SEMA_________________________________ SOUTHEASTERN MEAT ASSOCIATION
SEMA CONVENTIONThis year’s theme: T.E.A.M. (Together Everyone Achieves More) You will not want to miss this convention at the 4-star Shores Resort & Spa. Daytona is a great family destination and the resort is directly on the ocean. There will be time for fun, at the beach, networking around the pool, or enjoying the Saturday golf tournament and we have a special comedian flying in to entertain us Saturday evening. A great program has been put together this year; the sessions are directed for owners and top management. More information on the SEMA convention can be found on the SEMA web site convention page. Our special speaker, Michael Angelo Caruso, is a nationally recognized author and speaker. His program is titled “Pro-Active Communications”. Mr. Caruso is an accomplished writer and author of the “5 Cool Ideas” book series. The program will offer strategies on how to benefit from pro-active communication and how to achieve higher levels of productivity. The program also offers key information on how to be more assertive, important speaking and listening techniques, stress reduction strategies and how to create the ultimate customer experience. You will not want to miss this event. Plant-tours by Powerpoint, will be given by Mike Satzow of North Country Meats from New Hampshire and Jeff Jobe of J & B Meats from Illinois. Mike and Jeff will be sharing their business strategies with us. You will want to see and hear their success stories. Listeria, a word no one wants to hear. Jeff Chilton of Chilton Consulting Group will help us to stay out of trouble when you hear his “IVT Preparation/Listeria Assessment DIR 10240.5” program. Owners and plant managers will not want to miss his presentation. Do you have a web site, does it sell for you? If not, you will want to hear what Chris Menard from Triality Inc. has to say. Chris has designed sites that are feature loaded including databases, user updated formats, flash animation, graphic design, video and more. Chris’ presentation will focus on SEMA member Stripling’s General Stores web site. Dr. Jerry Murphy from Chastain-Skillman, Inc. has worked with companies on pollution control matters and is working with SEMA member Central Beef LLC, developing an updated design for wastewater treatment. Jerry will discuss several projects that will relate environmental pollution control to waste generated in the meat production industry. Dr. Sally Williams and Larry Eubanks from the University of Florida will be presenting new beef and pork cuts; eating characteristics, marination, traditional use and how they can be used today. The SEMA “T.E.A.M.”: Franks Doors - Scott Meacham, Express Label – Steve Mintz, Ulma Packaging – John Williams and Air Products- Jim Link, Associate SEMA members will tell us how their industry products can help make our jobs and businesses work efficiently and be cost effective. RISK-BASED INSPECTIONPresident Bush may delay Risk Based Inspection (RBI) due to the expected veto of the Iraqi War Supplemental and Katrina Relief bill. The Food Safety and Inspection (FSIS) announced a series of meetings focused on specific topics relating to risk-based inspection (RBI) in processing plants. To improve food safety and better protect public health, FSIS intends to better utilize the information regularly collected at processing establishments. By taking into account the relative risk of what each processing plant produces and how each plant is controlling risk in its operations, FSIS will more effectively focus inspection activities at those processing plants needing it the most, while continuing daily inspection at all processing facilities. Meetings will be held on the following dates:
All meetings will be held in Room 244 at George Mason University, 3401 N. Fairfax Drive, Arlington, Va., 22201. $ LIMITS ADJUSTED FOR RETAIL STORE EXEMPTION ON INSPECTIONThe U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) and Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced calendar year 2007 dollar limitations for retail stores that sell meat and poultry products and qualify for an exemption from federal inspection. Retail operations are not subject to inspection unless sales to hotels, restaurants and similar institutions exceed 25 percent of total sales or exceed the calendar year dollar limitation. The dollar limitations for meat and meat food products will remain $55,100 in 2007, the same amount as in 2006. For poultry products, the dollar limitation will be reduced to $44,400 from $45,200. These adjustments are based on changes in the Consumer Price Index. More details pertaining to the changes in dollar limitations are available at www.fsis.usda.gov/regulations/2007_Notices_Index. FSIS MAGAZINEFoodSafe: The FSIS Magazine is a quarterly publication that focuses on food safety behavior trends, emerging science and research, inspection issues (domestic and international), and education programs for food workers, consumers and caregivers. The Winter/Spring issue showcases USDA's efforts to reach out to at-risk populations to help fight food borne illness in the global marketplace through educational programs, a food safety conference, and targeted publications. Sign up now to receive automatic notification by email when the magazine is posted. Electronic access to the magazine is FREE. FDA and USDA DETERMINE SWINE FED ADULTERATED PRODUCTThe USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) notified State authorities that swine fed adulterated product will not be approved to enter the food supply. Based on information currently available, FDA and