USDA To Provide Additional Funding For Animal ID Program

The U.S. Department of Agriculture is providing an additional $1.5 million for national animal identification system. - Posted 10/29/04 by JBW

Brakes On Beef?

Despite an agreement to resume beef trade, U.S. beef may not appear in Japan for some time. - Posted 10/29/04 by JBW

Niche Marketing Guidance

U.S. pork group will host a conference to help the industry serve small, specialty markets. - Posted 10/28/04 by JBW

Anti-dumping Duties Will Add $2 to $3 To Cost Of Hogs In U.S. Market

The net result of the duties, which are not expected to be levied until 2006, will be a suppression of hog-raising in Canada, which will in turn create a price increase of $2 to $3 per animal in the United States, as supplies decrease. - Posted 10/27/04 by JBW

Perspective

The meat industry has garnished little attention during the current presidential campaign but will be greatly affected by the outcome of the election, Meat Processing editor Steve Bjerklie says. - Posted 10/27/04 by JBW

Taiwan To Open Border To U.S. Beef Exports

According to USDA, the Taiwanese have agreed to reopen trade quickly but want to inspect major features and implementation of U.S. measures to control exposure to BSE. - Posted 10/27/04 by JBW

  

Taiwan Beef Deal Still Unclear

The USDA's dramatic announcement that Taiwan will reopen its borders has left the industry hungry for details. - Posted 10/27/04 by JBW

Bush v Kerry: Food Production and Safety Policies Examined

The US election has been dominated by Iraq and fears over international terrorism, but whoever wins next Tuesday will also have to deal with pressing domestic issues such as improving food production and safety. - Posted 10/26/04 by JBW

FSIS Notice 53-04:  Policy For Movement Between Custom Exempt Facilities

The purpose of this notice is to explain the conditions under which custom exempt products can be transported between custom exempt facilities and reiterate policies related to Specified Risk Materials (SRMs). - Posted 10/26/04 by JBW

U.S. Beef Industry 'Cautiously Optimistic' About Reopened Japanese Trade

The most common reaction to this weekend's announcement that Japanese and U.S. negotiators have agreed to a limited resumption of trade in beef was "tell us more." - Posted 10/26/04 by JBW

USDA and FDA Need to Better Ensure Prompt and Complete Recalls of Potentially Unsafe Food

Weaknesses in USDA's and FDA's food recall programs heighten the risk that unsafe food will remain in the food supply and ultimately be consumed. - Posted 10/26/04 by JBW

Additional Information & Diagrams Regarding the Removal of Tonsils in Cattle

Document provided by the FSIS Technical Center to help in the tonsil identification and removal process. - Posted 10/25/04 by JBW

Breaking News:  Beef is Back

The United States and Japan reach an agreement on reopening the Japanese beef market to U.S. beef. - Posted 10/25/04 by JBW

Statement By Agriculture Secretary Ann M. Veneman Regarding Resumption of Beef Trade with Japan

Questions and Answers Concerning U.S.-Japan Beef Trade Agreement

THE VOCAL POINT - Mr. 'Fast Food Nation' Fires Back; Says USDA On The Take

- Posted 10/25/04 by JBW

Death Penalty Possible

A U.S. meat processor, convicted of killing three inspectors, faces execution. - Posted 10/21/04 by JBW

Guilty Verdict

U.S. sausage-maker, who killed three meat inspectors, is found guilty of murder. - Posted 10/20/04 by JBW

UPDATE:   Dr. Elsa Murano Selected Vice Chancellor, Dean at Texas A&M

USDA Under Secretary for Food Safety has served as USDA's top food safety administrator since her appointment by President Bush in 2001. - Posted 10/18/04 by BFS

Dumping Duty

The United States puts tariffs on live pigs imported from Canada over alleged dumping scheme. - Posted 10/18/04 by JBW

Testimony Tells USDA's Side In 'Retaliation' Suit

Testimony by a FSIS deputy administrator during a December 2002 Senate hearing indicates the agency believes its actions were justified. - Posted 10/18/04 by JBW

Hispanics At The Store

A Food Systems Insider Article:  All levels of the food industry are taking notice of a growing population segment. - Posted 10/15/04 by JBW

INDUSTRY SURVEY:  What's ahead for 2005?

