News Articles

Jul 2, 2009 FSIS Publishes Questions and Answers on New E. coli Measures for Establishments Processing Raw Beef Products The Food Safety and Inspection Service has published a number of questions and answers in relation to Notice 05-09: Measures to Address E. coli O157:H7 ...
Jul 1, 2009 FSIS Issues Directive on Verifying Requirements for Pre-Stamping of Imported Meat and Poultry The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has issued Directive 9500.4, Pre-Stamping Imported Product, which provides ...
Jul 1, 2009 National Hot Dog & Sausage Council Announces Winners of `Take Me Out to the Ballgame' Video Contest The National Hot Dog and Sausage Council has announced the winners of its Hot Dog Month song and video contest to create an updated version ...
Jun 30, 2009 USCIS Employment Eligibility Verification Form Still Valid U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced today that the Employment Eligibility Verification form I-9 (revised 02/02/09) currently on the USCIS Web site ...
Jun 30, 2009 Deadline for Achievement Awards Applications Approaching The deadline for applying for AMI�s 2009 Environmental Achievement Awards is July 10. ...
Jun 26, 2009 AMI Joins Diverse Coalition in Urging Congress to Consider Impact Climate Change Legislation Will Have on Nation's Food Supply AMI has joined a diverse coalition of food, feed and beverage associations in urging Congress to consider and prioritize the impact proposed climate change legislation will have ...
Jun 25, 2009 AMSA Presents AMI President and CEO with Special Recognition Award The American Meat Science Association (AMSA) presented AMI President and CEO J. Patrick Boyle with its...
Jun 24, 2009 USCIS Seeks Public Comment on E-Verify Program's Designated Agent Process The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is seeking public comment on the E-Verify Program Designated Agent Process ...
Jun 24, 2009 AMI Details Industry Advancements in Listeria Control At FSIS Public Hearing on Retail Risk Assessment Listeria monocytogenes (Lm) has been the catalyst for more changes in the processed meat industry than any other event in the last 30 years and the establishment of effective ...
Jun 22, 2009 Canada Issues Recommendations to Enhance Food Safety Following 2008 Listeria Outbreak A comprehensive analysis by the Canadian Parliament�s Food Safety Subcommittee following last summer�s listeriosis outbreak contains more than a dozen areas for improvement ...
Jun 19, 2009 AMI Challenges `Food, Inc.' Claims During `Nightline' Interview AMI Senior Vice President of Public Affairs Janet Riley challenged claims made in the new film �Food, Inc.� during an interview with ABC�s �Nightline� that aired...
Jun 19, 2009 New Poll Reveals Knowledge Gap Among Public on Meat and Poultry Handling, Cooking and Safety A new poll released by AMI reveals a significant knowledge gap among the public about...
Jun 19, 2009 Poll Finds Kids Taking Different Approach to Restaurant Meals Today's kids are no longer as attracted to kids' meals with toys...
Jun 18, 2009 AMI President Delivers Country of Origin Labeling Testimony Before Canadian House AMI President and CEO J. Patrick Boyle testified today before the Canadian House of Commons Standing Committee on Agriculture and Agri-Food on the impact of...
Jun 17, 2009 U.S., Canada Reach Agreement for Organic Trade Equivalence An agreement has been reached between the United States and Canada that will expand opportunities for organic...
Jun 17, 2009 Food Safety Enhancement Act of 2009 Passes Committee by Voice Vote The House Energy and Commerce Committee today passed...
Jun 17, 2009 Nitrites and Nitrates Offer Cardiovascular Health Benefits, Study Finds Nitrite and nitrite intake can play a valuable role in reducing blood pressure for those following the well-regarded DASH diet (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) ...
Jun 16, 2009 Four in Ten Americans Say Grilled Steak the Perfect Meal for Dad on Father's Day Grilled steak and barbecue ribs are the preferred entrees when it comes to cooking the perfect meal for Dad, according to a new poll conducted by AMI. ...
Jun 15, 2009 EPA Extends the Compliance Dates for all Facilities Subject to Rule SPCC Rule The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has extended the compliance date to November 10, 2010, for all facilities ...
Jun 12, 2009 Meat and Poultry Industry Contributes $832 Billion Annually to U.S. Economy According to New AMI Economic Impact Study America�s meat and poultry industry, comprised of packers and processors, wholesalers and retailers, directly and indirectly contributes $832.4 billion dollars annually to the U.S. economy ...
Jun 10, 2009 AMI Requests Economic Impact Analysis Evaluating Effects of American Clean Energy and Security Act Prior to further consideration by Congress, the American Meat Institute is requesting an economic impact analysis be performed to evaluate the effects of the proposed American Clean Energy and Security Act (H.R. 2454) ...
Jun 9, 2009 AMI Expresses Concerns Regarding Food Safety Enhancement Act of 2009, Urges Further Review AMI President and CEO J. Patrick Boyle expressed concern over the proposed Food Safety Enhancement Act of 2009 ...
Jun 9, 2009 Increasing the Ethanol `Blend Wall' Will Put More Pressure on Already Tight Commodity Markets According to Two New Studies If the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) grants a petition to allow a 50 percent increase in the allowable limits of ethanol in gasoline, livestock, poultry and food producers will face higher commodity costs, according to two new...
Jun 5, 2009 FSIS Reissues E. coli Sampling Procedures to Include Provisions for Establishments USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has issued a new notice (Notice 44-09), which cancels FSIS Notice 18-09 and reissues its content to include provisions for an establishment to request that more than two samples be taken by inspection program personnel (IPP) in one day. ...
Jun 5, 2009 USDA to Hold Meeting on Agenda Items for 32nd Session of Codex Alimentarius Commission The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is sponsoring a public meeting to provide information and receive public comments on agenda items and draft U.S. positions that will be discussed at ...
Jun 2, 2009 Wall Street Journal Editorial: Ethanol "Bad Deal for Consumers" with Minimal or Negative Environmental Benefit Ethanol is like the old joke about the baseball prospect who is a poor hitter...
Jun 2, 2009 Modified E-Verify/Basic Pilot Mandate Suspended Again Until September The applicability date of Federal Acquisition Regulatory (FAR) Case 2007-013, Employment Eligibility Verification, has been suspended once again ...
May 28, 2009 AMI Tells Canadian House of Commons That Meat and Poultry Industry Has Made Great Food Safety Progress The meat and poultry industry has made great food safety progress in recent years and continues to strive to improve, according to AMI Executive Vice President James Hodges, who yesterday testified ..
May 27, 2009 Reduced Room Rates Available For WWFE Attendees Reduced rate rooms are now available for those planning to attend the...
May 26, 2009 National Hot Dog and Sausage Council Announces Judging Panel for `Take me Out to the Ball Game' Song and Video Contest The National Hot Dog and Sausage Council today announced an impressive lineup of judges for the Council�s contest to rewrite �Take Me Out to the Ball Game�so that it includes a long-overdue reference to hot dogs. ...
May 22, 2009 APHIS to Host Series of Meetings on National Animal Identification System The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) today announced six upcoming meetings to discuss stakeholder concerns related to the implementation of the National Animal Identification System. ...
May 18, 2009 AMIF Releases Request for Pre-proposals The American Meat Institute Foundation (AMIF) has released its 2009...
May 18, 2009 Proposals to Deliver Meat Tech Presentations at 2009 Worldwide Food Expo Due June 5 Proposals to deliver Meat Tech presentations at the 2009 Worldwide Food Expo, Oct. 28-31, 2009, at McCormick Place in Chicago, Ill., are due by June 5. ...
May 18, 2009 EPA Extends the Public Comment Period on Ethanol Waiver Application EPA is extending the comment period by 60 days on a waiver application requesting an increase in the amount of ethanol blended into a gallon of gasoline to up to 15 volume percent. ...
May 13, 2009 USDA Posts Semi-Annual Regulatory Agenda The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has posted its...
May 8, 2009 National Hot Dog & Sausage Council Releases Video Invitation to `Take Me Out to the Ball Game' Song & Video Contest The National Hot Dog & Sausage Council today released a video invitation to participate in its new "Take Me Out to the Ball Game" Song and Video contest. ...
May 7, 2009 U.S., Canada and Mexican Agriculture Heads Urge Trading Partners to Not Use H1N1 Virus as an Excuse to Create Trade Barriers "We strongly urge the international community not to use the outbreak of the H1N1 human influenza as a...
