Which agency provides consumer protection by preventing the entry of diseased meat into the food chain?

• A. AVIC
• B. FSIS
• C. NVSL
• D. SAHO

Answer: (B)

Protecting consumers by keeping diseased meat out of the food supply is the job of the meat safety inspection system. The agency that does this in the United States is FSIS, a part of the USDA. Its core role is to inspect slaughter and processing facilities, perform postmortem examinations to detect disease in carcasses, and ensure that only wholesome, properly processed, and properly labeled products enter commerce. If meat is found to be diseased or adulterated, it is condemned or detained and cannot be sold, and recalls can be initiated to prevent exposure. This active on-site inspection and enforcement framework is what directly prevents diseased meat from reaching consumers.

Other agencies have different functions. For example, the National Veterinary Services Laboratory focuses on disease testing and surveillance to support animal health and trade, rather than the day-to-day consumer protections at the point of production and sale. The remaining agencies perform roles that are related to animal health or international health coordination but do not directly manage the consumer-protection step of preventing diseased meat from entering the food chain.