Lean Trimmings and Herd on the Hill
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Lean Trimmings Edited by Lauron Early March 8, 2010 MERRIGAN TOURS UTAH MEAT PLANTS Last week, NMA CEO Barry Carpenter accompanied USDA Deputy Secretary Kathleen Merrigan to visit two NMA members in Utah, while the Deputy was in that State on other ag-related business. She was accompanied on the visits by Arthur Douglas, USDA Farm Service Agency State Director; Orrin Evans, USDA Press and State of Utah Commissioner of Agriculture and Food Leonard Blackham. First, they visited JBS-Swift in Hyrum, UT. Prior to an in-depth plant tour led by Plant Manager Jerry Peterson, Head of Technical Services John Ruby, and Head of Plant Operations Elliott Keller. The JBS staff presented the overall operations and corporate philosophy of JBS. Ruby highlighted the many actions being taken by JBS to assure a high quality safe product. During the plant tour Jerry Peterson guided Merrigan through every step of harvest and fabrication that occurs in this large facility. Ms. Merrigan was particularly interested to observe the many interventions that are part of the system to reduce pathogens. She also was very interested to observe the humane handling and stunning of the cattle. While touring the harvest floor she spoke with USDA inspectors and discussed their responsibilities. During the review of the sales coolers she observed the USDA graders in action (see picture below). The group then visited Stone Meats in Ogden, UT and were welcomed by Owner/Manager Burke Stone who also serves as an NMA Director, and his parents. Once again, Ms. Merrigan was particularly interested to observe firsthand the grinding operations at this family business, and she noted that a large portion of their raw materials come from the JBS facility in Hyrum. She made sure to visit with USDA officials at both locations. JOB FUNDING FOR SMALL BUSINESSES The Oakland Tribune reports that, starting last Wednesday morning, free information seminars began in Alameda County for a program that it says every county in America should adopt. Guided by the Tri-Valley Community Foundation, the Tri-Valley Business Council and Alameda County, the American Family Recovery Project will use federal stimulus money from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to subsidize 80 percent of wages and payroll taxes for new hires now through Sept. 30. According to the Tribune report, the program could not be any easier to use, and the returns are more immediate than most job subsidies, according to Tri-Valley Business Council CEO Toby Brink. The only real hard and fast rules with this particular program is that new hires must be eligible to work in the U.S., residents of Alameda County and have at least one dependent under the age of 18. There's also a household income limit, but anyone unemployed for more than 30 days would qualify. That's the list of rules. Any business, no matter the size or location, is eligible for this program. There is no cap on how many jobs a company can fill using the program. To find out more, visit http://www.amfamproject.org/. HARKIN PUSHING FOOD SAFETY ACT Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) said last week that, if all goes well, the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act, S. 510, will be "on the President's desk by May." Harkin is chairman of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP), which unanimously approved this bill in November just after the House passed a version of it. Since then the legislation has been stuck on the far side of the health care debate. NEW RESEARCH REVEALED AT NCBA’S ANNUAL BEEF SAFETY SUMMIT Research revealed at NCBA’s Annual Beef Safety Summit showed that essential oils in orange peels and pulp kill E. coli O157:H7 and Salmonella. Todd Callaway, lead researcher from USDA’s Agricultural Research Service, found that dietary orange peel and pulp reduced Salmonella populations in the intestinal tract of sheep. Callaway expects to see similar results on the next phase of the study that will be conducted on E. coli O157:H7, The citrus research is one of thirteen safety studies funded by cattle farmers and ranchers in 2009. The ongoing study is looking at these natural orange byproducts as potential feed ingredients for cattle, as reported by NCBA. PORKRETAIL.ORG The National Pork Board has created a website for retailers selling pork and pork products. The website will provide assistance in supporting and increasing pork sales. The site, porkretail.org, features industry background, merchandising, promotions, research and other information to help in maximizing pork sales. All of this is presented in an easy-to-navigate design, as well, and will continue to adapt and evolve. Currently visitors will find generic seasonal point-of-sale materials, including a meat case sign, recipe brochure and poster. Retailers can print off the PDF on the site, or order larger quantities. There is also a section on trends in consumer shopping habits, sales and volume trends and creative merchandising opportunities. More than ever, the meat department requires information in real time. www.porkretail.org provides instant access to the tools needed to succeed. 2010 BEEF INDUSTRY SUMMIT NMA’s Regulatory Associate Director, Ken Mastracchio attended the 2010 Beef Industry Summit hosted by the Beef Industry Food Safety Council (BIFSCo) held March 3rd - 5th in Dallas Texas. The Summit included scientists, researchers, government officials, academics and various service providers. Topics included beef safety, new technology, recalls, traceability, and regulatory updates. There was a forum on antibiotics, issues update and a pre-harvest symposium. Speakers included FSIS Administrator Alfred Almanza, Dr. Kerri Harris, Dr. Gary Acuff, Dr. Dave Theno, Dr. James (Bo) Reagan, Dr. James Marsden, Dr. Jeff Savell, and Mr. Luis Zamora. Mr. Almanza and Dr. Harris discussed validation and the roll out of the Public Health Information System (PHIS), as well as the issues update with NCBA on everything from consumer preferences to the political scene on Capitol Hill. ENGELJOHN TO SPEAK AT E. COLI MINI-CONFERENCE Dr. Dan Engeljohn of the FSIS Office of Policy and Program Development has been added to the program for the E. coli O157:H7 Mini-Conference on March 18th at the Drake Hotel in Chicago, IL. This conference is sponsored by NAMP and supported by seven other leading industry associations, including NMA. Engeljohn was a late addition