May 6, 2009 Secretary Vilsack and Minister Ritz Reaffirm Support for Pork Industry Canada's Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz and United States Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today re-affirmed that all appropriate steps are being taken to protect public health and strengthen the pork industry in both countries. ...
May 6, 2009 United States and European Union Reach Provisional Agreement in Long-Running Beef Dispute The United States and the European Union (EU) today reached a provisional agreement in the long-running dispute over beef trade. ...
May 6, 2009 Obama Issues Presidential Directive to Expand Access to Biofuels President Obama issued a presidential directive to establish a...
May 5, 2009 EPA Announces a Proposed Rule on the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced a proposed rule that would make regulatory changes to the current RFS. ...
May 5, 2009 International Organizations Stress Pork Safety in Joint H1N1 Statement In the wake of pork export bans due to the human H1N1 outbreak, four major international organizations released a joint statement over the weekend ...
May 4, 2009 FSIS Reissues Five Key Notices Covering Varied Issues The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has reissued five notices to the inspection workforce covering a wide variety of issues. ...
May 4, 2009 FSIS Issues Directive on Sanitary Dressing and Process Control Procedures The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) issued Directive 6401.1, which provides off-line inspection program personnel (IPP) with information regarding ...
May 4, 2009 AMI, 53 Groups Tell President Obama to Oppose Efforts to Block Imports of Cooked Poultry from China AMI and 53 other groups wrote to President Obama last week urging the Administration to oppose any provisions in appropriations bills that would prevent USDA from implementing regulations to permit inspection and importation of cooked poultry products from the People�s Republic of China....
May 3, 2009 Canada Reports Confirmed H1N1 Infection In Pigs After Farm Worker Visits Mexico and Becomes Ill Canada yesterday reported the world�s first case of the current strain of H1N1 jumping to pigs from a human, and health officials there speculate ..
May 1, 2009 FSIS Issues Revised Directive on Ante-Mortem and Post-Mortem Poultry Inspection The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has issued Directive 6100.3, Revision 1, which instructs Public Health Veterinarians (PHVs) and off-line and on-line inspection program personnel on how ...
May 1, 2009 AMI Creates Dedicated H1N1 Influenza Web Page on MeatAMI.com AMI today announced a new web page on MeatAMI.com dedicated to the emerging issue of H1N1 influenza. ...
May 1, 2009 Secretary Vilsack Announces National Animal Identification System Listening Sessions Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack has announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) will hold a series of listening sessions ...
May 1, 2009 National Animal Identification System Will Have Significant Positive Impact in Domestic and International Marketplace, USDA Study Finds Economic benefits in both the domestic and international marketplace resulting from enhanced traceability may be even greater than the cost savings realized during animal disease control ...
Apr 30, 2009 DHS Steps Up Worksite Enforcement Efforts Against Employers Updated worksite enforcement guidance instructing agents to take aim at employers and supervisors who knowingly hire illegal workers is expected to be issued today ...
Apr 30, 2009 Hybrid Flu Virus Spreading Globally Renamed "2009 H1N1 Flu" The new hybrid flu virus impacting countries around the globe will now be called...
Apr 30, 2009 AMI Requests Extension of Comment Period on Ethanol Petition AMI joined a diverse array of more than 30 organizations in requesting an extension of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) comment period for a petition that would increase the permitted amount of ethanol ...
Apr 29, 2009 OIE Says Pork Trade Bans Unjustified; No Cases of North American Influenza Found in Swine Trade bans on pork products based on fears these products may transmit influenza are unjustified as �there is no case of infection in animals confirmed ...
Apr 27, 2009 AMI Works to Set Record Straight on North American Flu, Telling Consumers That Pork Is Safe AMI today released a number of materials designed to set the record straight on North American Flu, including a video message...
Apr 24, 2009 Edward M. Avalos To Be Nominated as USDA Under Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs Edward M. Avalos will be nominated to serve as the Under Secretary...
Apr 24, 2009 Registration Now Open for Worldwide Food Expo 2009 Registration is now open for attendees and exhibitors of Worldwide Food Expo 2009, North America's largest food...
Apr 23, 2009 AMI Tells Congress That Meat and Poultry Industry Has Made Great Food Safety Gains and Continues to Progress The meat and poultry industry is continuously working to improve the food safety profile of its products and has made great progress in...
Apr 22, 2009 FDA Confirms April 27 as Effective Date for Livestock Feed Rule; Compliance Required by October 26 The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) confirmed today that April 27, 2009, will be the effective date for the final feed rule, but full compliance will not be required until October 26, 2009. ...
Apr 22, 2009 United States Delays Imposition of Additional Duties on E.U. in Order to Continue Efforts to Resolve Longstanding Beef Dispute The U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk has announced that due to recent positive developments in the ongoing negotiations with the E.U., the U.S. will delay...
Apr 22, 2009 USDA COOL Web Site Updated to Include Spanish Versions of Guidance Documents The USDA country of origin labeling (COOL) Web site has been updated to include final rule guidance documents in Spanish. ...
Apr 16, 2009 EPA: Cattle Material Prohibited in Animal Feed Not Hazardous Waste The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced today that �cattle material prohibited in animal feed� (CMPAF) is non-hazardous solid waste and thus can be disposed of in landfills. ...
Apr 16, 2009 AMI Foundation Sponsoring Listeria Workshop in May The AMI Foundation (AMIF) is sponsoring its popular Advanced Listeria monocytogenes Intervention and Control Workshop in May. ...
Apr 16, 2009 Administration Extends Delay on New Rule Requiring Subcontractors to Use E-Verify Until June 30 The Department of Defense, General Services Administration and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration is extending the applicability date of Federal Acquisition Regulatory (FAR) Case 2007-013, Employment Eligibility Verification ...
Apr 16, 2009 Non-Ambulatory Cattle Final Rule To Go Into Effect Friday The United States Department of Agriculture�s (USDA) final rule prohibiting the processing of cattle that become non-ambulatory after they pass federal veterinary inspection is scheduled to go into effect Friday, April 17, 2009. ...
Apr 16, 2009 FSIS Issues Directive on DVMS Work Methods The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has issued Directive, 6910.1, District Veterinary Medical Specialist (DVMS) � Work Methods. The directive provides ...
Apr 15, 2009 AMI President and CEO Delivers Remarks During Roundtable Discussion on Animal Identification Hosted by Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack AMI President and CEO J. Patrick Boyle delivered remarks today during a roundtable discussion on animal identification held by Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack. ...
Apr 15, 2009 Nebraska Governor Signs Law Mandating that Public Employers, Contractors Use E-Verify Nebraska Governor Dave Heineman has signed into law a bill (LB 403) that will require public employers and contractors to register with and use the federal government's E-Verify program to determine ...
Apr 14, 2009 Study: Many Consumers Ignore Food Product Recalls Many Americans fail to check their homes for recalled food products, a new study by Rutgers University�s Food Policy Institute has found. ...
Apr 14, 2009 Center of the Plate Training Early Bird Deadline Wednesday Time is running out for those wishing to register for Center of the Plate Training at the special early bird rate. ...
Apr 10, 2009 EPA Proposed Rule on Greenhouse Gas Reporting Published in the Federal Register The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today released its proposed rule on mandatory reporting of greenhouse gases (GHG). This proposal would be the first comprehensive national system for reporting emissions of carbon dioxide and other GHG produced by major sources in the United States. ...
Apr 10, 2009 CDC FoodNet Data Shows Little Change in the Incidence of Foodborne Infections A 10-state report released recently by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) shows little change in the incidence of some foodborne infections for 2008 when compared to the preceding three years ...
Apr 7, 2009 Clarification: FDA Proposes Delay of BSE Final Rule Implementation The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) today proposed a delay in the implementation of the final rule entitled, "Substances Prohibited from Use in Animal Food or Feed," more commonly referred to as the 2008 BSE final rule. ...
Apr 7, 2009 AMI's Hodges Tells Farm Foundation That U.S. Food Regulatory System is Working to Ensure Meat and Poultry Safety, Though Improvements Can Be Made The U.S. meat and poultry regulatory and inspection system is working to ensure safe food, though it can be improved further, according to AMI Executive Vice President Jim Hodges, who addressed the Farm Foundation ...
Apr 7, 2009 FSIS Amends List of Safe and Suitable Ingredients for Use in Meat in Poultry Products The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has amended FSIS Directive 7120.1, which identifies the substances ...
Apr 7, 2009 Employers Required to use New I-9 Forms Employers are now required to use a new version of Form I-9 (Employment Eligibility Verification Form). ...
