The government has made permanent the policy of allowing meat companies to replace government inspectors with their own employees, a move that began as emergency measures during the COVID-19 pandemic. This decision prioritizes industry profits over worker health, as it has been found that plants with higher line speeds were more likely to have coronavirus outbreaks. The industry's influence over pandemic policy was revealed through investigations, showing that meatpacking plants were responsible for a significant number of COVID-19 cases and deaths.

The practical impact of fewer inspectors means that company employees have taken over tasks previously performed by federal workers, causing concerns about food safety and worker well-being. While the meat industry argues that these changes improve efficiency and safety standards, consumer advocates remain skeptical, especially as foodborne illnesses from foods like chicken have been on the rise. The long-term effects of reduced federal oversight and expanded industry self-inspection on worker and consumer safety remain to be seen.