Both organisations believe the legislation will put consumers at risk of food borne illnesses and further subject food workers to unsanitary work conditions.

The provision will eliminate a 40-year-old protection in the federal meat and poultry inspection acts that bans state inspected meat and poultry from being sold in interstate commerce. The provision will also allow the vast majority of meat and poultry plants to forgo federal inspection in favor of more lax state inspections, which ultimately puts the health and safety of millions of consumers at risk.

“This amendment will weaken America’s food safety net, pure and simple,” said Michael J. Wilson, UFCW International Vice President and Director of Legislative and Political Action.

“Anyone who pretends that state inspection is the same as federal inspection also believes in the Tooth Fairy. Like a tainted piece of meat, this provision deserves the stamp of rejection," he added.

In addition, the unions says this regulation will encourage thousands of facilities, that are currently federally inspected, to opt for a more ‘friendly’ state inspection.