USDA believe the likelihood of illness after eating pork from swine fed the adulterated product would be very low; however, the agencies believe it is prudent to take this measure. FDA determined that a shipment of rice protein imported from China was contaminated with melamine and melamine-related compounds. The product was imported during the week of April 2, 2007 by Wilbur-Ellis, an importer and distributor of agricultural products. The rice protein was used in the production of pet food and a byproduct was used to produce animal feed. The contaminants in question include melamine and melamine-related compounds, including cyanuric acid, the combination of which is a potential source of concern in relation to human and animal health. Scientific research indicates that melamine alone, at detected levels, is not a human health concern. However, no scientific data exist to ascertain the effects of combining melamine and melamine-related compounds. Therefore, a determination has not yet been made regarding the safety of the product. Because the animal feed in question was adulterated, USDA cannot rule out the possibility that food produced from animals fed this product could also be adulterated. Therefore, USDA cannot place the mark of inspection on food produced from these animals. The Rest of the Story The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have learned that byproducts from pet food manufactured with contaminated wheat gluten imported from China have been used in chicken feed on some farms in the state of Indiana. This information came to light as part of the continuing investigation into imported rice protein concentrate and wheat gluten that have been found to contain melamine and melamine-related compounds. At this time, the investigation indicates that approximately 30 broiler poultry farms and eight breeder poultry farms in Indiana received contaminated feed in early February and fed it to poultry within days of receiving it. All of the broilers believed to have been fed contaminated product have since been processed. The breeders that were fed the contaminated product are under voluntary hold by the flock owners. As with exposure from hogs fed contaminated pet food and for similar reasons related to the dilution of the contamination, FDA and USDA believe the likelihood of illness after eating chicken fed the contaminated product is very low. Because there is no evidence of harm to humans associated with consumption of chicken fed the contaminated product, no recall of poultry products processed from these animals is being issued. Ham and Food SafetyThe FSIS has available information that serves to carve up the facts and make them easier to understand. Includes a ham glossary. Available on www.fsis.usda.gov KEEP EMPLOYEES SAFENew CPR and Choking Posters from the American Red Cross FOOD DEFENSE PLANAvailable on the FSIS web site is a guide that provides an easy, practical, and achievable three-step method for creating a food defense plan. By completing pages 13 -16 of the guide, you will have a plan specific for your operation. The guide can be found at www.fsis.usda.gov then click on Small and Very Small Plants. SEMA INDUSTRY NEWSIf your company has something they would like to share or information to update please send it in to the SEMA office and we will post it. Example, new salesperson, personnel promotions, expanding your company, etc. Stripling’s General Store's Beef Jerky was featured in the December issue of Food & Wine Magazine as one of the “Top 10 Test Kitchen Discoveries.” The article written by Kristin Donnelly and Nick Fauchald described Stripling’s Beef Jerky as “intensely meaty and slightly spicy.” Four of the discoveries from this top ten list were highlighted in The Week Magazine. The article listed Stripling’s Beef Jerky first! Stripling’s has three locations, in Cordele and Moultrie or you can visit their web site www.striplings.com Econ-O-Marker Inc.: Mark Wiltshire will be introducing a new full color labeler, the Stand Alone Printer. The printer has been redesigned to conform to all the new Microsoft changes that occurred this year. Mark Wiltshire will be exhibiting at the SEMA convention, showing the new Printer. VC999 is pleased to launch a new series, VC999 Top 9. The Top 9 will focus on topics of interest about the industry and products in the packaging industry – all with an eye toward educating customers and associates. American Association of Meat Processors (AAMP) now has available a Crisis Management & Security Training Manual. SEMA is an AAMP Affiliate member, allowing SEMA processing members to purchase the manual at the AAMP member rate of $35.00. To order a copy, call the AAMP office 717.367.1168. <<-->><<-->><<-->><<-->><<-->><<-->><<-->><<-->> WELCOME NEW SEMA MEMBERSProcessing MemberRoyal Foods of Alabama 1904 16th South Ave. Associate MemberAdvanced Surfaces Corp. 3355 Liberty Rd. Innovative Machine Inc. 6115 N. W. 123rd Place VC999 Packaging Systems 419 E. 11th Ave. CALENDAR OF EVENTS
Companies that invest in employee learning have higher
productivity, revenue growth, NEED SOME HELP?Many of our SEMA Associate members will have tabletop displays at the
SEMA convention. This is a great opportunity to learn what is new in
the industry and the latest trends. Just a few that will be there:
The following colleges this year will have tabletop displays.
You will have an opportunity to learn the expertise of each school and
build a
working relationship. The SEMA scholarship recipients will be attending,
giving them an opportunity to learn more about our industry. |
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