To regulate labeling accuracy
• B. To ensure consumer nutrition education
• C. To prevent adulteration and misrepresentation of products
• D. To prevent entry of diseased meat into the food chain

Answer: (D)

Preventing diseased meat from entering the food chain is the primary objective because the core purpose of meat and poultry inspection is to protect public health by ensuring that what reaches consumers is safe and wholesome. Inspectors look for signs of disease or spoilage during ante-mortem and post-mortem checks, enforce sanitary handling and processing standards, and condemn or divert any carcasses or products that pose a health risk. While regulating labeling or providing consumer nutrition information, and preventing adulteration or misrepresentation, are important functions in their own right, they are not the central aim of the inspection process. The key outcome inspectors are designed to achieve is stopping diseased meat from being marketed to consumers.