SEMA_________________________________ SOUTHEASTERN MEAT ASSOCIATION
ANIMAL IDENTIFICATION SYSTEMThe National Animal Identification System (NAIS) has set up a program to identify specific animals in the U.S. and record their movement over their life span. USDA, State agencies and industry are working to trace, within 48 hours, the movement of any diseased or exposed animal. For more information check out the NAIS web site at animalid.apis.usda.gov/nais/index.shtml. START THE DAY WITH BREAKFASTWe have been told not to skip breakfast and are listening. Even though most people still eat breakfast at home, some 11% of people are eating breakfast out and 6% of them are eating on the go. That’s double the rate from ten years ago. Americans want convenience, making the breakfast sandwich the number one breakfast food item purchased at restaurants. BEST PRACTICE FOR HOLDING TESTED PRODUCTSA new set of industry best practices for holding tested meat and poultry products has been developed. The document was designed to detail best practices that can be used throughout the food production system to ensure that products being tested for pathogens or other adulterants are held until results are received. The document outlines key issues to assist plants in developing plant-specific procedures and covers both raw and ready-to-eat meat and poultry products. General points covered in the “best practice” document include: communication with inspection personnel; test and hold planning; physical control of the products held; limited physical space; maintaining control of products being held; products with limited shelf-life; production lots and raw materials; filling orders and record keeping. Also included are lot identification logs, checklist for holding products and a worksheet to us in meetings with USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service personnel. To obtain a copy visit http://haccpalliance.org/alliance/bestpractices.html MARKET REPORTINGThe Livestock Mandatory Reporting Act was set to expire September 30th but the House of Representatives and the Senate have passed different bills to reauthorize the reporting process. With the deadline so close, will the House and Senate be able to work out their differences? AMI is asking its members to continue reporting to the Agricultural Marketing Services. CRAWFORD RESIGNSAfter two months as the head of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Lester Crawford has resigned. Andrew Von Eschenbach, Director of the National Cancer Institute, will serve as acting chief. SRM AMENDMENT FOR BEEF SMALL INTESTINES USEThe Food Safety and Inspection Services (FSIS) issued changes to interim final rule governing Specific Risk Material (SRM) removal. Slaughter establishments must have verification of the removal, segregation and disposition of the distal ileum of the small intestine of cattle. Processing establishments must have verification of establishment documentation of the removal of the distal ileum in order to use the small intestine in meat food products, edible rendering or as natural casings. NEW E. COLI DRUGEli Lilly and India’s Gangagen Biotechnology’s are taking viruses and developing a drug to put into an animal feed supplement for cattle. Test will be conducted on some 400 Canadian cattle before the feed supplement is marketed. *INDUSTRY ISSUES*The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is conducting a review
of the regulations established by the Pathogen Reduction/Hazard Analysis
Critical Control Point (HACCP) final rule under Section 610 of the Regulatory
Flexibility Act, as amended. These provisions require that all Federal
agencies review existing regulations that have a significant economic
impact on a substantial number of small entities to determine whether
the associated impact can be minimized. FSIS is seeking comment from
the small meat and poultry establishments on the regulations established
by HACCP final rule. The “Meat and Poultry Pathogen Reduction Act” has been introduced to the Senate and the House. The bill is also known as “Kevin’s Law” and would authorize the following:
The Meat Association Council is putting together a committee to develop a defined approach to obtain relief on the abuse of overtime charges. The committee will investigate the problem to see if it is more prevalent in one area than another. It was recommended the Committee bring the issue to the attention of Under Secretary for Food safety Richard Raymond. MARKETINGMonogram Food Solutions, a Memphis, TN based licensor and marketer, has a licensing agreement to produce and market NASCAR brand meat products. Products became available nationwide on September 18th. Smithfield Foods, Inc will be manufacturing hot dogs, bologna, smoked sausage, lunchmeats and bacon. SEMA INDUSTRY NEWSRick Gelinas of Action Commodities in Loganville, GA, would like you to add his e-mail address to your list of vendors. Please include in your records rjgelinas@alltel.net, or you can call Rick at 770.466.6302. Tippmann Group/Interstate Warehousing is adding a new Interstate Warehousing
facility in the Nashville, TN area located just off I-24 in Murfreesboro,
TN scheduled for completion in the spring of 2006. Interstate Warehousing
provides more than 50 million cubic feet of public frozen/refrigerated
logistic services in multiple locations across the country. We have strategically
aligned ourselves with manufacturers, retailers, wholesalers, and food
service operators to improve their refrigerated and frozen distribution
supply chains. We provide niche solutions in all channels of the supply
chain to customers who value a combination of factors when selecting
a third party provider as a partner. Zep Manufacturing is having a one day Customer training workshop covering
Microbial training, HACCP plans, reporting, proper steps in cleaning
and sanitation and tips and trends in the food industry. The workshop
will be November 17th from 10am to 3:30 pm at the Holiday Inn Lakeland,
Fl. There is no fee for the workshop. Reservations need to be in by October
15th. For more information call Steven Hynds at 863.859.2869. <<-->><<-->><<-->><<-->><<-->><<-->><<-->><<-->> CALENDAR OF EVENTS
BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIESAdvertise here, a free SEMA service CAREER OPPORTUNITIESAdvertise here, if your are looking for a career opportunity or to expand your staff Middle Management Position: Looking for an opportunity to work with a major processing company. Besides 30 years in the food processing industry, experience includes training in OSHA regulations, supervisor and plant manager in smoked meat and hams plants for 25 years. Working experience also includes hog kill plant, bacon processing and last job, production manager of a beef processing plant processing patty and bulk hamburger. For copy of resume, call the SEMA office 407.365.5661 or e-mail anna_ondick @ earthlink.net Foodservice Portion Control Market Manager: Central Florida area. Experience needed in portion cutting, production reporting and personnel management. Opportunities for growth, buying responsibility and profit sharing program. Full benefits. Mail resume to SEMA P.O. Box 620777 Oviedo, FL 32762, or e-mail resume to info@southeasternmeat.com. Resumes will be forwarded. EQUIPMENT WANTED/FOR SALEAdvertise here if you have equipment to sale or if you a looking to purchase Lowell Packing is selling its equipment and trucks. Some items available
are Reitz Blender, Maurer Smokehouse, Alkar 9 & 6 & 4 cage
smokehouses, Handtmann stuffer VF100, Groen Kettles Townsend skinner
model 500, 3 Multivac R230/ M855/ M800. IHC and International trucks. POTENTIAL CUSTOMERS Advertise here if you are looking for a meat/poultry supplier |
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