The importance of veterinarians in food safety
The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) supports the United States Department of Agriculture Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) public health veterinary workforce hiring efforts by recommending that FSIS implement the three actions below to resolve the recruiting and retention issues when hiring veterinarians in FSIS:
- All slaughter plants must be under the direct supervision of a supervisory public health veterinarian (SPHV). Federal veterinarians, as animal and public health professionals, are uniquely equipped to lead the inspection and food safety processes necessary to protect Americans' food source.
- Remuneration and incentives of SPHVs must be immediately improved to be commensurate with their extensive education and expertise and to be competitive with the private sector.
- Administrative time and support for annual professional continuing education and training are essential to retaining SPHVs.