Apr 6, 2009 FSIS Issues Export Library Revisions for March 2009 The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has issued its Export Library revisions for March 2009. ...
Apr 3, 2009 FSIS Issues Notice on Child Nutrition Labeled Products The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) yesterday issued Notice 24-09: Child Nutrition (CN) Labeled Products. This notice announces that...
Apr 2, 2009 Agriculture Committee Holds First in Series of Food Safety Hearings The House Agriculture Committee held its hearing today reviewing the food safety system. Those persons testifying included Elsa Murano, Ph.D., president of Texas A&M University and former undersecretary for food safety at the Department of Agriculture; Michael Taylor, J.D., research...
Apr 2, 2009 FSIS Reissues Notices on Humane Handling, Follow-Up Sampling of Raw Ground Beef Products, and Routine Sampling of Beef Trimmings The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) reissued the following notices:
Apr 1, 2009 APHIS Issues Final Rule on User Fees for Import, Export Services The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has issued its final rule on regulations concerning user fees for import and export-related services for ...
Mar 27, 2009 FSIS Launches RSS Feeds and Web 2.0 Tools The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) yesterday launched a set of RSS feeds for news and recall releases. ...
Mar 27, 2009 AMI Letter to President Applauds Creation of Food Safety Working Group A letter sent yesterday by American Meat Institute President and CEO J. Patrick Boyle to President Barack Obama welcomed the creation of the White House�s Food Safety Working Group and stated ...
Mar 27, 2009 AMI Opposes Increases to Ethanol Blend Levels AMI joined a diverse array of more than 50 organizations in voicing opposition to increasing the ethanol blend levels in gasoline until further scientific testing can be performed ...
Mar 26, 2009 Study Finds Incidence of Colorectal Cancer Higher in Vegetarians A new study by European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition�Oxford (EPIC-Oxford) analyzed the cancer incidence among vegetarians and found that ...
Mar 24, 309 Bipartisan Measure to Reduce Tariffs on Imported Ethanol Introduced U.S. Senators Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Judd Gregg (R-NH), Jeff Bingaman (D-NM), Susan Collins (R-ME), Maria Cantwell (D-WA) and Mel Martinez (R-FL) re-introduced S.622, the Imported Ethanol Parity Act ...
Mar 19, 2009 FSIS Updates New Technology Table The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has updated its New Technology Table. ...
Mar 18, 2009 Meat and Poultry Products Not Included in Mexico�s Retaliatory Tariff Hikes Following Termination of Pilot Trucking Program Meat and poultry products are not on the list of U.S. products that will be subject to retaliatory tariffs ...
Mar 17, 2009 FDA to Extend Feed Rule Implementation Deadline 60 Days The April 27 implementation deadline of BSE feed rule amendments prohibiting the use of high-risk cattle material in feed for all animal species will be extended 60 days ...
Mar 17, 2009 Hotel Deadline for Worker Safety Conference Extended Until March 20 The deadline to make room reservations at a special group rate for the AMI 2009 Conference on Worker Safety, Human Resources and the Environment has been extended. ...
Mar 15, 2009 AMI Welcomes USDA Final Rule on Non-Ambulatory Cattle The American Meat Institute (AMI) today welcomed USDA�s final rule that will prohibit the processing of...
Mar 13, 2009 Early Bird, Hotel Deadlines for Worker Safety Conference is March 16 The early bird deadline to register for the AMI 2009 Conference on Worker Safety, Human Resources and the Environment is fast approaching. ...
Mar 12, 2009 National Advisory Committee on Microbiological Criteria for Foods to Hold Public Meetings The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced today that the National Advisory Committee on Microbiological Criteria for Foods (NACMCF) will hold public meetings from March 16 � 20, 2009 in Washington, D.C. ...
Mar 12, 2009 FSIS Issues Notice on Changes in Sampling Frequency for E. coli O157:H7 Testing in Raw Ground Beef The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has issued Notice 18-09: Changes in Sampling Frequency for E. coli O157:H7 Testing in Raw Ground Beef ...
Mar 11, 2009 AMS Seeking Comment Regarding New Information Collection for "Naturally Raised" Standard The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) is seeking comment on its intention to request approval from the...
Mar 11, 2009 House and Senate Introduce Card Check Legislation The House and Senate yesterday introduced the so called "Employee Free Choice Act" (EFCA), commonly referred to as card check, which would change the rules...
Mar 10, 2009 FSIS Issues Notice on Alternative Methods for Ensuring 12 Percent Lean Tissue in Trimmings The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) issued Notice 17-09: Alternative Methods for Ensuring 12 Percent Lean Tissue in Meat Trimmings, which reissues the information ...
Mar 9, 2009 Immigration Legislation Resources Available Immigration Works USA (IW), a national organization advancing immigration reform that works for employers, workers and citizens, has put together ...
Mar 5, 2009 FSIS Issues Export Library Revisions for February 2009 The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has issued its Export Library revisions for February 2009. ...
Mar 5, 2009 FSIS Updates Meat, Poultry and Egg Product Inspection Directory The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has updated its Meat, Poultry and Egg Product Inspection Directory. ...
Mar 3, 2009 Bipartisan Group of Senators Introduces FDA Reform Bill U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL), Judd Gregg (R-NH), Ted Kennedy (D-MA) and Richard Burr (R-NC) today introduced the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act ...
Mar 3, 2009 Legislation Introduced to Preserve Secret Ballots in the Workplace Recently, legislation was introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives (H.R. 1176) and the U.S. Senate (S. 478) that would ensure workers retain the right to a secret ballot when choosing whether to form a union. ...
Mar 2, 2009 Indiana Senate Passes Bill That Would Suspend State Business Licenses of Employers Who Hire Undocumented Immigrants The Indiana Senate passed a measure last week that would suspend state business licenses of employers who knowingly hire undocumented employees on three occasions.
Feb 26, 2009 OMB Accepting Public Comments on Recommendations for New Executive Order on Federal Regulatory Review The Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) is accepting public comment on a set of recommendations ...
Feb 24, 2009 Funding for E-Verify Included in Omnibus Bill House Democratic leaders Monday released a $410 billion omnibus package that, if approved, would...
Feb 20, 2009 USDA Affirms Implementation of Final Rule on COOL and Secretary Issues Open Letter to Industry Encouraging Voluntary Expansion of the Regulations The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) issued a press release today stating that the final rule for mandatory country of origin labeling, published in January 2009, will go into effect on March 16, as scheduled. ...
Feb 20, 2009 Federal Court Enjoins California Non-Ambulatory Livestock Statute The United States District Court for the Eastern District of California late yesterday issued a preliminary injunction finding that the Federal Meat Inspection Act (FMIA) preempts a California law that intrudes into government regulations ...
Feb 19, 2009 FSIS Revises Export Requirements for Switzerland, EU The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has issued revised export requirements for Switzerland and the European Union. ...
Feb 17, 2009 FSIS Issues Directive on Review Methodology of State Meat and Poultry Inspection Programs The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has issued Directive 5720.3, Comprehensive Review Methodology of State Meat and Poultry Inspection Programs. ...
Feb 13, 2009 Pork, Beef and Lamb Exports Up in 2008 In 2008, pork had its 17th consecutive record-setting year of increased export numbers, according to statistics just released from USDA. ...
Feb 6, 2009 USDA 2007 Ag Census Released USDA has released the numbers for the 2007 Agriculture Census, which reveals that on farms in the U.S. there were 96.3 million cattle and calves, up from 95.5 million in 2002 ...
Feb 5, 2009 Annual Meat Conference Early Bird Registration Deadline Approaching Registration for the 2009 Annual Meat Conference, March 8-10, at the Sheraton Denver Hotel in Denver, Colo., at the Early Bird Rate of $595 ends on Feb.8. ...
Feb 4, 2009 FSIS Issues Three Directives Related to Verification of Listeria Control The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has issued three directives related to verification of Listeria monocytogenes (Lm) control. ...
Feb 4, 2009 AMI Urges Senators to Oppose Restrictive Trade Provision in Stimulus Package; Launches Grassroots Campaign In a letter sent yesterday as the U.S. Senate began considering the stimulus package, AMI President and CEO J. Patrick Boyle expressed AMI�s strong opposition to the �Buy American� provision ...
Feb 4, 2009 FSIS Issues Instructions on Using askFSIS The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has reissued the instructions for...
Feb 3, 2009 AMI Voices Opposition to Increase in Ethanol Blend Percentage in Gasoline The American Meat Institute joined a number of food and agriculture groups in signing a letter to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) voicing opposition to proposals to increase the levels at which ethanol can be blended into motor gasoline and ...
