SEMA_________________________________ SOUTHEASTERN MEAT ASSOCIATION
|
FEBRUARY 2008 |
VOLUME 23, No. 2 |
Ed Schafer was sworn in as the 29th Secretary of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) on January 28, 2008.
Secretary Schafer brings a record as an innovative two-term governor of North Dakota to USDA along with extensive private sector experience as both an entrepreneur and a business executive.
The American Meat Science Association (AMSA) Scientific Information Committee recently completed an extensive review of the scientific literature regarding meat packaging systems that utilize low oxygen with combinations of packaging gases including carbon monoxide (CO). The white paper, “Low-Oxygen Packaging of Fresh Meat with Carbon Monoxide: Meat Quality, Microbiology, and Safety” was commissioned by the Association to bring clarity to the discussion currently taking place within the meat industry and with policy makers and consumers concerning the use of carbon monoxide (CO) as component of fresh meat packaging systems. The report was developed by Daren Cornforth of Utah State University and Melvin Hunt of Kansas State University, two leading authorities on fresh meat packaging, and has been peer-reviewed by the AMSA committee.
You may view and/or download the white paper at: www.meatscience.org/Pubs/White%20Papers/CO_MAP_Packaging.htm.
The Internal Revenue Service has issued the optional standard mileage rates. As of January 1, 2008, the following is a set rate that you can use to compute your car mileage expense: 50.5 cents per mile for business miles driven.
The maximum total amount you can contribute to your IRA account for 2007 is $4,000 per individual, but if you turned 50 by the end of 2007, you can make an additional “catch-up” contribution of $1,000. The maximum increases to $5,000 for 2008.
All facilities that handle raw beef or beef slaughter are being scheduled for Food Safety Assessments this year to verify compliance with FSIS Notice 65-07.
At some clients, USDA is sending in a team from Washington to observe and verify the work of EIAO's conducting Food Safety Assessment. This process is to assure that FSA's are being conducted properly and to calibrate the EIAO's completing the assessments.
Chilton Consulting
FSIS issued its final version of the Interactive Knowledge Exchange (IKE) Scenario1-08: “FSIS Verification of 9CFR 416.2(d) Regarding Frozen Condensate in Product Freezers (Part II).” The IKE continues the discussion of condensation control with ice observed just inside a freezer door on product boxes as well as on the freezer unit.
The ice on the product boxes appears to be the result of a plugged drain on the drip pan of the freezer unit which is allowing water to drip onto the product boxes. The buildup of ice on the unit appears to be the result of not only the door opening and closing but also a broken seal on the door which is allowing the constant flow of warm air into the freezer. The Consumer Safety Inspector (CSI) determines, after a discussion with facility management, that the issue and non-compliance is “directly associated with the establishment’s lack of maintenance of the facility and should be documented accordingly.”
The CSI then describes
the unsanitary conditions on a Non-compliance Record (NR), as 06D01/Facility/Structural
citing 9 CFR 416.2(b) as the appropriate regulation.
IKE scenario may be viewed at: www.fsis.usda.gov/FSIS_Employees/IKE_01-08/index.asp.
FSIS has launched a new Web page that includes streaming food safety videos of public service announcements, regulatory information sessions and training on meat, poultry and processed egg products inspection. At the top of the page are public service announcements on subjects such as the Be Food Safe campaign lessons of clean, separate, cook and chill; food safety during a power outage; and food thermometer usage.
The food safety videos are available at www.fsis.usda.gov/news_&_events/Food_Safety_Videos/index.asp.
The meat, poultry and processed egg products videos targeted to plants, employees and other food handlers cover topics such as control of Listeria monocytogenes (Lm) in retail establishments, the HACCP system, food defense, post packaging heat treatment, and new FSIS food inspector orientation and new plant orientation. Regulatory education session videos feature programs to promote uniform understanding of the regulations. These sessions cover topics such as avian influenza, compliance guidelines for E. coli O157:H7 verification, in-plant risk management practices for controlling Salmonella in poultry and E. coli O157:H7 in beef slaughter, compliance guidelines for production of safe meat and poultry jerky products and raw products, and compliance guidelines for controlling Lm in ready-to-eat products.
Copies of the meat, poultry and processed egg products inspection videos can also be ordered from the agency’s Food Safety Resource brochure, located online at www.fsis.usda.gov/Science/HACCP_Resources_Brochure/index.asp.
The 2007 National Meat Case Study shows consumers continue to look for convenience and ease in meal preparation, by showing a shift from in-store packaging to case-ready packaging. Pork led the trend of value-added products, with natural and organic meats also gaining market share. The study sponsored by Sealed Air’s Cryovac Food Packaging, The Beef Check-off and the National Pork Board, will be compared to the 2002 and 2004 study and give insight on trends and strategies to meat-case merchandising.