Meat processors have an opportunity to identify the issues, challenges and opportunities of 2005. - Posted 10/14/04 by JBW

Food Safety Chief Murano is Only Finalist for University Dean's Job

Under Secretary for Food Safety likely to leave U.S. Department of Agriculture and return to Texas A&M. - Posted 10/14/04 by BFS

Japan Moves to End Universal BSE Testing

Ban will remain on cattle over 20 months of age, policy will not change until Spring, 2005. - Posted 10/14/04 by BFS

Fast Facts

USDA launches a food safety e-mail service for consumers. - Posted 10/14/04 by JBW

Food Safety Suit Filed Against USDA by Montana Meat Processor

The Government Accountability Project (GAP), a non-profit good government group based in Washington, D.C., filed an action in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia today on behalf of a Montana meat processor. - Posted 10/13/04 by JBW

The Food Safety Educator - Volume 9 Number 1

The Food Safety Educator is a periodic newsletter that reports on new food safety educational programs and materials, as well as emerging science concerning food safety risks. - Posted 10/13/04 by JBW

USDA Publishes Q&As on RTE Product Information

The Q&As are the first in a series of of weekly updates about what plants must do to provide Ready-to-Eat product information on Form 10,240-1. - Posted 10/13/04 by BFS

Product Of The Week

The latest installment in the Meat and Poultry Facts series has just been released with new tables and data. - Posted 10/13/04 by JBW

Turkey Federation Launches Online Thanksgiving Guide

The National Turkey Federation is offering holiday hosts and hostesses menu inspiration and advice with a Thanksgiving Guide. - Posted 10/13/04 by JBW

Bovine Genome Sequenced; Database Now Online

Leaders of the Bovine Genome Sequencing Project announced that the first draft of the bovine genome sequence has been deposited into free public databases for use by biomedical and agricultural researchers around the globe. - Posted 10/12/04 by JBW

Cattle Mapped

Researchers break the genetic code for beef cattle opening the door for improvements in meat quality and other characteristics. - Posted 10/12/04 by JBW

Proposed Legislation Calls For Single Agency To Oversee U.S. Food Supply

Legislation was introduced last week that would create a single agency responsible for ensuring the safety of the nation's food supply. - Posted 10/11/04 by JBW

Beef Casings, Sausages Held by USDA "Regulatory Action" Until "Confusion" over BSE Cleared Up

FSIS brass holds conference call to release beef casings, sausages if industry can prove they were manufactured prior to January 12, 2004. - Posted 10/8/04 by BFS

USDA Press Release Regarding Security Practices for Transporting Agricultural and Food Commodities

USDA unveils a guidance document on voluntary security practices for the transportation industry engaged in transporting food and agricultural products. - Posted 10/8/04 by JBW

New Jerky Articles Published by Colorado State University

Posted 10/8/04 by JBW

Effects of Preparation Methods On The Microbiological Safety Of Home-Dried Meat Jerky

A review of previous research regarding the microbiological safety of jerky.

Preparation:  Leathers & Jerkies

Food Safety Partnership

USDA announces cooperative partnerships for meat safety. - Posted 10/7/04 by JBW

New Senate Bill Would Help Small Meat Plants To Deal With Regulations

S. 2834, introduced by Sen. Olympia Snowe (R-Maine), head of the Senate Small Business Committee, would require agencies to produce compliance guides for small business. - Posted 10/6/04 by BFS

FSIS To Hold Food Safety Public Meetings

The Agriculture Department's Food Safety and Inspection Service will hold open meetings October 13-15 in Miami. - Posted 10/6/04 by JBW

EPA Sets New Effluent Discharge Guidelines

But small and very small meat processing plants are exempt from the new guidelines.  The revisions would apply to direct dischargers of effluent materials, not indirect dischargers.  It would affect about 170 facilities. - Posted 10/5/04 by BFS

Seafood Sellers Stuck With A New Label?

Mandatory country-of-origin labeling for seafood was scheduled to take effect yesterday, but retailers haven't yet been told what the final requirements are. - Posted 10/4/04 by JBW

Casing Ban Criticized

Sausage casing group says the ban on the use of beef casing in the United States is unsound, unfair, and causing hardships for U.S. sausage-makers. - Posted 10/4/04 by JBW

Industry Must Create Id Plan

A McDonald's Corp. executive calls animal identification a “core competency” the meat industry must develop. - Posted 10/4/04 by JBW

www.ready.gov

Federal officials unveiled a national-disaster preparedness campaign for small businesses.  This website is an education and advertising effort aimed at easing disruptions of a terrorist attack, hurricane or other catastrophe on a sector that employs more people in the U.S. than any other. - Posted 10/4/04 by JBW

New FSIS Rule Will Change Nutrition Labeling for "Meal" Products

Nutrient content claims can now be made in labeling of multi-serve "meal-type" meat and poultry products.  Previously, claims could be made only on "single-serve" products. New rule will take effect on November 30. - Posted 10/01/04 by BFS