Title 21 › CHAPTER 12 — MEAT INSPECTION › SUBCHAPTER I — INSPECTION REQUIREMENTS; ADULTERATION AND MISBRANDING › § 604
The Secretary must have trained inspectors examine the carcasses and parts of covered animals at slaughterhouses, meat-canning, salting, packing, rendering, and similar plants in any State, Territory, or the District of Columbia when the meat is offered as human food. If an inspector finds the meat safe, the plant must mark it to show it passed inspection. If the meat is unsafe, the inspector must mark it as condemned and the plant must destroy it in the inspector’s presence. Inspectors can recheck meat later, and if it becomes unsafe it must again be destroyed in front of an inspector. If a plant fails to destroy condemned meat, the Secretary may remove inspectors from that plant.
Full Legal Text
Food and Drugs, Source: USLM XML via OLRC
Legislative History
Reference
Citation
21 U.S.C. § 604
Title 21, Food and Drugs
Last Updated
Aug 21, 2026
Release point: 119-102