TheMeatSite Newsletter - 10 March 2010

Wednesday 10th March 2010

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Welcome to this week's newsletter

Editorial: Global Alert System Announced for Food Safety

Countries producing food containing harmful bacteria and toxins could be named and shamed more quickly using a worldwide alert system devised by a team of scientists from Kingston University in South West London.

The team, led by Professor Declan Naughton, says the easy to use computer tool can be used to monitor contaminated products; helping to prevent them reaching shop shelves and ensuring that food is safe to eat.

Meanwhile, the US is in the grip of another food scare - this time with products being recalled becasue of Salmonella.

In one incident, 1.7 million pounds of ready-to-eat (RTE) beef taquito and chicken quesadilla products have been recalled because they may be contaminated with Salmonella and 6,000 bacon based products have also been recalled because of Salmonella scares.

The problem appears to have arisen in an ingredient - Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein (HVP).

On 4 March, the Food and Drug Administration conducted an investigation after a customer of an FDA regulated firm reported finding Salmonella in the HVP ingredient. This resulted in the subsequent recall of the contaminated products.

The recall comes at a time when former US Food and Drug Administration economist Robert L. Scharff revealed the total economic impact of foodborne illness across the US is $152 billion a year.

In China, the general office of the State Council has issued a plan to improve national food safety.

As part of a two-year project that began last month, the plan details 11 points for reforming food safety in China, aiming to solve problems and restore public confidence in the products that are available on the market.

Chris Harris

This Week's Feature Articles

We have 5 new features this week:

Vaccines and Microbials to Control E.Coli
Since E.Coli 0157 was recognised as a serious food safety issue in the 1980's following a poisoning outbreak in the US in hamburgers, there have been numerous attempts to institute controls, writes TheMeatSite senior Editor, Chris Harris.

Traces of Success at Himmerlandskød
Danish meat processing company, Himmerlandskød (Himmerland Meat), is enjoying notable success, with positive media coverage and praise from the Danish Minister of Food. The employees are happy, and sales are high. All this results from a mix of visionary business management and advanced production technology focused on traceability.

Pig Meat Outlook in Australia to 2014-15
Pig production is expected to increase from the present 329,000 tonnes to 338,000 tonnes by 2014-15, according to James Fell in Australian Commodities report for March 2010 from ABARE.

Poultry Outlook in Australia to 2014-15
Output from the poultry meat industry is expected to continue to increase by around four per cent annually throughout the forecast period to 2014-15, according to James Fell in Australian Commodities report for March 2010 from ABARE.

EU-27 - Livestock and Products Semi-Annual 2010
According to the latest GAIN Report from USDA Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS), Bluetongue continues to remain widespread in the European Union, but most commercial herds have acquired immunity through past infections as well as from vaccinations. Meanwhile, Classical Swine Fever (CSF) has retreated to most Eastern Member States and is largely under control in wild boar populations.

Company News

Online Matchmaking with Suppliers from VNU
NETHERLANDS - With the launch of Animal Protein.net, VNU Exhibitions has introduced online match-making for the worldwide markets for animal production and processing.

Global Meat Processing Industry News