Full production of meat-based baby food at the Beech-Nut Nutrition Corp. plant in Canajoharie will resume after the United States Department of Agriculture agreed to
temporarily increase the number of inspectors at the plant while a permanent solution is worked out, a spokesman for U.S. Sen. Charles E. Schumer said this afternoon.
Production had been cut back after the USDA did away with a program last spring that allowed for roving inspectors, after concerns were raised about food safety. Of the 145 plants
nationwide affected by the change, all but Beech-Nut were able to work around it, through such means as sharing inspectors so one was always present during production.
“I’m thrilled that the USDA has heeded our request and will be installing a temporary second inspector shift so Beech-Nut can operate at full capacity while the details for a final
solution are hammered out,” Schumer said.