The Kansas State University, is conducting a survey on food defense among meat and poultry establishments. Employees of large, small and very small meat and poultry processing establishments who are involved with, or responsible for, food defense preparedness activities for their company are asked to participate. The purpose of the survey is to better understand the needs of processors in setting up and operating food defense (security) programs, and develops effective training materials and other tools based on the responses. Participation is voluntary and all responses are strictly confidential. The survey is done solely to gather information that will be used for the development and support of industry training programs.
The link is www.surveys.ksu.edu/TS?offeringId=79528.
The survey will be available until February 29, 2008 and will take
about 15 minutes to complete. Your participation is appreciated.
Small and very small plant owners and operators are invited to join FSIS inspection personnel at regulatory education sessions to bring industry and inspection personnel together to promote a uniform understanding of the regulations.
To register call 800.336.3747 or for online registration forms and information about upcoming sessions go to: www.usda.fsis.gov/News_&_Events.com.
February 28th, Birmingham, Al, Hyatt Place Inverness, 205.995.9242
February 28th, Durham, NC, Wyndham Raleigh-Durham Hotel 919.941.6066
*Web Seminar
*FSIS Policies on Generic Labeling of Meat and Poultry Products
FSIS representatives will discuss the requirements of generic labeling
of meat and poultry products and describe the types of information
that is allowed and not allowed on generic labels. February 20, 2008
*FSIS Policies Related to Control of E. coli O157:H7 in Beef Products
This seminar will review new FSIS policies, including the FSIS checklist,
FSIS' enhanced risk-based sampling program for E. coli O157:H7, and
industry best practices.
SEMA members, if you have something to share or information to up-date, please send it to the SEMA office and it will be posted at no charge. Example, new salesperson, personnel promotions, expanding your company, etc.
Striplings: Press Release: The "Jerky for Our Troops" project has been a complete success. Striplings is processing and packaging the jerky for the USO. They plan on having all 8000 packages delivered by the first of March. Striplings gave a special "Thank You" to Label Express and other local companies and clubs.
Cryovac: Jeff Boland has replaced Dennis Fisher. The past year Jeff has been in sales with Cryovac and the 3 ½ years prior, he worked in Research & Development. Jeff’s sales area covers the state of Georgia, the Florida Panhandle and Chattanooga, Tennessee. Jeff lives in Atlanta with his wife Sarah. You can contact Jeff by calling Cryovac 800.662.9335 x2427, his cell 770.851.4622 or by e-mailing jeff.boland@sealedair.com.
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Story to Ponder . . . . . . . . .
Many years ago in Scotland,
a new game was invented.
It was ruled "Gentlemen Only ... Ladies Forbidden"...
and thus the word GOLF entered into the English language.
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White Oaks Pastures, Inc.
P.O. Box 98
Bluffton, GA 39824
229.641.2081
Will Harris, Owner
The Harris family of White Oak Pastures has raised cattle on the same Early County, GA farm for five generations. Stewardship of the land and respect for our livestock are among the most important lessons that are passed from parent to child in our family.
Today at White Oak Pastures, our cattle are raised in a manner that has stood the test of time. It begins with southern sunshine, unpolluted country air and fertile coastal soil. The practices of our predecessors are the template for our productions system today. We produce beef the way that it is meant to be. Our cattle are allowed to roam our pastures and graze freely on sweet native grasses all of their lives. White Oak Pastures believes in the humane treatment of animals. That is why we do not give them hormones, antibiotics or non-natural feedstuffs to speed their growth. We proactively support nature’s food chain: sun & soil, to plants, to animals and then to people. Raising cattle this way is not the cheapest way to produce beef. It is however, the right way.
The Harris family is building a slaughter-processing plant,
which they plant to have opened by April of 2008.
| Southeastern Meat Association 407.365.5661 Annual Convention |
Palm Coast, FL |
June 6-7 |
| Southeastern Meat Association 407.365.5661 Board Meeting |
Point Clear, AL |
March 1 |
| Chilton Consulting Group Advanced HACCP Workshop 706.694.8325 |
|
2008, TBA |
| Chilton Consulting Group Food Safety |
|
2008, TBA |
| American Association of Meat Processors Annual Convention 717.367.1168 |
Cincinnati, Ohio | July 24-26 |
| North American Meat Processors Association (NAMP) Management Conference |
Chicago, IL | March 28-30 |
| North American Meat Processors Association (NAMP) Annual Convention |
Lake Las Vegas, NV | Oct. 16-19 |
| National Meat Association Annual Convention |
Monterey, CA | Feb. 20-23 |
| South Carolina Assoc. of Meat Processors 828.464.1800 Annual Meeting |
Santee, SC | Feb. 22-24 |
Companies that invest in employee learning have higher
productivity, revenue growth,
and profit growth than companies that
do not.