Congressman Wants Answers From FSIS On Topps Recall

Sen. Richard Durbin (D-Ill.) is demanding to know why it took so long for the agency to enact the Topps Meat Co. recall and what steps the agency is taking to improve its oversight. - Posted 10/18/07 by AHB

Farm Bill Moves To Senate Ag Committee Next Week

Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman Tom Harkin (D-Iowa) announced key committee members have agreed on a framework for the Senate version of the farm bill, enabling the legislation to go to committee for consideration as early as next week. - Posted 10/18/07 by AHB

Grass-Fed Marketing Claim Standard To Go Into Effect Next Month

USDA's Agricultural Marketing Service is establishing a voluntary standard for a grass-fed livestock marketing claim. - Posted 10/17/07 by AHB

North Dakota Ag Leader Refutes Campaign Against State-Inspected Meat

Roger Johnson, North Dakota's agriculture commissioner and president of the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture, said print and radio ads calling state-inspected meat a health hazard to consumers are false. - Posted 10/17/07 by AHB

Schumer Calls For 'Immediate Action' To Improve Meat Safety

Calling USDA a "toothless tiger" when it comes to food safety, Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) demanded "immediate action" to improve federal oversight of meat and poultry products. - Posted 10/16/07 by AHB

USDA To Check Plant Procedures On E. coli In The Next 30 Days

USDA plans to distribute new safety checklists to its on-site inspectors and within a month retrieve data that could lead to more food safety inspections of facilities that don't implement certain "best practices" to control E. coli O157:H7 contamination. - Posted 10/11/07 by AHB

House Farm Bill Provision On Meat Inspection A Sticking Point In Senate

The Senate Agriculture Committee begins work Thursday on the 2007 Farm Bill under pressure to forego a House bill provision that would allow some state-inspected meat to cross state lines. - Posted 10/4/07 by AHB

Senate Farm Bill To Include Food Safety Commission: Harkin

Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman Tom Harkin (D-Iowa) said he would mandate a presidential commission on food safety in the Senate version of the 2007 farm bill. - Posted 10/3/07 by AHB

More E. coli Cases Surface In Wake Of Ground Beef Recall, USDA Searching For Suppliers

Two more cases of illness have been reported that are likely connected to frozen ground beef Topps Meat Co. recalled last week on E. coli contamination concerns, bringing the total suspected or confirmed cases to 27. - Posted 10/3/07 by AHB