SEMA_________________________________ SOUTHEASTERN MEAT ASSOCIATION
|
JUNE 2009 |
VOLUME 24, No. 6 |
Meat Processors from across the Southeastern United States and their suppliers from across the country will meet on the shores of Daytona Beach for the annual Southeastern Meat Association convention. The convention will open with 40 exhibitors showing the latest in trends and technology.
2009 will likely bring significant changes to state and federal employment laws and enforcement initiatives. There will be a session covering the top issues and some steps employers can take to get prepared. Topics include: The Employee Free Choice Act; The Re-Empowerment of Skilled and Professional Employees and Construction Tradesworkers Act; recent amendments to the Americans with Disabilities Act; potential amendments to Title VII of the Civil Rights Act; recent amendments to Family Medical Leave Act; and the new Lily Ledbetter Fair Pay Act.
Build business value even when times are tough and take advantage of SUCCESSion Opportunities. Long-term strategic positive thinking in the midst of what the media is pronouncing to be current business Armageddon could come across as arrogant or out of touch with current reality. Fact is, recession does not mean doom and gloom for most business owners. Those who are aggressively addressing the core fundamentals of business success are taking advantage of missed opportunities and will continue to gain market share, build business value and develop a long term sustainable operating culture. Yes, there is concern about reducing expenses, squeezing profits, postponement of expansion plans, retirement plans or that second home. Your business is a pivotal provider for your family, employees, and community. By being ever alert in these challenging times you will be able to take maximum advantage of the opportunities that exist and continue to be a thriving business through many generations.
Natural Pork and Beef is a growing segment of our industry. Hear the stories of two successful local companies that have found their niche. Both companies raise their animals and process products for the retail and foodservice industry.
Friday night is Monte Carlo night and everyone is welcome. We will have games for all ages including the kids. The casino will open at 6:30 p.m.; there will be Black Jack, Dice (craps), Poker (Texas Holdem) and a Roulette table. All proceeds for the evening will go to the scholarship fund.
Born and raised in Vidalia, Georgia, the Saturday night guest speaker is a former NFL player and Super Bowl winner, Fred Stokes. He will inspire you to become a winner in the game of life as he tells his story of triumph and perseverance.
Daytona Beach is a great family destination with 23 miles of sparkling beaches. Unique shopping can be found in historic downtown Daytona Beach or hop the water-taxi to shop the historic downtown or beachside New Smyrna. You may want to visit the Daytona International Speedway and be a part of the Daytona 500 Experience.
Watch beachside the launch of the Space Shuttle Endeavour on Saturday, June 13th at 7:17 a.m.
Enjoy the Ponce Inlet Lighthouse & Marine Science Center, Charter a fishing boat, Rent bikes or scooters and cruise the beach.
There is still time to join us: The Shores Resort & Spa, Daytona Beach, FL, June 12-13
The Niche Meat Processor Assistance Network (NMPAN) is a national network of people and organizations assisting niche meat processors, and the livestock producers and niche meat buyers who depend on them.
According to its Web site, http://www.nichemeatprocessing.org, NMPAN considers niche processors to be those who produce locally raised, certified organic, grass-fed, no hormones or antibiotics, or certified humane. It defines “niche” very broadly to refer to many types of market differentiation.
NAMP newsletter
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the number of young people who have a food allergy has increased by 18 percent over the last decade. This means that approximately three million U.S. children and teenagers under the age of 18, or nearly four percent of that age group, have a food allergy. Food allergies also affect about one to two percent of the U.S. adult population.
Food allergies are a result of an immunological response to proteins contained in a food. The most common allergens in the U.S. are cow’s milk, eggs, peanuts, wheat, soy, fish, shellfish and tree nuts (walnut, cashew, etc.). Currently there is no cure for food allergies.
International Food Information Council
The Southeast Meat Association (SEMA) is partnering with 11 other organizations and seven trade media to host an E. coli O157:H7 Conference for North American Beef Further Processors on Aug. 18 – 19 near Chicago’s O’Hare Airport.
