Chicago/Washington: The Trump administration has announced plans to make faster processing speeds at U.S. poultry and pork plants permanent, a decision that has sparked concerns among labor and food safety advocates. The move is seen as a victory for major meat companies and industry groups such as the National Chicken Council, which have long lobbied for increased line speeds to boost production efficiency.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) stated that it will begin the process of making permanent the higher speeds currently allowed at some facilities through waivers. Under these waivers, chicken plants can process up to 175 birds per minute, up from the previous limit of 140. The USDA also confirmed that it would extend existing waivers, allowing facilities to “meet demand without excessive government interference.”
While the USDA maintains that there is no direct link between processing speeds and workplace injuries, worker unions and advocacy organizations argue that faster line speeds increase the risk of serious harm. Meatpacking employees, many of whom are immigrants and undocumented workers, perform repetitive tasks in extreme conditions using sharp tools, making them highly vulnerable to stress-related injuries and accidents.
“Increased line speeds will hurt workers – it’s not a maybe, it’s a definite,” said Stuart Appelbaum, president of the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union, which represents 15,000 poultry workers.
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During his first term, President Donald Trump introduced a rule in 2019 allowing pork plants to operate without restrictions on processing speeds. However, in 2021, a federal judge blocked the rule following a legal challenge from labor unions. The Biden administration later permitted six pork plants to operate at higher speeds under a trial program, collecting data on worker injuries.
Industry representatives argue that making the increased speeds permanent will provide stability for pork producers. The National Pork Producers Council has welcomed the move, citing the need for consistent regulations that support production.
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A USDA-funded study released in January highlighted that pork and poultry plant workers face greater risks of musculoskeletal disorders, including carpal tunnel syndrome, compared to other manufacturing workers. Among six pork plants studied, increased line speeds were linked to higher risks for workers at one facility and lower risks at another, with no statistically significant impact at four others. For poultry plants, the study found no correlation between greater speeds and increased worker risks.
However, broader data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics indicate that in 2022, occupational illness cases in the animal slaughtering and processing industry were six times higher than the average across all industries, underscoring ongoing concerns about worker safety in the sector.
