SEMA_________________________________
SOUTHEASTERN MEAT ASSOCIATION
P.O. Box 620777; Oviedo, FL 32762 Phone: 407-365-5661
JANUARY 2004 |
VOLUME 19, No. 1 |
BSE UPDATE
The Canadian health certificate, dated August 28, 2001, lists 82 eartag
numbers from cattle that were part of a herd dispersal in Alberta, Canada.
USDA has confirmed that 81 of those 82 animals crossed into the United
States in September, 2001. It is believed that one of the 82 remained
in Canada. Eleven of the 81 have been accounted for. One is the index
cow, nine are part of the index herd, and one has been located on a premise
in Mattawa, WA. USDA is working to track the remaining 70 animals and
will share information as it becomes available.
With the downer cow from Washington being confirmed with BSE, “mad
cow” disease, it is likely to result in major market disruptions.
It is anticipated that about 10% of the U.S. beef exports to the Pacific
Rim will be lost for many months to come.
The only way BSE is known to spread is through contaminated feed. In
1997, the FDA banned feeds containing ruminant-materials and bone meal
supplements to cattle. This stands as a firewall to prevent the spread
of BSE to other animals.
Currently, there is no way to test for BSE in live animals. All U.S.
cattle sold for food must be inspected by a USDA inspector or veterinarian
before going to slaughter, during slaughter and organs are checked after
slaughter to detect any animal diseases. Animals exhibiting any neurological
disorder are tested for BSE. Last year, USDA tested approximately 20,000
animals for BSE. The current system targets all cattle with any signs
of neurological disorders as well as those over 30 months of age, as well
as non-ambulatory cattle.
Consumers should continue to eat beef with confidence. All scientific
studies show that the BSE infections agent has never been found in beef
muscle meat or milk and U.S. beef remains safe to eat.
BSE RESTRICTIONS ON U.S. EXPORTS
BSE has turned the export market around. Many countries are refusing
in transit shipments and seeking beef elsewhere.
To stay current on export regulations contact the SEMA office for a copy
of the regulations or log on to:
www.fsis.usda.gov/OFO/export/2003-11.htm
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31 % OF THE FEDERAL WORK FORCE WILL BE ELIGIBLE FOR
RETIREMENT BY 2006.
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VENEMAN ANNOUNCES ADDITIONAL PROTECTION MEASURES TO GUARD AGAINST BSE
Agriculture Secretary Ann M. Veneman announced additional safeguards
to bolster the U.S. protection systems against Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy,
or BSE. “These are initial steps that USDA will take to enhance
our protection systems,” Veneman said. “I am appointing an
international panel of scientific experts to provide an objective review
of our response actions and identify areas for potential additional enhancements.”
- Downer Animals. Effective immediately, USDA will ban all downer cattle
from the human food chain. USDA will continue its BSE surveillance program.
- Product Holding. USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service inspectors
will no longer mark cattle tested for BSE as “inspected and passed”
until confirmation is received that the animals have, in fact, tested
negative for BSE. This new policy will be in the form of an interpretive
rule that will be published in the Federal Register.
- To prevent the entry into commerce of meat and meat food products
that are adulterated, FSIS inspection program personnel perform ante-
and post-mortem inspection of cattle that are slaughtered in the United
States. As part of the ante-mortem inspection, FSIS personnel look for
signs of disease, including signs of central nervous system impairment.
Animals showing signs of systemic disease, including those exhibiting
signs of neurologic impairment, are condemned. Meat from all condemned
animals has never been permitted for use as human food.
- Specific Risk Material. Effective immediately upon publication in
the Federal Register, USDA will enhance its regulations by declaring
as specified risk materials skull, brain, trigeminal ganglia, eyes,
vertebral column, spinal cord and dorsal root ganglia of cattle over
30 months of age and the small intestine of cattle of all ages, thus
prohibiting their use in the human food supply. Tonsils from all cattle
are already considered inedible and therefore do not enter the food
supply. These enhancements are consistent with the actions taken by
Canada after the discover of BSE in May.
In an interim final rule, FSIS will require federally inspected establishments
that slaughter cattle to develop, implement, and maintain procedures to
remove, segregate, and dispose of these specified risk materials so that
they cannot possibly enter the food chain. Plants must also make that
information readily available for review by FSIS inspection personnel.
FSIS has also developed procedures for verifying the approximate age of
cattle that are slaughtered in official establishments. State inspected
plants must have equivalent procedures in place.
