The USDA-FSIS has approved faster line-speeds for hog plants in Pennsylvania, Minnesota and Nebraska.
A previous 2019 rule allowing line-speeds faster than 1,106 hogs per hour was invalidated in 2021 following a petition from the United Food and Commercial Workers Union, alleging safety issues although with no justification or substantiation for the claim.
The Union has accepted the higher line speeds subject to increasing staffing, representing a compromise, although adding to cost borne by both shareholders of packing companies and ultimately consumers.