Horrifying 🥺 I’m a pastured poultry farmer & my background is in public health. Increasing line speeds @ processing facilities will only lead to more injuries for workers and food borne illness for the general public.
Because our farm is “small” (400-500 chickens/week), we process at a USDA facility for smaller producers. The line speeds at these facilities are slower when compared to industrial operations (E.g. Purdue, Tyson). Slower line speeds allow staff more time to inspect poultry.
I do NOT trust large commercial/industrial farms to act with integrity. They have a history of placing profit over animal welfare and the wellbeing of the general public. While I encourage folks to support local for a variety of reasons, I know that is not financially or logistically attainable for many families. If *only* we could get the govt to subsidize small family farms over big Ag….
From a public health perspective, I fear these policies will cause grave harm, particularly for marginalized communities and immunocompromised individuals 😢
For a historical perspective, you might also consider The Poison Squad, a PBS documentary that tells the story of Dr. Harvey Wiley, a government chemist who fought for food safety in the early 20th century. His efforts were instrumental in the creation of the FDA and the establishment of consumer protection laws. 
Internal Medicine Physician here who agrees 100% with your take on this and your outstanding Instagram reels. There is so much erroneous information being promulgated by MAHA at the same time as they unwind protections and gloss over the real changes that would benefit America. You are my new girl-crush. Please continue sounding the alarm with great facts and science.
I lived in China when there was a wave of food scandals. Melamine in milk and formula that was added to falsely increase the protein count of watered down, rancid milk. Bread products that had stuff like cardboard added to them. It taught me that (1) even when human (child!) lives are on the line, there are producers that will cut corners and (2) life is so much HARDER when you can’t trust a government food safety system. People were getting on planes and flying back suitcases filled with formula and powdered milk from other countries. Neighboring countries put limits on how much non-citizens could buy. It CAN happen here, if we don’t invest in our food safety.
I have worked in the UK for NSF and as a Local Govt Env Health Officer and know how self or approved regulation is corrupted by the inspector - client relationship. Local govt can enforce in a consistent manner. we have a mechanism within and between local authorities to monitor and control variance and also legal enforcement is checked by notices being heard by local magistrates before enforcement penalties can be applied.
I am also struck by the success of our (in the UK) displays of food hygiene ratings (1-5) on the windows of catering and retail food businesses. Despite initial concern from the trade associations the business owners actually now value their scores and see it as LG actually supporting and promoting the well-run high scoring businesses rather than just acting to regulate and restrict free trade.
It sounds like this ought to be understood more by MAHA. We are even publishing inspectors' inspection notes on the rationale that the public have a right to know what publicly funded inspectors are finding in consumer facing businesses. Furthermore I would personally like to see the photographs we take published on the grounds that pictures show what has been found 'behind the counter' more than officers' written reports. I have found that even food businesses with very good standards find the prospect of this a little 'overwhelming'. Maybe an offer for those highest scoring businesses to be offered a chance for the photographs taken from their inspection to be displayed on the LG website would be further promotion of good practice and the public (consumer) could then make up its own mind about those food businesses not offered or refusing to allow their inspection photographs to be published.
I figured this would be about plastic, right? It’s a public health hazard on a scale that dwarfs even lead and affects almost every living organism- plant, animal, fungi— on the entire planet.
Recent studies suggest its role in stroke, organ failure, cancer, dementia, endocrine problems, is increasingly documented and expanding.
It’s 2025. We all need to be appreciating the global catastrophic consequences of plastic l.
Thank You Jessica, our food safety should be at the top of our concerns, especially to parents, the food for children is not always safe, some of the poisons corps put on our food, can damage their health and minds. Best to do a bit of research on this subject, before you start putting it on the table. Thank You for all that you do, for good health.
As I sit at my desk staring at my HACCP plan that is almost finished, I am exhausted. I have been working hard on something so important to our small food bank. My coworkers laugh about my connection to food safety. Now it might not matter. Organizations like ours will still go by the book to ensure safety for our customers. Yet, other larger businesses could have the potential to harm so many people.
Horrifying 🥺 I’m a pastured poultry farmer & my background is in public health. Increasing line speeds @ processing facilities will only lead to more injuries for workers and food borne illness for the general public.
