000240 Supreme Resumes Sales After ShutdownFebruary 19, 2000Washington - A Texas meatpacking plant has satisfied federal officials with changes it is making in its pathogen-control system since the government unsuccessfully tried to shut the facility down. The Agriculture Department withdrew its inspectors from the Supreme Beef Processors Inc. plant in Dallas Nov. 30, effectively closing the facility, but was forced to send them back when a judge granted a temporary restraining order. The plant had failed a series of salmonella tests. Supreme Beef will be allowed to resume sales of ground beef to the federal school lunch program. Supreme Beef was one of the program's largest suppliers until USDA cut off purchases at the same time it tried to close the facility. USDA officials said Monday that the plant has modified its pathogen control plan to prevent salmonella contamination. Inspectors “will closely monitor the implementation” and conduct another round of salmonella testing, said Thomas Billy, administrator of USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service. Supreme Beef says that it was not responsible for the salmonella and that the government had no right to shut it down. The company has no plans to drop a lawsuit against USDA that is scheduled to go to trial in May, said the firm's president, Steven F. Spiritas. Supreme Beef had agreed to make the changes it is making before USDA tried to shut the plant down, he said.
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