News Update

News Update
Dec. 31, 2007

USDA issues public health alert for missing, possibly contaminated ground beef

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has issued a public health alert for approximately 14,800 pounds (lb.) of ground beef products that may be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7.

The alert follows a report by Texas American Service Corp., a Fort Worth, Texas, establishment doing business as American Fresh Foods, that a trailer containing the products was stolen.

The consumer products subject to this public health alert include:

2-lb. approximate weight packages of “73/27 GROUND BEEF” bearing a sell-by date of “12.30.07”
2-lb. approximate weight packages of “80/20 GROUND BEEF CHUCK” bearing a sell-by date of “12.31.07”
1-lb. approximate weight packages of “85/15 GROUND BEEF ROUND” bearing a sell-by date of “12.31.07”
1-lb. approximate weight packages of “90/10 GROUND BEEF SIRLOIN” bearing a sell-by date of “12.31.07”
1-lb. approximate weight packages of “96/04 EXTRA LEAN GROUND BEEF, 4% FAT” bearing a sell-by date of “12.31.07”

Each package label bears the establishment number “EST. 13116” inside the USDA mark of inspection and the company name “American Fresh Foods, Ft. Worth, TX 76102” below the nutrition information. Each package has a net weight of approximately 1 to 2 lb.

Bulk product also subject to this health alert include:

40-lb. “net wt.” box of “73/27 100% GROUND BEEF; REWORK MAP”
260-lb. “net wt.” combo bin of “CHUCK 100% GROUND BEEF; REWORK MAP”
370-lb. “net wt.” combo bin of “SIRLOIN 100% GROUND BEEF; REWORK”

Each bulk product label bears the establishment number “EST. 13116” inside the USDA mark of inspection as well as a date of “12-19-07” with the production information filled in by hand.

The consumer and bulk ground beef products were produced Dec. 19, 2007.

— Release provided by Meatingplace.com.

Taiwan Relists JBS Swift plant as eligible for export

FSIS said Dec. 21 that Taiwan re-listed a Greeley, Colo.,-based JBS-Swift plant as eligible to export products to Taiwan.

In updated export requirements on its web site, FSIS said Swift products with a date of harvest, manufacture or packing on or after Dec. 19, 2007, and a bill of lading date on or after Dec. 24, 2007, are eligible for export.

In late November and early December, the Taiwanese government said it found bone chips in shipments of JBS-Swift beef and temporarily suspended imports from the plant.

— Release provided by Meatingplace.com.

China Implementing More Humane Harvest Methods

China’s government has received a manual prepared by the Beijing Anhua Animal Product Safety Research Institute (APSRI) recommending more humane methods of harvesting livestock, Xinhua reported. The drafted “Technological Requirements on Humane Methods of Slaughter” suggests such methods as herding pigs with plastic prods and harvesting animals within 15 minutes of stunning.

China initiated the “Project on Humane Methods of Livestock Slaughter” program in its central Henan Province. It plans to gradually implement it nationwide.

“This is the first time for China to propose humane methods of slaughter,” according to an unnamed Ministry of Commerce official. “It will take time to improve slaughter methods around the whole country. But China will continuously make efforts to advocate humane methods of livestock slaughter to the whole society.”

The APSRI draft stresses merciful consideration for animals’ feelings throughout the four steps involved in the harvesting process, including methods for unloading of livestock from vehicles, keeping them in sties, driving them to harvest facilities and the harvest itself.

“Since the quality of meat from China has drawn international attention, the Chinese government has conducted special treatment on this issue,” says an unnamed official with the Administrative Office of Livestock Slaughtering. “These include generalizing humane methods for livestock slaughter.”

— Release provided by Meatingplace.com.

Ultimate Genetics and Semex form a marketing alliance

Semex USA and Ultimate Genetics have formed a marketing alliance to offer an expanding variety of genetics and opportunities to their customers. Utilizing Semex USA’s national distribution network and Ultimate Genetics’ strong presence in the southern United States will help each company expand its dairy and beef product offerings to satisfy its customers’ needs.

“Semex USA’s marketing alliance with Ultimate Genetics is all about servicing customer needs. The combined strengths of Semex and Ultimate Genetics will provide top genetics, expert service, and reproductive consulting to meet the needs of both dairy and beef producers across the United States and the world,” Joe Horkan, Semex USA General Manager, stated. “I look forward to the future as we work with Ultimate Genetics because we share two business principles. We both strive to supply only the highest-quality products, and we have a strong dedication to customer service.”

— Release provided by Ultimate Genetics

— compiled by Mathew Elliott, assistant editor, Angus Productions Inc. (API)