Because our farm is “small” (400-500 chickens/week), we process at a USDA facility for smaller producers. The line speeds at these facilities are slower when compared to industrial operations (E.g. Purdue, Tyson). Slower line speeds allow staff more time to inspect poultry.
I do NOT trust large commercial/industrial farms to act with integrity. They have a history of placing profit over animal welfare and the wellbeing of the general public. While I encourage folks to support local for a variety of reasons, I know that is not financially or logistically attainable for many families. If *only* we could get the govt to subsidize small family farms over big Ag….
From a public health perspective, I fear these policies will cause grave harm, particularly for marginalized communities and immunocompromised individuals 😢
As always, thank you for your reporting, Jessica!
Please watch:
For a historical perspective, you might also consider The Poison Squad, a PBS documentary that tells the story of Dr. Harvey Wiley, a government chemist who fought for food safety in the early 20th century. His efforts were instrumental in the creation of the FDA and the establishment of consumer protection laws. 
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLmh4YIWteoGhzAEIYNi0kOiqAwphqypk8&si=rnXh2h5VNcB31exc
Internal Medicine Physician here who agrees 100% with your take on this and your outstanding Instagram reels. There is so much erroneous information being promulgated by MAHA at the same time as they unwind protections and gloss over the real changes that would benefit America. You are my new girl-crush. Please continue sounding the alarm with great facts and science.
I lived in China when there was a wave of food scandals. Melamine in milk and formula that was added to falsely increase the protein count of watered down, rancid milk. Bread products that had stuff like cardboard added to them. It taught me that (1) even when human (child!) lives are on the line, there are producers that will cut corners and (2) life is so much HARDER when you can’t trust a government food safety system. People were getting on planes and flying back suitcases filled with formula and powdered milk from other countries. Neighboring countries put limits on how much non-citizens could buy. It CAN happen here, if we don’t invest in our food safety.
Please review this article. This is propaganda. Claiming ultra processed is a few dyes.
https://www.food-safety.com/articles/10322-arizona-passes-law-banning-sale-of-some-ultra-processed-foods-in-schools
I have worked in the UK for NSF and as a Local Govt Env Health Officer and know how self or approved regulation is corrupted by the inspector - client relationship. Local govt can enforce in a consistent manner. we have a mechanism within and between local authorities to monitor and control variance and also legal enforcement is checked by notices being heard by local magistrates before enforcement penalties can be applied.
I am also struck by the success of our (in the UK) displays of food hygiene ratings (1-5) on the windows of catering and retail food businesses. Despite initial concern from the trade associations the business owners actually now value their scores and see it as LG actually supporting and promoting the well-run high scoring businesses rather than just acting to regulate and restrict free trade.
It sounds like this ought to be understood more by MAHA. We are even publishing inspectors' inspection notes on the rationale that the public have a right to know what publicly funded inspectors are finding in consumer facing businesses. Furthermore I would personally like to see the photographs we take published on the grounds that pictures show what has been found 'behind the counter' more than officers' written reports. I have found that even food businesses with very good standards find the prospect of this a little 'overwhelming'. Maybe an offer for those highest scoring businesses to be offered a chance for the photographs taken from their inspection to be displayed on the LG website would be further promotion of good practice and the public (consumer) could then make up its own mind about those food businesses not offered or refusing to allow their inspection photographs to be published.
I figured this would be about plastic, right? It’s a public health hazard on a scale that dwarfs even lead and affects almost every living organism- plant, animal, fungi— on the entire planet.
Recent studies suggest its role in stroke, organ failure, cancer, dementia, endocrine problems, is increasingly documented and expanding.
It’s 2025. We all need to be appreciating the global catastrophic consequences of plastic l.
Thank You Jessica, our food safety should be at the top of our concerns, especially to parents, the food for children is not always safe, some of the poisons corps put on our food, can damage their health and minds. Best to do a bit of research on this subject, before you start putting it on the table. Thank You for all that you do, for good health.
glad you are on Substack.
I will repost a couple of your Facebook entries to share your work. then Unfollow you on Facebook.
THIS is where I will follow you. Will probably upgrade to paid subscriber shortly.
As I sit at my desk staring at my HACCP plan that is almost finished, I am exhausted. I have been working hard on something so important to our small food bank. My coworkers laugh about my connection to food safety. Now it might not matter. Organizations like ours will still go by the book to ensure safety for our customers. Yet, other larger businesses could have the potential to harm so many people.