TheMeatSite Newsletter - 7 December 2011

Welcome to this week's newsletter

EDITORIAL: France Resists Animal Protein in Livestock Feed

A few weeks ago, when the European Commission introduced its 12 concrete proposals to monitor and clamp down on the use of antibiotics in livestock production because of a fear they could pass on antibiotic resistance in humans, France together with Germany introduced their own even tighter measures.

Now the French Ministry of Agriculture is turning to the use of meat and bonemeal in animal feed.

The French Minister of Agriculture Bruno Le Maire has said that so long as he is in office it will not be reintroduced in France.

Its use has been banned for well over a decade after it had been labelled as a potential cause of BSE in cattle.

However, the European Commission has recently been considering allowing it to be added to feed for non-ruminants.

A report from the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) describes the risks associated with the residual presence of processed animal proteins as negligible.

France completed its own assessment of the use of animal proteins in November and has said that it does not support the reintroduction of animal proteins in animal feed.

Mr Le Maire said that he strongly opposes any changes in the regulations of animal feed and has pledged that while he is minister the use of animal meal in France will not be reintroduced.

In South Korea, The Korean Food & Drug Administration (KFDA), which sets maximum residue limits (MRL) for veterinary drugs (as well as pesticides) in livestock products including meat, dairy products, fish and honey, is to review existing veterinary drug MRLs and hopes to finish this process by the end of 2014.

Products with residue levels above the established tolerance are not eligible for entry into commerce, according to a report from the USDA Foreign Agricultural Service.

In the UK, new figures from the Health Protection Agency (HPA) reveal that 90 per cent of campylobacter outbreaks at catering venues in the UK were linked to undercooked chicken liver pate.

HPA investigations into the outbreaks revealed that livers used to make the paté were not thoroughly cooked, allowing the liver to remain pink in the centre.

Now the Food Standards Agency has issued a warning to chefs and other caterers to ensure that campylobacter is killed through proper cooking.

Chris Harris

The MeatSite Book Focus

	Food and Package Engineering This book uniquely reflects the systemic, interconnected nature of the food packaging industry. Order Now Online
	Handbook of Lean Manufacturing in the Food Industry This book is directed at those who are working in food manufacturing or the wider food industry, particularly factory operations managers and training teams who are looking for resources to help with lean manufacturing implementations. Order Now Online

This Week's Feature Articles

We have 14 new features this week:

Building Trust Through Quality Assurance
Building success in the market, both domestically and internationally, is based on building trust in the quality and safety of products and now more importantly trust in the ethical correctness of production, writes TheMeatSite editor in chief, Chris Harris.

FAO Food Outlook: Meat And Meat Products
High feed prices, adverse weather, disease outbreaks and livestock herd rebuilding have kept meat prices at record levels in 2011.

Food Chain Statistics From Farm to Fork
While some of the food that is consumed in the EU is procesed on the farm, most is processed within the manufacturing sector, before it is distributed through wholesalers and finally purchased by consumers in shops or restaurants.

New Research Projects Advancing Industry
In a partnership between ALMA, Genome Alberta and Genome Canada, Alberta’s research community has seen more than $6 million invested in 11 exciting genomics projects to improve the health, reputation and quality of Alberta’s livestock.

Food and Feed Safety
The EU poultry industry cares for the health of consumers as well as that of its poultry. Salmonella levels are decreasing and our industry is committed to fight the challenges of Campylobacter and to find the best solutions for using reformatory medicines in a prudent and responsible way.

NAB Rural Commodities Wrap November 2011
Australian agricultural commi=odity prices are weakening in teh face of the global financial crisis, while production is increasing, writes Michael Creed, NAB Agribusiness Economist in his November Rural Commodities Wrap.

International Meat Review - 25 November 2011
US meat exports were up year on year in September despite a drop from the August figures according to the USDA.

Ghana - Poultry and Products Report 2011

Venezuela – Livestock and Products Annual 2011

Canada – Livestock and Products Annual 2011

Japan – Livestock and Products Annual 2011

Argentina - Poultry and Products Annual Report 2011

China – Livestock and Products Annual 2011

South Korea Dairy and Products Annual Report 2011

Company News

Anuga FoodTec Offers Opportunities for SMEs
GERMANY - Anuga FoodTec, which will be held in Cologne from 27 to 30 March 2012, is once again expected to attract more than 1,200 exhibiting companies from about 40 countries.

Global Meat Industry News