The Beef Industry Food Safety Council (BIFSCo) is supporting the conference. The U.S. Department of Agriculture Food Safety Inspection Service (FSIS) Office of Outreach, Employee Education, and Training also is collaborating.
The conference, to be held at the Four Points by Sheraton Chicago O’Hare Airport, is designed for processors who produce ground beef, mechanically tenderized steaks and other non-intact beef products. The conference represents a unified focus by the entire North American meat processing industry to reduce the number of recalls and illnesses related to E. coli O157:H7. This is the first time so many industry groups have partnered on a single event like this.
Along with SEMA, the partner organizations include:
Early corporate sponsors include: Chad, Ecolab, Idaho Technology, IEH Laboratories & Consulting Group, Ingersoll Rand, Neogen, and Strategic Diagnostics, Inc.
This year’s conference features new material in presentations from top industry experts, including:
The conference features a technical session on microbiological testing and interventions on Tuesday afternoon, Aug. 18. It focuses on what testing means, exploring intervention technologies, and real world use of interventions and testing. Simultaneous English-Spanish translation will be provided for the entire conference if needed.
Dr. Engeljohn will speak on current and future USDA FSIS policies, and brief presentations will be made by Chad, Ecolab, and Ingersoll Rand.
Tuesday evening offers a networking reception with table top exhibits by leading companies that provide testing and intervention services.
Wednesday’s agenda features general sessions on regulations and risk. It focuses on:
Register now to take advantage of the early registration discount. Until July 17, the registration fee for the two-day conference is US$449 for members of SEMA and the partner organizations, and US$549 for non-members.
A block of rooms has been set aside at significantly discounted rates US$30/night below the rates at last year’s conference.
For more information and program details, go to www.NAMP.com, or call toll-free at +1 800.368.3043 ext. 103.
I Series Savings Bond History:
The I Series Savings Bond program began on September 1, 1998. The main
purpose for the 'I' bond was to protect the bond owner/investor from
inflation. During the past four or five months, the country has actually
been experiencing deflation at a factor of approximately minus -5.3%,
according to the Urban Consumer Price Index (CPI-U). The interest rate
for the I Bond is a combination of a fixed rate, which applies for
the life of the bond, and the semiannual inflation rate. On May 1,
2009 the Bureau of the Public Debt announced the new six month interest
earnings cycle for I Savings Bonds are set at 0.00%. That means the
I bond is no longer earning interest for their first six months after
issue, if bought from May through October 2009.
The new I Bond interest rate, using easy arithmetic, will be a negative factor, somewhere around -4.6%. However, when the first I Bond was originally issued back in September of 1998, the government made a promise that the interest rate would never be less than .10%. I Bond rules also state that no bond would ever lose value or interest for its lifetime. So while other investments have lost a significant portion of their worth, savings bonds will not lose any of their value. . . . but they certainly won’t be gaining any either.
What does that mean to the investor who already owns I Bonds? Your bonds will probably not grow appreciably for the six month period starting with the month that your bond was originally issued. But once November arrives, the new interest rate calculation cycle will begin again. Assuming that the country will continue to work itself out of the economic recession during the remainder of 2009, interest rates will start to ratchet up once again. There will most likely be a cycle of inflation for at least two or three years. So the temporary hiatus with savings bond interest rates will subside and the growth in value of savings bonds will resume as in the past.
Sent in by Del Burfitt, Citizens Financial Partners
FSIS posted questions and answers about Directive 10,240.4, Verification Procedures for Consumer Safety Inspectors for the Listeria monocytogenes Regulation and Introduction of Phase 2 of the Lm Risk-based Verification Testing Program - Revision 2.