- Advanced Meat Recovery. AMR is an industrial technology that removes
muscle tissue from the bone of beef carcasses under high pressure without
incorporating bone material when operated properly. AMR product can
be labeled as “meat.” FSIS has previously had regulations
in place that prohibit spinal cord from being included in products labeled
as “meat.” The regulation, effective upon publication in
the Federal Register, expands that prohibition to include dorsal root
ganglia, clusters of nerve cells connected to the spinal cord along
the vertebrae column, in addition to spinal cord tissue. Like spinal
cord, the dorsal root ganglia may also contain BSE infectivity if the
animal is infected. In addition, because the vertebral column and skull
in cattle 30 months and older will be considered inedible, it cannot
by used for AMR.
In March 2003, FSIS began a routine regulatory sampling program for beef
produced from AMR systems to ensure that spinal cord tissue is not present
in the product. In a new interim final rule announced today, establishments
have to ensure process control through verification testing to ensure
that neither spinal cord nor dorsal root ganglia is present in the product.
- Air-Injection Stunning. To ensure that portions of the brain are
not dislocated into the tissues of the carcass as a consequence of humanely
stunning cattle during the slaughter process, FSIS is issuing a regulation
to ban the practice of air-injection stunning.
- Mechanically Separated Meat. USDA will prohibit use of mechanically
separated meat in human food.
REVIEW OF ESTABLISHMENT DATA BY INSPECTION PROGRAM PERSONNEL
FSIS NOTICE 54-03 dated 12/16/03
Results of any testing and of any monitoring activities that are performed
by the establishment may have an impact on the establishment’s hazard
analysis, whether or not such testing or monitoring is incorporated into
an actual HACCP plan, referenced in a HACCP plan, or considered separate
activities. Records of these activities are subject to FSIS review and
are to be available to FSIS personnel.
Inspection program personnel are to be aware of all monitoring and of
all testing conducted by the establishment and should ask establishment
management to make available for review the data that is generated by
such monitoring or testing so that is available when inspection program
personnel are verifying HACCP records.
As part of performing HACCP 01 procedures, inspection program personnel
are not only to randomly review HACCP records but any records from procedures
that the establishment has performed or from prerequisite programs that
are relevant to the ISP procedure being performed, particularly records
of testing and monitoring (See FSIS Directive 5000.1, Revision 1, Chapter
2, Part 1 – HACCP Verification Methodology).
Inspection program personnel should determine whether the testing results
suggest any food safety concerns that have not previously been recognized.
If, based on their review of establishment records, inspection program
personnel have concerns about:
- the design of testing, monitoring, or verification activities outside
of a HACCP plan, or
- concerns about results from such activities, procedures, or prerequisite
programs,
they are to contact the Technical Service Center or raise the concern
through supervisory channels. It may be determined that an Enforcement
Investigation Analysis Officer needs to conduct a food safety assessment
to assess such factors ads what test results reveal about food safety,
and whether the design of testing, procedures, or prerequisite programs
are adequately supported by the decisions made in the hazard analysis.
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LAST YEAR, 2.2 MILLION HOURLY WORKERS EARNED WAGES
AT OR BELOW THE FEDERAL MINIMUM WAGE.
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COOL RULE COMMENT PERIOD EXTENDED
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Marketing Service
(AMS) announced that it is extending the comment period on the proposed
mandatory country-of-origin labeling (COOL) program until February 27,
2004.
It is very important for SEMA members to contact their U.S. Senators
during January and ask them to join the action of the U.S. House of Representatives
in delaying the COOL law implementation for meat products for two year.
The Meat Associations have persuaded the House to take that action. Now
we need your help to convince the U.S. Senate to do the same thing.
TOUGHER FEED STANDARDS
When Congress reconvenes this month, Illinois Senator Richard Durbin
is to introduce legislation geared towards improving livestock feed standards.
Durbin serves on the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture
and stated, “The discovery of this infected cow in Washington state
is a real wake-up call. We must put in place the proper safeguards to
promptly detect the disease and keep it from spreading to other cattle
or into the human food supply.”
NEW FOOD SAFETY AND SECURITY GUIDELINES
The Department of Agriculture released a new publication, Food Safety
and Food Security: What Consumers Need to Know, that answers many food
safety and security issues.
Developed by USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service, it provides
useful tips for safe food preparation and for keeping food safe from contamination.
The brochure also provides practical information about safe food handling
practices, foodborne illness, product recalls, keeping foods safe during
an emergency and reporting suspected instance of food tampering.