Feb 2, 2009 FSIS Issues Export Library Revisions for January 2009 The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has issued its Export Library revisions...
Jan 30, 2009 President Repeals Bush Order Protecting Federal Contractors President Barack Obama today repealed Executive Order 13201 signed by President George W. Bush, which helped ensure ...
Jan 30, 2009 Early Bird Registration Deadline for Center of the Plate Training Plus Approaching The early bird deadline for those wishing to register for Center of the Plate Training Plus is fast approaching. Attendees must register ...
Jan 30, 2009 FSIS Issues Revised Directive on Inspection, Sampling and Disposition of Animals for Tuberculosis The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has issued Directive 6240.1, Revision 1, which modifies the instructions that inspection program personnel (IPP) are to follow in the inspection, disposition, and sampling of cattle for tuberculosis (TB). ...
Jan 29, 2009 FSIS Reissues Instructions for Sampling of Salmonella and E. coli 0157:H7 in Low Volume Establishments The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has published a Notice 08-09, which reissues the instructions in FSIS Notice 12-08, �Sampling Of Low Production Volume Raw Ground Beef Establishments For Salmonella and Escherichia Coli O157:H7.� The notice provides direction to inspection...
Jan 28, 2009 Administration Delays New Rule Requiring Subcontractors to Use E-Verify Until May 21 The Department of Defense, General Services Administration and National Aeronautics and Space Administration have agreed to delay...
Jan 28, 2009 USDA, FDA Hosting Public Meeting on 41st CCFA Codex Session Agenda The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) are sponsoring a public meeting on February 10, 2009, from 1 to 4 p.m., to provide information and receive public comments on agenda items and draft United States positions that will be discussed at...
Jan 27, 2009 Animal Handling Conference Hotel Block Expires Soon The deadline to reserve rooms for the 2009 Animal Care and Handling Conference, to be held March 18-19, 2009, at the Westin Crown Center in...
Jan 26, 2009 USDA Establishes Naturally Raised Marketing Claim Standard The U. S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has issued a voluntary standard for naturally raised livestock and...
Jan 23, 2009 AMI Foundation January Newsletter Available Online The January edition of American Meat Institute Foundation News, a quarterly update...
Jan 22, 2009 Animal Handling Conference Early Bird Deadline Approaches Attendees can save up to $100 on registration fees by registering prior to January 30 for the 2009 Animal Care and Handling Conference. ...
Jan 22, 2009 Record Losses Predicted for Foodservice Industry in 2009 Foodservice consultancy Technomic has revised its 2009 foodservice industry forecast downward to -2.2 percent and is now predicting ...
Jan 21, 2009 Clarification Provided Concerning Regulatory Hold On Federal Agencies A memorandum from the Office of Management and Budget has been disseminated to federal agencies clarifying a January 20 memorandum issued by White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel placing a �hold� on certain aspects...
Jan 21, 2009 Senate Confirms Vilsack As Secretary of Agriculture The Senate confirmed former Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack ...
Jan 16, 2009 Application Deadline for AMI Worker Safety Awards Approaching The application deadline for AMI�s 2008 Worker Safety Awards is Friday, January 23, 2009. ...
Jan 13, 2009 USDA Issues Final Rule on Mandatory Country of Origin Labeling The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has issued its final rule for the mandatory country of origin labeling (COOL) program required by the 2002 and 2008 farm bills. The full text of the final rule will be published in the January 15, 2009, Federal Register . The rule becomes...
Jan 13, 2009 Coalition Urges Congress to Increase Investments in Second Generation Biofuels AMI has joined a coalition of food and agriculture groups in signing a letter to Congressional leaders in support of the development of second generation biofuels ...
Jan 9, 2009 New Rule Requiring Federal Subcontractors To Use E-Verify Put On Hold The effective date for a new Federal Acquisition Regulatory (FAR) Secretariat rule that requires federal subcontractors of any tier to use the Department of Homeland Security's E-Verify system to check employees' work authorization has been...
Jan 9, 2009 AMI Urges Congress to Oppose Anti-Worker Legislation AMI joined more than 500 members of the Coalition for a Democratic Workplace in signing a letter to members of Congress ...
Jan 8, 2009 FSIS Issues Notice on Measures to Address E. coli O157:H7 at Establishments that Process Raw Beef Products The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has issued Notice 05-09, which instructs inspection personnel on how to determine whether establishments that receive, grind, or otherwise process raw beef products are employing adequate measures to address E. coli O157:H7 ...
Jan 6, 2009 Confirmation Hearing for Vilsack Set for Next Week The Senate Agriculture Committee has set its confirmation hearing for former Gov. Tom Vilsack for...
Jan 6, 2009 FSIS Issues Notice on Sampling Procedures for E. coli Testing Program for Raw Ground Beef The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) released Notice 105-08, a reissuance of Notice 86-07, which details the sampling code procedures for its enhanced E. coli O157:H7 testing program for raw ground beef ...
Dec 31, 2008 Report on 17th Session of Codex Committee on Food Imports and Export Inspection Now Available The report of the U.S. Delegate, Codex Committee on Food Import and Export Inspection Certification Systems, 17th Session, is now available ...
Dec 31, 2008 FSIS Posts Presentations on EIAO Walk-Throughs The Food Safety and Inspection Service has posted presentations from the December 18 Enforcement Investigations and Analysis Officers meeting discussing walk-throughs ...
Dec 30, 2008 USTR Signs Protocol to Russian Trade Agreement The Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) today signed the protocol ...
Dec 30, 2008 Mexico to Resume Imports From Plants Suspended Last Week Mexico will resume imports from 20 of the 30 plants it suspended last week, U.S. Department of Agriculture officials told reporters yesterday ...
Dec 24, 2008 AMI Seeks Declaratory and Injunctive Relief Against California Law That is Preempted by the Federal Meat Inspection Act The American Meat Institute (AMI) today filed a motion to intervene in a lawsuit filed this week in California that seeks to block enforcement of state law
Dec 24, 2008 An Ethanol Bailout? And we thought we'd seen everything. Along with Russia, Venezuela, Iran and the Dubai property market, add another name to the list of bubble economies hurt by the falling price of oil: the ethanol industry. And naturally, the ethanol lobby is looking for a bailout on top of its regular taxpayer...
Dec 23, 2008 GIPSA Reviewing Bond Requirements Under Packers and Stockyards Act The United States Department of Agriculture's Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration (GIPSA) is reviewing how it calculates ...
Dec 18, 2008 Beef, Pork Exports Continue to Post Strong Growth Despite predictions that international trade numbers will shrink in 2009 for the first time in 25 years, U.S. beef and pork exports continued to post strong growth in the 2008 ...
Dec 18, 2008 DHS Makes Revisions to Employment Eligibility Verification Form The Department of Homeland Security's U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) recently submitted to the Federal Register an interim final rule making changes...
Dec 11, 2008 FSIS Issues Notice on Melamine Testing of Retail Meat and Poultry Products The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has issued Notice 97-08: Melamine Testing of Retail Meat and Poultry Products ...
Dec 11, 2008 Deadline for Listeria Workshop Room Reservations Approaching The deadline to reserve rooms at a special rate for the AMIF Advanced Listeria Intervention and Control Workshop, to be held February 3-4, 2009 in Chicago, is fast approaching ...
Dec 10, 2008 USDA OIG Report Identifies Failures At Hallmark Plant, But Sees No Evidence of Systemic Failure Following an investigation into undercover footage obtained at the Hallmark plant in Chino, California, and released in early 2008, USDA�s Office of the Inspector General (OIG) concluded ...
Dec 8, 2008 Judge Denies Government Request for Accelerated Hearing on No-Match Rule U.S. District Judge Charles Breyer has rejected a request from the Bush Administration to expedite a hearing to consider the proposed No-Match Rule ...
Dec 4, 2008 FSIS Issues Three New Regulatory Notices The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has issued the following notices ...
Dec 2, 2008 U.S. Beef Exports to EU Continue To Grow New data show that U.S. beef exports to the European Union (EU) continue to grow, heralded as encouraging news in light of the problems in global financial markets ...
Dec 2, 2008 FSIS Issues Updated Notice on Importation of Canadian Cattle, Bison, Sheep and Goats The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has issued Notice 88-08, which provides updated information to FSIS ...
Dec 2, 2008 FSIS Cancels Directive on Activity Report of Compliance Program Field Offices The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has cancelled Directive 8000.2, "Activity Report of Compliance Program Field Offices ..."
