SEMA_________________________________ SOUTHEASTERN MEAT ASSOCIATION JUNE, 2002 VOLUME 17, No. 6SEE YOU THERE!!! SEMA CONVENTION DIRECTIONS: From Interstate 95 take Exit 91C east, Follow the signs to Palm Coast Golf Resort
U.s. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service
awarded a grant to the Texas Agricultural Experiment Station at Texas
A & M University and the International HACCP Alliance to train 75
new consumer Safety Officers (CSO). This is the second such grant that
these organizations have received for this important educational program.
The food safety related database has been launched on the International HACCP Alliance web site. Users are able to search the database by key words and phrases. The goal of the database is to serve as a method to obtain scientific documentation in support of HACCP plan decisions. The idea for the database originated through the Education Committee meeting of the National Meat Association a few years ago and Kerri Harris, executive director of the International HACCP Alliance, has led the scientific database project. The web address for the scientific article database is http://haccpalliance.org/sciencelibrary.html GLOBAL HACCP CONFERENCE A SUCCESS Approximately 100 people attended the first Global HACCP conference
in Chicago, IL, May 15-17. The conference featured outstanding speakers
who led the exploration of key issues related to verification and validation,
closing the gap between scientific and regulatory HACCP, the implementation
and maintenance of HACCP systems, plus more critical issues for the food
industry.
The Wisconsin Circuit Court for Milwaukee County dismissed on May 16 several lawsuits filed against Excel Corporation in connection with a foodborne outbreak attributed to a restaurant. The Circuit Court held that because intact beef cuts are not adulterated under federal law, even if contaminated with E. coli O157:H7, the Federal Meat Inspection Act (FMIA) expressly preempts a state ruling that these products are adulterated, either legislatively or by a court decision. The Court stated that it is USDA’s job to determine when meat is “safe, wholesome and not adulterated” and to ensure compliance with a comprehensive, in-plant inspection program. “These (national) standards protect the meat processors also, so that they know what is expected of them in regard to their products that are distributed among the many states. In an area of such great national concern, it is essential that the rules be uniform.” The court also rejected the plaintiffs’ assertion that Excel had somehow contracted away its right to rely on federal preemption.
WASHINGTON, May 6, 2002—Agriculture Secretary Ann M. Veneman today
presented the first Howard E. Bauman Award for food safety at a science
symposium hosted by USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service. The
award was given posthumously to Dr. Bauman and was accepted by his daughters,
Victoria Zobel and Kay Rose.
Trade between the U.S. and Russia is resuming. Ships are headed to Russia carrying product to be imported under the new import licensing regime. Russia has issued import licenses for over 147,000 tons of poultry. Russia imported about 1.2 million tons of poultry last year, over 80% being supplied by the United States. NEW WAL-MART CONCEPT ON WAY? Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.’s latest concept—the Neighborhood Market—has caught on so well in Arkansas, Texas and Oklahoma that the giant retailer plans to expand into other states. The new format is a sort of grocery store/convenience store hybrid. Wal-Mart says Memphis is the next market for its new format. HORMEL, CARGILL IN JOINT-VENTURE PACT Austin, MN—Hormel Foods Corp., the fresh pork and meat products manufacturer based here, teamed up with Wichita, KS based Cargill, Inc. to expand a line of Hormel fresh-meat products. The two companies have formed a joint-venture firm called Precept Foods LLC to merchandise fresh, case-ready beef and pork under the Hormel Always Tender brand name. UNDER FEDERAL LAW………. No worker under 18 years of age may: · Drive a motor vehicle as a regular part of job or operate a
forklift.
Staffing industry revenues have nearly doubled over the past five years.
Part of that growth has SMALL FIRMS DRAW BIG INTEREST Large companies long have been seen as more desirable places to work because they typically offer better salaries and benefits. But after corporate America’s layoff binge during the past several months, more job-seekers are finding small companies more attractive, especially in the post-Enron era, reports outplacement firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas. Challenger polled laid-off managers and executive and found that nearly two in three have found new positions with small employers. Small companies have the advantage of more flexibility—there’s less chance that a central bureaucracy is dictating policies such as time off. SMOKING BAN FOR WORKPLACES GETS ON BALLOT Tallahassee, FL—Florida voters will get the chance to decide in
November if they want to change the state constitution to ban smoking
at most indoor workplaces, including restaurants. RESERVE WILL IMPOSE STIFFER LOAN TERMS Washington, DC—The Federal Reserve on Friday unveiled a significant
shift in its operations as the nation’s lender of last resort. It
proposed making it more expensive for banks to borrow directly from the
Fed.
If you have some news (personal or business) that you would like to share with the Association, please let us know and we will make sure it gets into the next newsletter issue. O O P S !!!! The telephone number for Florida Beef was incorrectly stated in the May newsletter. The correct number is: 888-385-8738.
If Wal-Mart is lowering prices everyday, how come nothing is free, yet?? “SAY HELLO TO OUR NEW MEMBER” ODOM’S TENNESSEE PRIDE SAUSAGE, INC. – Larry Odom Tennessee Pride was started in 1943 by Douglas Odom Sr. After experimenting
with different spice formulas, he hit upon what is now known as the “secret
recipe” that makes Tennessee Pride flavor so great. Tennessee Pride
is now in the third generation of family leadership. · You, our customer NEW MEMBERS:
KNOW YOUR ASSOCIATE MEMBERS Come and meet the following Associate Members at the SEMA 2002 Convention. The following will be at the Convention:
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