FSIS Issues Inspection And Surveillance Backgrounder

The Agency has issued a backgrounder regarding interim and long term steps it is taking in the wake of the USDA investigation at the Hallmark/Westland facility. - Posted 2/29/08 by AHB

Processed Foods Being Yanked Due To Meat Recall

General Mills, Inc. and Nestle Prepared Foods Co. said on Feb. 26 they initiated recalls of products both companies processed that include meat targeted in the recently announced Hallmark/Westland Meat Packing Co. recall, according to The Wall Street Journal. - Posted 2/28/08 by AHB

Humane Society Suing USDA

The Humane Society of the United States has moved its campaign on downer cattle to a new venue: the courts. - Posted 2/28/08 by AHB

Canada Confirms BSE In 6-Year-Old Dairy Cow

A 6-year-old dairy cow from Alberta is Canada's latest case of bovine spongiform encephalopathy. - Posted 2/27/08 by AHB

Humane Society Grilled On Not Advising USDA About Hallmark

Congressmen repeatedly questioned a representative of the Humane Society of the United States about why the group did not immediately inform USDA of video evidence workers were abusing downed cattle at Hallmark/Westland Meat Packing Co. - Posted 2/26/08 by AHB

FSIS Posts Q&As for Directive 6100.4, Verification Instructions Related to Specified Risk Materials

FSIS has issued Questions and Answers regarding FSIS Directive 6100.4, Verification Instructions Related to Specified Risk Materials, which are meant to provide additional clarification on the Directive. - Posted 2/29/08 by AHB

Food And Agriculture Groups Pen Letter Against USDA User Fees

Twenty-eight food and agriculture groups signed a letter to all members of Congress in opposition to "user fees" proposed by USDA to pay for meat, poultry and egg products inspection. - Posted 2/21/08 by AHB

Hallmark Recall A Topic Of Conversation, Worry In School Cafeterias

Across the country, schools have been pulling beef off their cafeteria menus and children are questioning the safety of processed beef. - Posted 2/21/08 by AHB

Hillary Clinton Calls For More Food Safety Funding, Ban On Downer Cattle Slaughter

Following the massive Hallmark/Westland Meat Packing Co. beef recall, Hillary Clinton listed a series of food safety actions she would take as president, including a 50 percent increase in USDA's food safety budget and a ban on slaughtering downer cattle. - Posted 2/20/08 by AHB

EPA Raises Renewable Fuel Standard For Ethanol

The Environmental Protection Agency said it is raising the 2008 Renewable Fuels Standard for ethanol use to 7.76 percent of the nation's gas supply — from about 4.6 percent estimated in November — to comply with new legislation that requires 9 billion gallons of ethanol production this year. - Posted 2/18/08 by AHB

Hallmark/Westland Recalls 143 Million lbs Of Beef — Largest In History

Chino, Calif.-based Hallmark/Westland Meat Packing Co. has voluntarily recalled about 143,383,823 pounds of raw and frozen beef products that USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service has determined unfit for human food because some of the cattle did not receive complete and proper inspection. - Posted 2/18/08 by AHB

USDA Names New Deputy Under Secretary For Food Safety

Agriculture Secretary Ed Schafer announced the appointment of H. Scott Hurd as deputy under secretary for food safety at the U.S. Department of Agriculture. - Posted 2/13/08 by AHB

Red Meat Consumption To Decrease Over Next Decade: USDA

According to USDA's Agricultural Long-Term Projections to 2017 that was published this week, per capita consumption of beef will decline by nearly five pounds over the next 10 years, but won't significantly shift to other, cheaper proteins. - Posted 2/13/08 by AHB

USDA Budget Proposes New Fees For Processing Plants

The USDA plans to ask lawmakers to approve $96 million in new fees charged to federally inspected meat and poultry processing plants, according to 2009 budget documents. - Posted 2/7/08 by AHB

Farm Bill Conference Committee Members Named

The senators who will serve on the conference committee for the farm bill have been named — the latest step in the bill's long, slow journey through Congress. - Posted 2/7/08 by AHB