For additional information about food safety and security in English
and Spanish, consumers can all the toll-free USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline
at 888.674.6854. Additional information can be found at USDA.gov.
FSIS TRAINING FOR INSPECTORS
In April, 2003, FSIS inaugurated new Food Safety Regulatory Essentials
(FSRE) training, which is designed to better equip inspection personnel
in verifying an establishment’s Hazard Analysis and Critical Control
Points (HACCP) food safety system. All trainees receive training in the
fundamentals of inspection, covering the Rules of Practice, Sanitation
Performance Standards, and Sanitation Standard Operating Procedures (SSOP).
Customized food safety training is then provided based on the types of
products being produced at he establishments where inspectors are assigned.
Also, in April 2003, a training session was held in which all compliance
Officers and Consumer Safety Officers were instructed in the proper review
and analysis of plant records and testing data. FSIS has made it a priority
that inspectors regularly review all plant-generated date, which is an
important indicator of whether and how well plants are executing their
corrective actions. More than 1,000 individuals have completed FSIS’s
inaugural, customized job training regime. “Our meat inspection
system is based on sophisticated science, “McKee said. “We
are continuing to improve and enhance our training programs so that inspectors
understand the latest scientific developments.”
FOOD SAFETY TECH MEETING
The Agriculture Department’s Food Safety and Inspection Service
will hold a meeting in Omaha, Nebraska on January 13 to discuss the development
and use of new food safety technologies to enhance public health.
Topics to be discussed at the public meeting include:
- FSIS’s new procedures and ways to expedite even further the
process for making promising food safety technologies available for
use, including ways that FSIS and stakeholders can work together to
make emerging technology more widely available. The stakeholders are
academia, state governments, industry, consumers, and other agencies.
- Emerging technologies that have been commercialized or will soon be
commercialized. These new technologies include the following categories
of products:
1. Pre-slaughter operation interventions that threat the animal before
slaughter operations begin such as hide treatment and bacteria exclusion
in the animal
2. Decontamination methods during slaughter and processing operations
such as antimicrobials applied to the carcass
3. Sanitation interventions to decontaminate product contact surfaces
or to treat the environment in the slaughter and processing areas to
exclude or remove as many organisms as possible.
RESTAURANTS GO LOW-CARB AND CUSTOMER-FRIENDLY
Restaurants are seeing a niche. The customers today are looking for “fast
casual” dining offering quality and service. Many of the fast food
burger chains are now offering salads with meat toppings instead of the
bun and fries. Outback and Applebee’s now have curbside pickup and
Chili’s-To-Go has a special take-out area. Applebee’s is also
working on a Weight Watcher’s menu introducing 8-10 new items for
2004. Ruby Tuesday’s is rolling out some 30 new low-carb menu items
while TGI Friday’s is partnering with Atkins Nutritionals to bring
a variety of low-carb entrees, appetizers and desserts to it’s customers.
With approximately 65% of the U.S. population being overweight/obese
by the Body Mass Index (BMI), restaurants are looking at this with a solution.
Many are coming out with healthier menus.
SWIFT’S “SWIFT TRACE” TRACING
Swift & Company of Greeley, Colorado, has signed a contract with
Optibrand Ltd. LLC of Ft. Collins, Colorado, to use the company’s
retina scanning system to track cattle. “Swift Trace” will
allow the company to trace from an individual animal to boxed beef. The
system involves scanning the retina of an animal, which uniquely identifies
the animal, and storing that image with information from the animal’s
ear tag and its location via GPS.
“The international market has been actively pursuing a global traceability
system, and it’s the right thing to implement for the American marketplace,”
said John Simons, president and CEO of Swift.
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ABOUT ONE IN FIVE WORKERS IN THE UNITED STATES IS
SELF-EMPLOYED
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PORK WEB SITE FOR CONSUMERS AND PRODUCERS
The Pork Checkoff has launched a web site,
www.nichepork.org, to connect packers and buyers. It helps pork producers
of all sizes learn more about niche marketing and unique production practices.
Any pork producer who is marketing outside traditional commodity marketing
channels can be included in the database.
If you are a niche pork packer/processor and would like to be listed
call the National Pork Board at 800.456.PORK. Currently, no SEMA members
or states are listed on the site.
NEW INTERSTATE TRUCKING RULES
The new hours-of-service rules went into effect January 4. This ruling
applies to drivers of interstate vehicles.
For the current ruling and information log on to: www.truckline.com
If you have additional questions, please contact the ATA Safety and Operations
Department at 703.838.1847.
