TheMeatSite Newsletter - 13 July 2011

TheMeatSite Weekly Newsletter

Wednesday 13th July 2011

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Welcome to this week's newsletter

Editorial: New Food Safety Instructions for Inspectors

The US Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has issued instructions to its inspection programme personnel in an effort to protect vulnerable consumers after an increased number of products have been recalled in the first half of 2011 due to the presence of undeclared allergens or other ingredients.

The agency has overseen 27 recalls for undeclared ingredients in the first six months of 2011; 20 are the result of undeclared allergens. In the preceding two years combined, FSIS issued recalls for a total of 32 undeclared allergens.

Under the new instructions, FSIS personnel are charged with making establishments aware of the importance and prevalence of undeclared allergens in meat and poultry products and how best to ensure labels are kept accurate and current.

FSIS has also issued new performance standards for Salmonella and Campylobacter in chilled carcases at young chicken and turkey slaughter plants.

The new standards apply to verification sample sets that begin on or after 1 July 2011.

The number of samples collected for young chicken and turkey verification sets will remain the same, but each sample collected in a set will be analysed for both Salmonella and Campylobacter.

According to the FAO, food prices are on the rise.

The FAO's Food Price Index rose by one per cent to 234 points in June 2011 - 39 per cent higher than in June 2010 but four per cent below its all-time high of 238 points in February of this year.

In China, measures are being taken to support the pork market as Premier Wen Jiabao told government departments to take immediate action to increase production and supplies to prevent a surge in prices.

Mr Wen said that keeping consumer prices stable and taming inflation remain the government's top priorities.

Chris Harris

This Week's Feature Articles

We have 5 new features this week:

Finding the Best Ageing Method for Export Beef
The demand for dry aged beef around the world is growing, writes TheMeatSite editor-in-chief, Chris Harris.

Dairy Industry Facing Up to Volatile Markets
The dairy industry around the world is learning to face up to volatility in the market, writes TheMeatSite editor-in-chief, Chris Harris.

Risks of Recycled Cardboard in Food Packaging
Harmful mineral oils from the printing inks used on cardboard can migrate into food if recycled cardboard is used for food packaging.

New Face of Enterohaemorrhagic Escherichia coli Infections
The unprecedented outbreak of Shiga toxin/verotoxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC/VTEC) O104:H4 in Germany in May and June 2011 displayed several novel epidemiological, microbiological and clinical features.

Positive Outlook for Frozen Foods in Benelux
According to Frozen Food Europe, frozen food sales in both the Netherlands and Belgium grew last year and are expected to continue to grow in both value and volumes over the coming 12 months.