News Update

News Update
Dec. 7, 2006

South Korea Continues Rejection of U.S. Beef

Secretary of Agriculture Mike Johanns released a statement Dec. 6 voicing his displeasure with South Korea’s decision to reject all three U.S. beef shipments sent to the country since it opened its borders Sept. 11.

“The rejection of the third shipment clearly illustrates that South Korean officials are determined to find an excuse to reject all beef products from the United States,” Johanns said.

“There is absolutely no food safety issue with any one of these shipments. I find it difficult to accept that bone fragments the size of one half of a grain of rice were found through visual inspection of ten metric tons of beef, as is South Korea’s claim regarding the third shipment, despite the fact that it went through unusually rigorous inspection by the U.S. exporter before it was shipped. I can only conclude that these actions are designed to restrict beef trade.”

Johanns said South Korea is essentially not commercially viable for U.S. beef. The country is attempting to claim its border is open to U.S. beef while refusing to allow trade to take place. “This is unacceptable and certainly not the way trading partners should work with one another,” Johanns said. “It is our intention to work with the U.S. Trade Representative to examine all options available to the U.S. to legitimately open the South Korean market to U.S. beef. Our objective is to implement a trade agreement for beef that reflects science-based international guidelines and facilitates real trade.”

AMI, FMI Object to Montana COOL Act

The American Meat Institute (AMI) and the Food Marketing Institute (FMI) Dec. 6 submitted comments opposing the implementation of Montana’s Country of Origin Placarding Act, AMI reports. The organizations stated in their comments that the provisions in the law represent an unconstitutional exercise of power in violation of the U.S. Constitution.

AMI and FMI requested that the Montana Department of Labor and Industry withdraw the proposed regulation. To review the comments in their entirety, go to www.meatami.com/StoryLinks/2006/montanacolcomments120606.pdf.

McDonald’s Tests Angus Burgers

McDonald’s Corp. is testing hamburgers made with Angus beef at six Los Angeles-area restaurants, Reuters reports.

According to the article, McDonald’s is testing three new Angus burgers, called Angus Third Pounders, selling between $3.39 and $3.99. Varieties include an Angus burger with cheese, an Angus Deluxe with lettuce and tomato, and an Angus Mushroom and Swiss. A McDonald’s spokeswoman said Dec. 6 that customer response has been positive, but no decision had been made about expanding the test area to additional restaurants.

N.Y. Bans Trans Fats

The New York City Board of Health voted Dec. 5 to adopt that nation’s first municipal ban on the use of almost all artificial trans fats in restaurant cooking, according to The New York Times.

The measure is considered a model for what’s to come — Chicago is already considering a similar approach.

The ban on trans fats is set to begin its phasing-in process in July, the article stated. A measure also passed requiring some restaurants to post caloric content of each menu item. According to The New York Times, both measures have been criticized by restaurateurs as impractical and a violation of free enterprise and civil liberties.

Grandin to speak at ILC in January

World-renowned livestock facilities designer Temple Grandin of Fort Collins, Colo., is scheduled to speak during the International Livestock Congress–USA at the National Western’s Livestock Center Auction Arena Jan. 8, 2007.

“The opportunity to hear Dr. Grandin discuss the importance of understanding cattle behavior to reduce stress and to learn about Dr. Grandin’s designs for livestock handling facilities is a rare opportunity and one that should not be missed,” said Bill Angell, National Western Stock Show (NWSS) yards manager.

Grandin is a designer of livestock handling facilities and an animal science professor at Colorado State University, where she also serves as a consultant to the livestock industry. She has designed livestock handling facilities in the United States, Canada, Europe, Mexico, Australia and New Zealand.

For additional information on the free presentation, contact Colette Ratcliff at (303) 777-5662, or Bill Angell at (303) 297-1166, Ext. 5600.

— compiled by Crystal Albers, associate editor, Angus Productions Inc.