FIRMS TO PAY MORE FOR D & O COVERAGE
Most companies will see insurance premiums stabilize or drop in 2004.
Property insurance may level or decline in some areas. E-business premiums
also are dropping. Two exceptions:
- Liability coverage for directors and officers will likely rise. Directors
and officers can be held personally liable for misuse of funds; knowledge
of illegal or improper acts; or making improper loans, transactions
or decisions. To limit personal liability, and to aid in recruiting,
firms offer D & O insurance to board members and top executive.
- Fiduciary liability coverage should go up. That’s insurance
related to retirement plan losses.
EMPLOYEE THEFT STORIES
1. Iowa Falls, Iowa—There may be a statute of limitations on some
crimes, but for a least one thief there is no such statute on restitution.
Dave and Sharon McCaulley found that out when they received an envelope
containing $500 in cash. The McCaulleys, who once owned the Villager restaurant,
told The Associated Press that the envelope also held a letter of apology.
“I’m a former employee that used to steal money from you,”
the letter read. The anonymous thief noted that the total amount he’d
taken with interest, “might add up to $500.” Dave McCaulley
said, “It’s just kind of neat that after 23 years, somebody
cared enough to do something like that.”
2. Thirty-three packs of cigarettes were missing from a convenience store.
The owners had no idea who was responsible, so they deducted $26 from
the paychecks of the half-dozen or so employees who work there. Forms
had been signed by all of the employees that inventory shortages would
result in payroll deductions.
Was this a legal practice? Yes. Companies are allowed to make payroll
deductions for misappropriation of property, although in most cases it’s
pretty clear who has done it. The signed consent gives the company ample
legal protection. However, the deduction cannot lower the employee’s
pay below minimum wage.
RESOLUTIONS FOR THOSE WANTING TO CLIMB THE CORPORATE LADDER
- Leave the office. Professional organizations and clubs are a great
way to network and learn more about your profession.
- Brush up. Sharpen your skills or learn something new that could benefit
you and your company.
- Read all about it. Scan the newspaper in the morning for stories related
to your job or the industry in which you work. Subscribe to trade magazines
or online e-zines to keep on top of happenings at your company or career.
- Socialize with your colleagues, especially people in other department,
to learn more about what they do. This will help you learn what else
is going on in your company and establish you as a team player.
- Look your best. Always be ready for a surprise meeting with a client
or your boss.
- Do more. Step in and do things that aren’t required of you.
- Get a life. Finding things that relieve stress and make you happy
outside of work will help you perform better on the job.
10 SECRETS TO SUCCESS
1. HOW YOU THINK IS EVERYTHING: Always be positive. Think
success, not failure. Beware of a negative environment.
2. DECIDE UPON YOUR TRUE DREAMS AND GOALS: Write down your specific goals
and develop a plan to reach them.
3. TAKE ACTION: Goals are nothing without action. Don’t be afraid
to get started. Just do it.
4. NEVER STOP LEARNING: Go back to school or read books. Get training
and acquire skills.
5. BE PERSISTENT AND WORK HARD: Success is a marathon, not a sprint. Never
give up.
6. LEARN TO ANALYZE DETAILS: Get all the facts, all the input. Learn from
your mistakes.
7. FOCUS YOUR TIME AND MONEY: Don’t let other people or things distract
you.
8. DON’T BE AFRAID TO INNOVATE AND BE DIFFERENT: Following the herd
is a sure way to mediocrity.
9. DEAL AND COMMUNICATE WITH PEOPLE EFFECTIVELY: No person is an island.
Learn to understand and motivate other.
10. BE HONEST AND DEPENDABLE AND TAKE RESPPONSIBILITY: Otherwise, Nos.1-9
won’t matter.
From Investor’s Business Daily
IFFA SHOW
Reservations are being accepted for the U.S. Meat Industry Tour to the
IFFA show and professional visits in Germany and Switzerland, May 13-23.
A brochure describing highlights and registration information on the tour
is being mailed to SEMA members.
2nd ANNUAL UGA SOUTH CAMPUS CAREER EXPO
February 24, 2004 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
This event is designed to highlight internships, co-ops, and full-time
employment opportunities in the agricultural, environmental, engineering,
natural resources, and related industries. Register for the event by following
this link: http://www.symplicity.com/cfreg/369
or contact: Christie Sanders, Assistant Director/Career Consultant; The
University of Georgia Career Center; 706.542.8440; e-mail: clws@uga.edu
FAMILY BRANDS INTERNATIONAL ANNOUNCES NEW ACQUISITION
Family Brands International has acquired the brand rights and certain
other assets of Charles Powell Meats, Incorporated. Charles Powell Meats
has manufactured and marketed many quality meat products for retail and
foodservice customers for over 100 years from their facility in Chattanooga,
TN “CHARLIE’S” labeled products are sold in the North
Georgia, North Alabama, and Southern East Tennessee market areas. "CHARLIE’S”
labeled products include wieners, sliced luncheon meat, and luncheon meat
loaves and chubs.