Dec 2, 2008 U.S. and Mexican Facilities Approved for Meat Export The United States and Mexico have reached an agreement...
Dec 2, 2008 AMI, IDFA Brief Trade Reps in Chicago AMI and the International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA) yesterday hosted an educational briefing and luncheon about ...
Dec 1, 2008 Canada to Begin Formal WTO Consultations with U.S. Regarding Country-of-Origin Labeling The Canadian government announced that it is seeking formal consultations with the United States regarding mandatory country...
Nov 28, 2008 USDA Semi-Annual Regulatory Agenda Now Available The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) semi-annual regulatory agenda is now available. This agenda provides ...
Nov 25, 2008 Major Korean Retailers to Resume U.S. Beef Sales South Korea's three major discount retailers announced today in a joint press release that they will resume ...
Nov 25, 2008 FDA Draft Compliance Guide on New Feed Rules Now Available The Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) draft compliance guide for industry on the agency's regulations ...
Nov 24, 2008 Cost of Classic Thanksgiving Dinner Rises 6 Percent The average cost of a classic Thanksgiving dinner for 10 people is expected to be 6 percent higher this year ...
Nov 21, 2008 AMI Retains Leading Consulting Firm to Enhance Return on Investment at 2009 Worldwide Food Expo In an effort to measure and enhance the purchase experience at the 2009 Worldwide Food Expo, AMI is retaining analysis firm ethnoMetrics Inc. (EI). ...
Nov 19, 2008 FSIS Issues Directive on Performing Sanitation Verification Review The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has issued Directive 5000.4, which instructs inspection personnel on how to perform ...
Nov 19, 2008 FSIS Issues Revised Directive on Significant Incident Response The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has issued Directive 5500.2, Revision 3, which outlines the procedures ...
Nov 19, 2008 FSIS Directive Details Revised Emergency Procedures The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has released a revised directive (5420.4, Revision 5), which details the procedures that the Import Inspection Division of the Office of International Affairs (OIA) and FSIS field personnel are to follow ...
Nov 18, 2008 AMI Joins Broad Coalition In Calling For Repeal of Ethanol Subsidies on 30th Anniversary of Mandates On the 30th anniversary of the U.S. government�s ethanol subsidies, AMI and dozens of organizations representing the livestock sector, government watchdog groups, environmental advocates, hunger organizations, tax groups and retailers called on the next Administration ...
Nov 17, 2008 FSIS Revises Directive on Recall of Meat and Poultry Products The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has issued Directive 8080.1, Revision 5, which provides updated information ...
Nov 17, 2008 FSIS Issues Directive on Foodborne Illness Investigations The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has issued Directive 8080.3, which instructs personnel from FSIS, Office of Public Health Science on the procedures ...
Nov 14, 2008 AMS Modifies Country-of-Origin Labeling Web Site The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) recently modified its Country-of-Origin Labeling (COOL) Program's Web site ...
Nov 13, 2008 American Meat Institute Foundation Adds Six New Videos to `Ask the Meat Science Guy' Consumer Education Series The American Meat Institute Foundation (AMIF) has added six new videos to its "Ask the Meat Science Guy" consumer education video series. AMIF unveiled the videos ...
Nov 13, 2008 FSIS Issues Directive Regarding Operations Occurring Outside Approved Hours The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has published Directive 12700.1 ...
Nov 7, 2008 FSIS Issues Notice to Begin Routine Sampling of Raw Ground Beef Components The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has issued Notice 80-08, which informs program personnel that they are to begin ...
Nov 7, 2008 FSIS Issues New Instructions for Multiple Follow-up Sampling Following Positive E. coli O157:H7 Result The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has issued new instructions (Notice 79-08) for multiple follow-up samples ...
Nov 7, 2008 FSIS Issues Notice Clarifying Scheduling of Food Safety Assessments The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) issued notice 78-08, which clarifies when District Office (DO) personnel are to schedule ...
Nov 5, 2008 California Voters Approve Proposition 2 A proposal that would ban modern housing systems for egg-laying hens, veal calves and gestating sows by 2015 was approved Tuesday by California voters.
Oct 31, 2008 FSIS Issues Instructions for Verification Sampling Programs for E. coli 0157:H7 in Raw Beef Products In response to questions that have arisen concerning FSIS Notices 17-07 and 18-07, the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is providing new guidance to inspection program personnel on collecting samples of beef manufacturing trimmings and other raw ground beef and patty components for...
Oct 31, 2008 FSIS Issues Notice on Movement of Product Between Custom Exempt Facilities The Food Safety and Inspection Service has issued Notice 76-08, which explains the conditions under which custom exempt products can be transported between custom exempt facilities. The notice also reiterates policies related to specified risk materials (SRMs) as defined in 9 CFR 310.22(a).
Oct 28, 2008 Department of Homeland Security Publishes No-Match Supplemental Final Rule The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) today published in the Federal Register a supplemental final rule, Safe Harbor Procedures for Employers who receive a No-Match Letter. 73 Fed. Reg. 63843).
Oct 28, 2008 FSIS Adds Checklist on E. coli O157:H7 Control to Directive 10,010.1 USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service will move an important checklist on E. coli O157:H7 control in beef operations currently contained in Notice 65-07 into Directive 10,010.01, Microbiological Testing Program for Escherichia coli O157:H7 in Raw Ground Beef Products and Raw Ground Beef...
Oct 28, 2008 Meat Industry Illness and Injury Incidence Rates at Lowest Level Recorded, New Data Show Meat industry injury and illness incidence rates now stand at the lowest level ever recorded, according to data recently released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) covering 2007 annual safety results. Overall, the meat industry's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)...
Oct 27, 2008 Study: Consumers Willing to Spend More on Premium Meats Though consumers are spending less on dining out, foodservice consultants at Technomic say that many are willing to spend more on "higher quality" menu items if they include premium ingredients.
Oct 23, 2008 AMI, Ag Groups, Protest Agriculture Secretary's Offer of Loans to Ethanol Plants The American Meat Institute, joined by seven other livestock and poultry organizations, this week wrote Agriculture Secretary Ed Schafer objecting to comments he made that USDA would extend rural development loans to ethanol plants that bought corn at the higher prices that prevailed earlier this...
Oct 22, 2008 Final Rule Says Swine Contractors Subject to Packers and Stockyards Act The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration (GIPSA) has published a final rule that adds "swine contractors" to the list of regulated entities subject to specific regulations issued under the Packers and Stockyards Act (P & S Act) [7 USC � 181-229].
Oct 17, 2008 American Meat Institute Elects New Officers The American Meat Institute today elected officers for the coming year during its annual business meeting in Colorado Springs, Colo.
Oct 16, 2008 FSIS Issues Draft Label Policy Guidance for N-60 E. coli O157:H7 Testing Claims The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has issued a draft guidance to the industry on the use of labels bearing an FSIS-approved N-60 E. coli O157:H7 testing claim. Such special label claims are voluntary. An establishment may use such claims when it demonstrates such E. coli O157:H7...
Oct 15, 2008 AMI Releases Consumer-Focused Country-of-Origin Brochure AMI this week released a new, consumer-oriented brochure to explain new country-of-origin information on meat packages and in retail meat cases.
Oct 13, 2008 Annals of Oncology Editorial Challenges World Cancer Research Fund Conclusions An editorial by leading cancer researchers in the October 2008 Annals of Oncology challenged the 2007 World Cancer Research Fund (WCRF) report conclusions and argued that media information generated by the group should have been more cautious and less definitive. The editorial was written by...
Oct 10, 2008 FSIS Issues Updated Listing of Safe and Suitable Ingredients for Use in Production of Meat and Poultry Products The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has updated Directive 7120.1, which provides inspection personnel with updated lists of substances that have been accepted since January 2000 as safe and suitable for use in the production of meat and poultry.
Oct 8, 2008 Consumers Confirm Growing Appeal of Supermarket Prepared Meals More than half of surveyed consumers think retailer prepared foods have greatly improved over the past three years, with more than 80 percent reporting buying at least one prepared meal from a retailer in the past month, according to a new report from foodservice consultants Technomic.
Oct 7, 2008 USDA Schedules Public Meetings to Discuss Impact of 2008 Farm Bill on Swine and Poultry Industries USDA's Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration (GIPSA) will hold three Town Hall meetings on implementation of the 2008 Farm Bill during which members of the public can provide comments and recommendations related to the swine and poultry industries.
