I got a letter in the mail last week from John Munsell, sometimes referred to as the “Meat Maverick." In the short hand-written note he advised me he was dissolving F.A.R.E and freeing himself from the “meat arena."

For those who might not know, FARE was John’s creation and stands for Foundation for Accountability and Regulatory Enforcement, a name whose acronym was intended to make people realize that FARE is all about “FAIR-ness” for small plants.

I believe FARE was formed after John’s meat plant in Miles City, Mont., was basically shut down by FSIS for a positive E coli O157:H7 sample found in ground beef. While not technically shut down, John was not allowed to grind for four months.

I googled FARE to try and confirm its origin, but all I got was Food Allergy and Research Education. I am pretty sure FARE was a one-man operation.

John maintained the positive sample came from a very large slaughter plant, and was just a part of a larger problem that could become a more widespread contamination originating at that large facility.

Turns out he was right. A very large, 19.1-million-pound recall was announced four months later for that source plant after an E coli O157:H7 foodborne illness outbreak.

Across the stationary with FARE as the letter head is written FORCE THE SOURCE. The letterhead also says that “True science benefits all." ‘Nuff said.

John sued the FSIS at USDA while I was the undersecretary for food safety (the positive sample was before my time) and lost. I am still not certain why he did not win.

I met with him while the lawsuit was still active, much to the dismay of many of the career folks at FSIS. We became friends, and remain so to this day.

John has been a frequent responder to my Meatingplace blogs, usually in support but occasionally to clarify or set the record straight.

John continued to pursue the “force the source” idea and ultimately won when Acting Undersecretary Al Almanza announced a change in policy that would do just that.

The Meat Maverick won, but he never returned to being president of Montana Quality Foods and Processing, as he sold the plant and just worked there part time while pursuing equity and FARE treatment for small plants across the country.

Needless to say, John despises the Office of Field Operations and its long time administrator. He also abhors FSIS-style HACCP. John has maintained all along that HACCP, as it is used in the meat industry, is not true HACCP.

Here’s hoping that John does not completely free himself from the “meat arena." Voices like John’s, championing the smaller, underdog plants, need to be heard to keep FSIS honest.

I won’t say to keep FSIS “transparent” because I have come to hate that word, and words like “with an abundance of caution," words used when one has nothing smarter to say.

John, you have a lot of smart things to say. Please do not disappear.

Is this goodbye to the 'Meat Maverick'?

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