Family Brands International is headquartered in Lenoir City, Tennessee
and markets meat products for retail and foodservice customers in the
Southeast under a variety of brands. Our family of brands include Elm
Hill, Frosty Morn, Dinner, Delight, Cades Cove, Flavormore, Mayo, Houser’s,
Jubilee, and Lean & Tasty. Many of these brands were acquired in purchases
similar to the acquisition of the “CHARLIE’S” brand.
Family Brands welcomes the “CHARLIE’s” brand to our
family of brands. This brand should be a good fit with our other quality
meat products.
CHILTON CONSULTING GROUP ANNOUNCES DR. JOE YATES JOINING THE FIRM AS SENIOR
CONSULTANT/PRINCIPAL
Dr. Joe joined the firm on 11/4/03 and has already worked with clients
in New York, Chicago, South Dakota, Florida, and California. Dr. Joe will
be specializing in Listeria troubleshooting, food safety/quality audits,
and HACCP Plan Verification/Documentation. Chilton Consulting Group is
pleased to announce they are now offering new services in the areas of
New Product Research and Development, Operational Reviews to improve quality,
yield, productivity, and capacity enhancements.
Dr. Joe earned his Doctorate Degree from the University of Florida in
1988, in the field of animal Science specializing in (Meat Science) and
Human Nutrition. Dr. Joe brings 15 years of Meat, Salad and Sauce Manufacturing
knowledge to the firm. He has worked hands on in the following areas:
Plant Manager, Purchasing Manager and Product Development Manager. In
addition, he has implemented Process and Product Cost Improvements using
Statistical Process Control (SPC) methodology, and written HACCP Plans,
SSOP’s and Sanitation Practices for numerous companies. Dr. Joe
has first hand knowledge in the manufacturing practices of: Sausage and
deli-style meat products, Marinade/Brine formulation for Injection or
Vacuum Tumbling and Smokehouse Operations, Smoking and Cooking requirements
for various meat products. In addition to meat products, he has developed
many successful salads, sauces and Ready to Eat entrees that have placement
in the retail and wholesale market. Dr. Yates will be specializing in
HACCP Plan Reassessments, Listeria Troubleshooting, New Product Development,
and Operational Improvement Reviews.
Please call Joe to welcome him on his new career. He can be reached
through our corporate office at 706.694.8325. Dr. Joe is a member of SEMA
and has served on the SEMA Board of Directors.
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THE AVERAGE EMPLOYEE RECEIVED 50 E-MAILS PER DAY.
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UPCOMING EVENTS
January 19-20 Chilton Consulting Group Call: 706.694.8325
Basic HACCP Workshop
Tampa, FL
January 28-30 International Poultry Exposition Call: 770.493.9401
Atlanta, GA
January 28-30 National Cattlemen’s Beef Association Call: 303.694.0305
Annual Convention
Phoenix, AZ
February 11-14 NMA’s 58th Annual Convention Call: 510.763.1533
San Antonio, TX
February 16-18 ABC Research Corporation Call: 352.372.0436
30th Annual Technical Seminar
Gainesville, FL
March 4-6 National Pork Industry Forum Call: 217.356.5368
Atlanta, GA
April 13-15 Iowa State Short Course 2004 Call: 800.262.0015
Dry & Semi Dry Sausage 515.294.6222
ATTENTION!!!! ALL SEMA MEMBERS
2004 Membership Dues billing notices have gone out. 2004 Dues are payable
by January 31. If you have not received your renewal notice, please contact
the office. Thank you for your prompt payment. We are looking forward
to a GREAT 2004!!!
WELCOME TO OUR NEW ASSOCIATE MEMBER
Mike Hadsell, Sales Manager
KOPCO GRAPHICS, INC.
1195 Tallevast Road
Sarasota, FL 34243-3261
Phone: 941.359.1700
Fax: 941.359.0110
e-mail: mikeh@kopcographics.com
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THINGS TO PONDER…………………..
Those who do not find time for exercise will have
to find time for illness.
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