Oct 3, 2008 AMI, NRA to Host Webinar on New Feed Rule The American Meat Institute (AMI) in partnership with the National Renderers Association (NRA) will host a special web seminar November 13, 2008 at 2PM EST, to educate the meat industry about the final Feed Rule scheduled to take effect in April 27, 2009.
Oct 1, 2008 Trade Associations Urge Congress To Pass $700 Billion Rescue Package AMI joined more than 50 other trade associations in signing a joint letter to Congress urging the House and Senate to pass the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act and bring stability to the credit markets. "The evaporation of credit is affecting businesses of all sizes and consumers and we run...
Sep 30, 2008 AMIF Partners with NAMP on �Center of the Plate Training� Course at Pennsylvania State University The American Meat Institute Foundation (AMIF) is partnering with the North American Meat Processors Association (NAMP) to offer AMI members "Center of the Plate Training," November 12-13, 2008, at Pennsylvania State University, State College, Pennsylvania.
Sep 30, 2008 FSIS Issues Notices on Beef Trim Testing and on Exclusions from Salmonella Testing The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has issued two notices related to beef trim testing and Salmonella verification testing of raw products.
Sep 26, 2008 Non-ambulatory Cattle Language Defeated The Senate today rejected a motion to proceed to the Economic Stimulus package (S. 3604), which includes language that would ban non-ambulatory disabled cattle from entering the food supply. The measure was rejected by a vote of 52 to 42. The language also included additional civil money...
Sep 26, 2008 USDA to Name Beth Johnson as Acting Under Secretary of Food Safety U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Ed Schafer welcomed the President's intention to designate Elizabeth (Beth) Johnson as Acting Under Secretary of Food Safety. Johnson will be replacing current Under Secretary Dr. Richard A. Raymond, who is retiring on October 1 after overseeing the...
Sep 25, 2008 House Passes Spending Bill Which Includes Funding for E-Verify Program The House of Representatives has passed a large spending bill that includes $100 million funding for E-Verify through the end of FY09. The E-Verify program is used widely by the meat industry and many other industries to ensure employee eligibility to work in the U.S
Sep 25, 2008 USDA To Host Public Meetings on Animal Raising Claims and Sampling Procedures USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) and Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) will host a public meeting on October 14 to review its policies on the use of animal raising claims in the labeling of meat and poultry products.
Sep 22, 2008 Health Canada Announces Approval of Diacetate as Preservative in RTE Meat Products Health Canada has announced it will recommend the Canadian food and drug regulations be amended to permit the use of sodium diacetate and sodium acetate as preservatives in standardized and unstandardized preparations of meat, meat by-products, poultry meat, poultry meat by-products, prepared and...
Sep 22, 2008 AMI Senior Vice President Janet Riley to be Featured on Martha Stewart Show September 23 AMI Senior Vice President of Public Affairs Janet Riley, who also serves as president of the National Hot Dog & Sausage Council, will be featured on the Martha Stewart Show Tuesday, September 23. The hour-long show will be entirely devoted to hot dogs.
Sep 19, 2008 FSIS Collecting Comments on Revised Laboratory Methods for Detecting E. coli The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is collecting comments on its revised laboratory methodology for detecting and identifying E. coli O157:H7 in regulatory verification samples. This new method, implemented January 28, 2008, can be found in the Microbiology Laboratory Guidebook (MLG),...
Sep 19, 2008 FSIS Issues IKE Scenario on Verifying Changes that May Affect HACCP Plan The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has issued IKE Scenario 03-08: Conducting Weekly Meetings to Verify Changes in Plant Processes which May Affect the Hazard Analysis or Alter the Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) Plan.
Sep 12, 2008 FSIS Updates E. coli Reports, Export Requirements The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has updated its E.coli O157: H7 reports. The updated information, which contains all test results through August 31, 2008, can be found at www.fsis.usda.gov/Science/2008_Ecoli_Positive_Results/index.asp.
Sep 11, 2008 USDA Secretary Says More Ethanol-Subsidy Cuts Needed U.S. Agriculture Secretary Ed Schafer criticized U.S. ethanol producers this week for depending too heavily on government subsidies and said reductions in government support were needed. "The ethanol industry has incorporated the fact there are subsidies into their operational, financial models....
Sep 9, 2008 `Wet Tare' Method Not Included in FSIS Final Rule on Net Weight Compliance A new Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) final rule, "Determining Net Weight Compliance for Meat and Poultry Products," does not include the "wet tare" method.
Sep 9, 2008 Industry Groups Call On Senate to Reauthorize, Improve and Expand E-Verify Program The American Meat Institute (AMI) sent a letter to Senators yesterday calling for legislative reauthorization and improvement of the online employment verification program "E-Verify." The program, used widely by the meat industry and many other industries to ensure employee eligibility to work...
Sep 8, 2008 AMI Launches New `Ask the Meat Science Guy' Consumer Education Video Series The American Meat Institute today unveiled a new educational video series, "Ask the Meat Science Guy," which will feature well-known meat expert Randy Huffman, Ph.D., president of the American Meat Institute Foundation.
Sep 8, 2008 Report: Restrictive Policies Resulting from Animal Disease Outbreaks Have High Economic Costs The economic effects of new or amended policies and regulations resulting from animal and poultry disease outbreaks can often be much greater and much longer lasting than the immediate effect of the outbreak itself, according to a recent report by the United States Department of Agriculture...
Sep 8, 2008 FSIS Issues Instructions for Performing Food Defense Verification Procedures in Identification Warehouses The Food and Safety Inspection Service (FSIS) has issued Notice 58-08, which provides instructions that inspection personnel are to follow when conducting food defense verification procedures in identification warehouses.
Sep 2, 2008 FSIS Issues Notice on Conducting Food Safety Assessment Related to Control of Salmonella The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has issued FSIS Notice 56-08, which addresses Food Safety Assessments (FSAs) conducted to analyze an establishment's control of Salmonella.
Aug 28, 2008 FSIS Issues Interim Final Regarding Generic Approval for Country of Origin Labeling The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has issued an interim final rule (IFR) allowing for generic approval of changes to meat and poultry product labeling necessitated by mandatory country of origin labeling (COOL). To be consistent with the COOL statute...
Aug 27, 2008 USDA Announces Proposed Rule to Ban All Non-Ambulatory Cattle from the Beef Supply USDA announced a proposed rule to completely ban the use of non-ambulatory cattle in the food supply.
Aug 27, 2008 NACMCF to Hold Public Meetings The National Advisory Committee on Microbiological Criteria for Foods (NACMCF) will hold public meetings of the full committee and subcommittees on September 22-26, 2008. Topics to be discussed will include: parameters for inoculated-pack challenge study protocols and determination of the most...
Aug 25, 2008 FSIS Issues HIKE Scenario on Cattle in Chute and Drive Alleys The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has issued Humane Interactive Knowledge Exchange (HIKE) Scenario 04-08: Cattle in Chute and Drive Alleys
Aug 22, 2008 USDA Schedules Public Meeting on AMI Petition to Use Low Dose Irradiation as Beef Processing Aid The USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has scheduled a public meeting on what action should be taken with respect to a petition from the American Meat Institute which requests that FSIS recognize the use of low penetration and low dose electron beam irradiation on the surface of...
Aug 22, 2008 FDA Approves Use of Irradiation on Iceberg Lettuce and Spinach The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is amending the food additive regulations to provide for the safe use of ionizing radiation for control of food-borne pathogens, and extension of shelf-life, in fresh iceberg lettuce and fresh spinach at a dose up to 4.0 kiloGray (kGy). This action is in...
Aug 21, 2008 National Advisory Committee on Meat and Poultry Inspection to Hold Public Meetings Next Week The U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) National Advisory Committee on Meat and Poultry Inspection (NACMPI) will hold a public meeting Aug. 27-28, 2008, to review and discuss international equivalence and approaches to assessing foreign food regulatory systems as a means of ensuring the...
Aug 19, 2008 Hunger, Stress Are Roadblocks to Healthy Eating, New ERS Report Shows Hunger and stress may be major roadblocks to healthy eating, according to a new report from USDA's Economic Research Service.
Aug 19, 2008 USDA ERS Reports Shows Decline in Nutrition Label Use A new USDA Economic Research Service report shows that while the majority of consumers say they use nutrition labels, overall use has declined.
Aug 12, 2008 ImmigrationWorks Southeastern Summit Slated for September ImmigrationWorks USA, a national organization aimed at advancing immigration reform that works for all Americans - employers, workers and citizens - will host a Southeastern Summit September 11, 2008, at the Marriott Atlanta Airport.