The questions covered:
- Verifying water potability certificate samples
- Required sample size
- Short weight/slack fill sample
- Sample collection instructions
- Pre-shipment review
To view, go to: http://www.fsis.usda.gov/OPPDE/rd/adFSISDirectives/10240.4/resource_3.pdf
Small and very small plant owners and operators are invited to join FSIS inspection personnel at regulatory education sessions. The workshops include a walk-through of a variety of topics, which may include HACCP, Sanitation Performance Standards, Sanitation SOPs, Rules of Practice, Food Defense strategies, E. coli 0157:H7 workshops. For online information about upcoming sessions go to: www.fsis.usda.gov/News_&_Events
Question: An unforeseen event interrupts an establishment’s normal antimicrobial intervention for control of Salmonella, which requires that the establishment employ a temporary antimicrobial intervention after the point at which the normal antimicrobial intervention is applied. When IPP are scheduled to collect a Salmonella verification sample, how should IPP respond to the temporary antimicrobial intervention?
Answer: IPP are to collect Salmonella verification samples after the establishment’s last antimicrobial intervention step and before packing/cut up, wherever the last antimicrobial intervention may be. The temporary antimicrobial intervention is now the final antimicrobial intervention and is now the point after which IPP are to collect the Salmonella verification samples. In accordance with FSIS Directive 10230.5, Attachment 1, sample collection can take place “after chilling, at the end of the drip line, or at the last readily accessible point prior to packing/cut up.” In accordance with FSIS Directive 10230.5, Attachment 2, the “standing sample collection instruction is to collect the designated product sample on [the] day that the plant produces it.” IPP are to work with establishment management to ensure that it is safe for IPP to collect the sample at the temporary alternative Salmonella verification sample site.
http://www.fsis.usda.gov/OPPDE/rdad/FSISDirectives/10230-5.pdf
Background: FSIS issued Directive 10230.5 in 1998 to provide direction to inspection program personnel (IPP) on how to collect Salmonella verification samples. Although FSIS continues to rely on this directive, the directive does not provide instructions on how to respond if an establishment makes changes in how it applies the antimicrobial interventions it employs. The purpose of this Q and A is to make clear that IPP are to collect samples after the final antimicrobial intervention is applied.
Markets are more competitive; competitors are more aggressive, consumers budgets are shrinking. During this unstable economic time restaurants have seen a decline in customers and dollars spent. Many restaurants are combating the decline with new menu items and special meal deals. Restaurants are cutting back prices and offering lunches under $8 and specials under $6.
Checkers has added chicken wings and a Philly cheese steak burger to its menu. Subway came out with the $5 footlong sub and Quiznos cut prices of some of their menu items making some of their subs under $5. The biggest trend has been Sliders, tiny bite size burgers that are used for appetizers, a small portion meal or a dish to share. The market has been saturated with sliders and now you can have them at every meal of the day. It is times like these restaurant owners look for new products and new marketing ideas.
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Things to Ponder . . . . . . . . .
"In the middle of every difficulty lies opportunity."
Albert Einstein
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Mound Tool Company was founded in 1899, and has been manufacturing the finest tools and equipment for the meat processing industry for over 100 years. Featuring our extensive line of trolleys, hooks, specialty knives, meat saws, bacon hangers and other related processing products. Contact Rich Wessles at 314.968.3991.
Refrigerated Warehousing Inc. (RWI) was established in 1984 to provide a single source for quality refrigerated construction services for the food processing and distribution industries. RWI is a refrigerated engineering and construction company that provides engineering and construction services to food processors and food distributors throughout the Southeast. Refrigerated Warehousing will have a tabletop at the SEMA convention, come by meet Dennis Shine the owner and President of the company. For more information visit there website rwizero.com or call Dennis at 800.873.2008 or 770.894.4013.
| Southeastern Meat Association 407.365.5661 Annual Convention |
Daytona Beach, FL |
June 11-13 |
| AAMP Annual Convention 717.367.1168 |
Omaha, Nebraska |
July 16-18 |
| North American Meat Processors Association (NAMP) 703.758.1900
E. coli O157:H7 Conference for Further Processors |
Chicago, IL | Aug. 18-19 |