to the program to cover details about FSIS recent initiatives on E. coli O157:H7, including important information about plans to traceback to the supplier when an inspector finds positive product at a downstream grinder. He also will participate with the other speakers in a panel discussion and question and answer session. Members are invited to attend for the E. coli Conference and stay for the two-day NAMP Meat Industry Management Conference that follows. Single day passes for the Management Conference are available. Day one focuses on food safety with Dr. Engeljohn; Dr. Jim Marsden, Regent’s Distinguished Professor of Meat Science at Kansas State University, and other issue leaders. Day two focuses on foodservice trends with the executive chefs of three top Chicago restaurant groups, marketing, and red meat market outlook issues. For more information and NAMP Conference registration fees go to www.namp.com. NEW E. COLI TEST DEVELOPED DuPont Qualicon has developed, in collaboration with USDA Agricultural Research Service, a new rapid test to check for E.coli O157:H7 contamination in beef, lettuce and spinach. The test has been validated on industry standard sizes of ground beef, beef trim, lettuce and spinach that were spiked at 1-2 cells per portion. The company said its new BAX System assay uses real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technology to quickly detect all known E. coli O157:H7, even typical strains that can be missed by some other tests. It has also been found to perform as well or better than the reference culture methods, according to MeatProcess.com. Herd On The Hill USER FEES OPPOSED On February 1, 2010, the Obama Administration released its FY 2011 USDA budget proposal, including a request for “user fees” for government mandated food safety inspection programs for meat, poultry and egg processors. These fees represent a food safety tax on consumers as well as meat, poultry and egg processors. National Meat Association adopted a policy opposing these user fees at its 64th Annual Convention in February and can be viewed on our website at www.nmaonline.org/nma. Furthermore, NMA has joined a coalition of more than 20 like-minded associations in taking their opposition directly to the legislators responsible for reviewing the Administration's proposal. Currently, we know of no farm or industry organization that supports imposing a tax to pay for meat, poultry and egg products inspection. The association sent a letter last week to urge Congress to continue to oppose proposals that assess new user fees, either in whole or in part, to fund federally mandated meat, poultry or egg products inspection. SWISS REJECT ANIMAL RIGHTS LAW Swiss voters on Sunday rejected a referendum that would have compelled lawyers to defend the rights of animals. If the referendum had passed, each of the country’s 26 cantons would have had to hire official animal lawyers to represent pets, farm animals, and wildlife in court, as reported by the Wall Street Journal. JOHANNS SPEAKS ON JAPAN’S BAN ON U.S. BEEF Senator Mike Johanns (R-NE) told United States Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood that maybe it's time for us to tell the Japanese to allow our beef in or we will treat Japanese produced Toyotas in the same way. There has never been a death in Japan because of the single case of a Canadian cow found with BSE in this country. Yet the Japanese have shut out US beef from their country and the market remains mostly closed to this day, over six years later, as reported by The Land. FSIS HOST PUBLIC MEETING ON E. COLI FSIS published a Federal Register notice on March 8th announcing that it will hold a public meeting on March 10, 2010 from 8:30am to 1:00pm to discuss Agency procedures for identifying suppliers of source material used to produce raw beef product that FSIS has found positive for E. coli O157:H7. FSIS will also discuss additional verification activities the Agency will conduct at suppliers in response to positive E. coli O157:H7 results. In addition, FSIS will seek input from meeting participants on ways to improve Agency procedures for identifying product that may be positive for E. coli O157:H7. This Notice can be viewed at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2010/2010-4781.htm. Comments regarding this meeting are due by May 7, 2010. FDA PLANS FOR HUGE SALMONELLA RECALL On March 4th, the FDA held a short teleconference to provide guidance to the industry on dealing with the hydrolyzed vegetable protein (HVP) that was recalled by Basic Food Flavors, Inc for potential Salmonella contamination. The agency has stated that: • Ingredients that contain HVP from BFF (e.g. seasoning blends) can be used in products to be heated or otherwise treated to inactivate Salmonella. At this time, this applies to ready-to-cook (RTC) products as well as ready-to-eat (RTE) products. • HVP (bulk, raw) in the same form as received from BFF must be reconditioned prior to its use in a spice blend or in a product. • Products currently “on hold” that have been heated to inactivate Salmonella can be released. As of Friday, March 5th, fifty six processed products were posted on the agency’s website for HVP recalls at www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/MajorProductRecalls/HVP/default.htm. The FDA has also drafted a guidance document that can be viewed on the agency’s website at www.fda.gov/Food/ResourcesForYou/FoodIndustry/ucm203201.htm. NMA members who use HVP and have questions are encouraged to speak with NMA Regulatory staff in the Oakland Office. The OFW memo regarding this recall can be found in the members-only section of our website at www.nmaonline.org. FDA TO PROSECUTE UNDER "STRICT LIABILITY" The Food and Drug Administration said it plans to increase it enforcement and prosecution of food and pharmaceutical executives as part of an effort to beef up its criminal division, reports the Wall Street Journal. In a letter to Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA), the FDA said it will "increase the appropriate use of prosecutions, which allows responsible corporate officials to be held accountable" under a provision called 'strict liability' that doesn't require the government to show intent to defraud. The letter went on to say that the Agency intends to apply the provision thoughtfully and doesn't want to be viewed as overly aggressive, but that the provision has been underutilized in recent years. |
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