Aug 12, 2008 AMI Submits Comments in Opposition to Proposed Regulation that Would Require Federal Contractors to Use E-Verify AMI has submitted comments to the Federal Acquisition Regulatory (FAR) Secretariat in opposition to a proposed rule that would require federal subcontractors of any tier to use the Department of Homeland Security's E-Verify system to check employees' work authorization. The proposed rule...
Aug 11, 2008 FSIS Issues Instructional Notice on PBIS Procedure and Result Codes The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has issued FSIS Notice 50-08: New Performance-Based Inspection System (PBIS) Procedure Code and Result Codes.
Aug 7, 2008 EPA Denies Texas� Request for RFS Waiver The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced today its decision to deny a request submitted by the State of Texas to reduce the nationwide Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS).
Aug 7, 2008 Experts Cast Doubt on the Meat and Cancer Hypothesis A panel of government, university and industry experts speaking at a leading food safety conference yesterday cast serious doubt on widely reported claims of a meat and cancer connection. The timely symposium was held at the International Association for Food Protection Annual Meeting in...
Aug 6, 2008 AMI Executive Vice President Affirms Safety and Benefits of Processed Meats, Denounces PCRM Efforts to Eliminate Processed Meats from School Nutrition Programs AMI Executive Vice President James Hodges delivered remarks today underscoring the safety of processed meats and condemning recent efforts of the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM), a pseudo-medical, animal rights group, to eliminate processed meats from the school nutrition...
Aug 5, 2008 Spots Still Available For August Webinars Registration is still open for three August webinars, the last in a series hosted by The American Meat Institute (AMI), the North American Meat Processors Association (NAMP) and the American Association of Meat Processors (AAMP). The goal of this summer series is to bring together industry...
Aug 4, 2008 Number of Lunch `Brown-Baggers' at an All-Time High A rise in lunches carried from home is contributing to the softening of the mid-day meal business at commercial restaurants, according to a new study by NPD, a leading market research company.
Aug 1, 2008 E-Verify Legislation Passes the House of Representatives The House of Representatives has passed an E-Verify bill (H.R. 6633) which would reauthorize the E-Verify program for five years, provide for two GAO studies and ensure that the Social Security Administration received appropriate compensation from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for...
Jul 31, 2008 AMIF Process Lethality Determination Spreadsheet Updated AMIF's Process Lethality Determination Spreadsheet has been updated. The process lethality instructions and spreadsheet on the AMIF Web site (http://www.amif.org) has a new look, is easier to understand and provides some examples of lethality data from the literature for certain products.
Jul 31, 2008 AMI Accepting Nominations for Annual Awards Nominations for AMI's four annual awards - the Edward C. Jones Community Service Award, the Supplier of the Year Award, the Industry Advancement Award and the Scientific Achievement Award - are being accepted until Friday, August 15, 2008.
Jul 31, 2008 AMI Unveils Updated Implementation-Focused Country-of-Origin Labeling Web Site The American Meat Institute unveiled an updated country-of-origin labeling (COOL) Web site, www.countryoforiginlabel.org, that reflects changes included in the recently passed 2008 Farm Bill. Mandatory COOL takes effect September 30, 2008.
Jul 30, 2008 FSIS Seeks Comments on IKE Scenario on Direct Observation of Corrective Actions The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) Interactive Knowledge Exchange (IKE) is seeking comment on draft IKE Scenario 02D-08 - Direct Observation of Corrective Actions.
Jul 30, 2008 FSIS Releases Third Food Defense Plan Survey The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has issued Notice 48-08, announcing a third food defense plan survey. The survey will be conducted August 1-30, 2008, and will gather data about the industry's voluntary adoption of functional food defense plans.
Jul 30, 2008 AMI, Ag Groups, Send Letter in Support of Imported Ethanol Parity Act The American Meat Institute, joined by a number of dairy, livestock and poultry groups, sent a letter today in support of the Imported Ethanol Parity Act (S 3080), introduced by Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-CA). The legislation, if passed, would reduce a trade barrier on clean and...
Jul 29, 2008 USDA Releases Interim Final Country-of-Origin Rule USDA�s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) yesterday put on public display an interim final rule regarding mandatory country-of-origin (COOL) labeling of meat products. The new requirements take effect September 30, 2008.
Jul 29, 2008 WTO Talks Collapse Trade officials reported today that World Trade Organization (WTO) Doha Development Round talks, now in their ninth day, have collapsed because of India's unwillingness to compromise.
Jul 28, 2008 2008 Annual Hot Dog Lunch Photos Viewable Online A photo gallery from the 2008 annual American Meat Institute Hot Dog Lunch, held July 23 on Capitol Hill, is now viewable online.
Jul 24, 2008 AMI, FMI and United Fresh Produce Association to Host COOL Workshops The American Meat Institute, in partnership with the Food Marketing Institute (FMI) and the United Fresh Produce Association, will present a series of workshops in August to explain how to comply with new country-of-origin (COOL) labeling laws, set to go into effect Sept. 30, 2008.
Jul 23, 2008 Annual Hot Dog Lunch Hits Another Home Run on the Hill Threatening rains in our nation's capital today only served to whet the appetites of more than 1,000 attendees of the annual Hot Dog Lunch, sponsored by AMI. The event, which drew more than 50 members of Congress and United States Secretary of Agriculture Edward Schafer, also attracted Hill...
Jul 22, 2008 EPA Needs More Time To Consider RFS Waiver Request Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Stephen L. Johnson released a statement today announcing that given the amount of work that remains to sufficiently answer the Texas request for a waiver from the Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS), a final decision on the request will not be...
Jul 18, 2008 FDA Document Addresses Questions About Amendments to Animal Feed Regulations The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has published a question and answer document about the agency's amendments to regulations that prohibit the use of certain cattle origin materials in the food or feed of animals. This document is in response to the numerous questions the agency has received...
Jul 18, 2008 AMIF, Other Industry Groups, Partner to Present E. coli Education Programs The American Meat Institute Foundation, in partnership with other industry organizations, will present two upcoming opportunities for plants to learn more about how to develop control strategies that not only satisfy regulatory agencies, but more importantly, can have a meaningful impact on the...
Jul 11, 2008 USDA Announces Plan to List Retail Stores Receiving Recalled Meat and Poultry Products; AMI Voices Opposition, Cites Public Confusion USDA will list retail stores receiving meat and poultry products involved in Class I recalls, beginning next month, Secretary of Agriculture Ed Schafer announced today. The rule will become effective 30 days after publication in the Federal Register, which will occur next week.
Jul 11, 2008 Congress Introduces Bill To Reauthorize `E-Verify' Employment Verification Program Congress has introduced a bill that would reauthorize the Department of Homeland Security's E-Verify employment verification program.
Jul 10, 2008 AMIF Partners with NAMP on �Center of the Plate Training� Course at Colorado State University The American Meat Institute Foundation is partnering with the North American Meat Processors Association (NAMP) to offer AMI members �Center of the Plate Training," Aug. 5 - 7 at Colorado State University in Fort Collins, Colorado.
Jul 9, 2008 South Korean Beef Market To Officially Open July 10 The South Korean beef market will officially open to U.S. exports from cattle 30 months of age or less at 5 a.m. (EDT) tomorrow, it was reported today by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Jul 9, 2008 FSIS Issues Revised Directive on Food Safety Assessment Methodology The Food Safety and Inspection Service has issued FSIS Directive 5100.1, Revision 1, to provide instructions to Enforcement, Investigations, and Analysis Officers (EIAOs) regarding the methodology they are to use when conducting comprehensive food safety assessments and how they are to document...
Jul 7, 2008 Hot Dog Council Video �Hot Dog Etiquette� Gets You Tube�s Top Billing on July 4 A video about hot dog etiquette released by the National Hot Dog & Sausage Council at the start of July�s Hot Dog Month was the top featured video on YouTube July 4 and garnered more than 250,000 views during the holiday weekend. The video now ranks as one of the top 100 viewed YouTube videos of...
Jul 3, 2008 FSIS Releases Revised Directive on Review of Establishment Testing Data The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has published Directive 5000.2 Revision 1: Review of Establishment Testing Data by Inspection Program Personnel.
Jun 2, 2008 AMI, Other Groups, Urge President To Immediately Suspend Import Tariff on Ethanol The American Meat Institute, joined by more than 30 other organizations concerned about skyrocketing corn prices, sent a letter today urging President Bush to exercise his emergency authority and immediately suspend the duties and quotas on imported ethanol used as a motor fuel additive.
Jul 1, 2008 51 House GOP Members Urge Immediate Reduction in Required Ethanol Production 51 House Republicans sent a letter to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) asking for a reduction in the required ethanol production this year, saying renewable fuel standards enacted by Congress will boost already record high corn prices in the wake of Midwest floods.
Jun 27, 2008 FSIS Issues HIKE Scenario on Egregious Electrical Stunning The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) Humane Interactive Knowledge Exchange (HIKE) has issued HIKE Scenario 03-08:Egregious Electrical Stunning.
Jun 27, 2008 New Questions and Answers Posted on AskFSIS A number of new questions have been posted to askFSIS, the Food Safety and Inspection Service�s web-based feature designed to help answer technical and policy questions regarding inspection and public health regulations 24 hours a day
Jun 25, 2008 ICE Priorities Key Part of Spending Bill The House Appropriations Committee approved the FY09 Homeland Security spending bill yesterday, which would provide the Homeland Security Department $39.9 billion in discretionary spending, including $800 million for the bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
Jun 25, 2008 AMI, 100+ Other Groups, Urge Immediate Penalty-Free Release of CRP Acres The American Meat Institute and more than 100 other members of the Alliance for Agricultural Growth and Competitiveness is calling on USDA Secretary Ed Schafer to immediately allow a penalty-free, early release of non-environmentally sensitive cropland from the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP),...
Jun 24, 2008 New Ethanol Studies: Little Effect on Gas Prices, Significant Pressure on Food Two studies released recently show that federal ethanol mandates have placed significant pressure on food prices, while any effect on gasoline prices has been �almost too small to measure.�
Jun 23, 2008 AMI Submits Comments in Support of RFS Waiver The American Meat Institute (AMI) has submitted comments in support of a petition for a waiver of a portion of the Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS) that the State of Texas filed with the U.S. Environment Protection Agency (EPA) on April 25, 2008.
Jun 20, 2008 Agriculture Spending Measure Approved The House Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture unanimously approved the FY 2009 funding measure for the Department of Agriculture, The Food and Drug Administration, and the Commodities Futures Trading Commission.
Jun 20, 2008 U.S. Beef Exporters Respond to the Statement from the Korea Import Beef Association On June 20, 2008, the Korea Import Beef Association released a statement declaring that while the importers believe that U.S. beef from cattle of 30 months of age and over is safe, as a transitional measure in response to current market conditions, they will only import U.S. beef from cattle less...
Jun 19, 2008 House, Senate Override Farm Bill Veto Again The House and Senate voted Wednesday to override President Bush's veto of the $290 billion farm bill.
Jun 18, 2008 Members of Congress Urge EPA To Pursue Non-Food Based Biofuels as Alternatives to Ethanol A delegation of 58 members of Congress sent a letter to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) encouraging the agency to pursue advancing the development of cellulosic biofuels and other fuels that do not contribute to rising food prices and environmental concerns as it evaluates the...
Jun 13, 2008 Court Suspends Indefinitely Effective Date of Proposed New Privacy Act Record System in National Animal Identification System (NAIS) The U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia has ordered the United States Department of Agriculture to transmit a notice to the Federal Register suspending the effective date of June 9, 2008, for the proposed new Privacy Act system of records entitled National Animal Identification...
Jun 12, 2008 Proposed Regulation Would Require Federal Contractors To Use E-Verify The Civilian Agency Acquisition Council and the Defense Acquisition Regulations Council (Councils) are proposing to amend the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) to require federal contractors and subcontractors to use the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services' (USCIS) E-Verify system,...
Jun 11, 2008 FSIS Issues Update on Nationwide Turkey Microbiological Baseline Data Collection Program The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has issued Notice 40-08: Nationwide Young Turkey Microbiological Baseline Data Collection Program-Update.
Jun 10, 2008 Bill Aimed at Reducing Ethanol Tariff Introduced Senators Dianne Feinstein, a California Democrat, and Judd Gregg, a New Hampshire Republican, introduced legislation this week (S. 3080) to lower the tariff to on imported ethanol to bring it in line with U.S. ethanol blending subsidies, which a recently enacted farm bill lowered to 45 cents per...
Jun 10, 2008 Food Before Fuel Campaign Launched with Goal of Encouraging Congress to Revisit Food-to-Fuel Policies Today, AMI, together with more than 20 environmental, retail, hunger, Hispanic and food industry groups � announced the launch of the Food Before Fuel Campaign, a coalition effort urging Congress to revisit the nation�s food-to-fuel policies, a key factor in the growing global food crisis.
Jun 9, 2008 Bush: Federal Contractors Must Confirm Immigration Status of Employees President Bush has signed an executive order that will require federal contractors to use an electronic system to verify that their workers are eligible to work in the United States.
Jun 6, 2008 DHS Announces New IMAGE Associates Program DHS has announced its new IMAGE Associates program which has similar requirements to the IMAGE program but provides an enrolling company a two-year transition period for completing an I-9 audit retroactively.
Jun 4, 2008 Senate Passes Budget Resolution, Proposed User Fees not Included On June 4, the Senate passed the FY2009 budget resolution conference report by a vote of 48 to 45. Approved last month by the House-Senate conference committee, the measure surpasses $1 trillion in discretionary spending for the first time in history. The bill provides $1.013 trillion in...
Jun 3, 2008 World Bank President Zoellick Calling for U.S. to Lift Tariff on Brazilian Ethanol "At a minimum" the United States should lift its tariff on Brazilian ethanol, which otherwise would be cheaper than U.S.-produced ethanol, Robert Zoellick, president of the World Bank, suggested today at the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization conference on climate change, bioenergy and food.
Jun 3, 2008 AMI to Host Two Webinars on Country of Origin Labeling Implementation AMI will host two webinars, June 10 and June 12, about implementation of mandatory country-of-origin labeling (COOL), which is scheduled to go into effect on September 30, 2008.
Jun 3, 2008 AMI Indicates Support for Policy That Tested Product Should be Kept Under Control Until Negative Results Are Received The American Meat Institute (AMI) today told USDA that it would support an agency policy that would require companies to control product tested by the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) until the test results are known.
Jun 2, 2008 Record $108 Billion Agriculture Exports Forecast for 2008 U.S. Agriculture Secretary Ed Schafer has announced an updated quarterly forecast for U.S. agricultural exports - expected to reach a record $108.5 billion for fiscal year 2008.
May 29, 2008 FSIS Updates New Technology Table The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has updated its Technology Table, which is the latest summary describing some of the new technologies received and reviewed by FSIS and approved for use in establishments.
May 29, 2008 OECD and FAO See Food Prices Remaining High and Growing More Volatile Food prices will remain high in the coming decade, with beef and pork prices forecasted to go up an average of 20 percent, according to the latest latest Agriculture Outlook from the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and the UN Food and Agriculture Organization.
May 28, 2008 AMI Foundation Releases 2008-2009 Request for Pre-Proposals The American Meat Institute Foundation (AMIF) has released its 2008-2009 Request for Pre-Proposals. The topics covered in the request are based on AMIF�s research priorities as defined by the AMIF Research Advisory Committees. These committees are comprised of industry, academic and government...
May 27, 2008 USDA Announces CRP Permitted Use for Livestock Feed Needs Secretary Ed Schafer today announced that USDA has authorized certain acreage enrolled under the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) to be available for hay and forage after the primary nesting season ends for grass-nesting birds.
May 27, 2008 Report: DHS Lacks Evidence To Conclude That Foot-and-Mouth Disease Research Can Be Done Safely On Mainland The Department of Homeland Security has neither conducted nor commissioned any study to determine whether work on food-and-mouth disease (FMD) can be done safely on the U.S. mainland, instead relying on a 2002 United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) study that addressed a different...
May 27, 2008 June 2 Deadline Approaching for USDA�s Partnering with MyPyramid: Corporate Challenge The deadline for companies to become charter members of the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Partnering with MyPyramid: Corporate Challenge, is June 2.
May 23, 2008 FSIS Issues Two Notices Aimed At Improving Data Collection The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has issued two notices as part of the agency�s effort to enhance the development and maintenance of an integrated and robust data collection and analysis system to verify the effectiveness and efficiency of the agency�s program.
May 21, 2008 FSIS Posts Compliance Guideline for Controlling Salmonella and Campylobacter in Poultry The Food Safety and Inspection Service has posted the second edition of the Compliance Guideline for Controlling Salmonella and Campylobacter in Poultry.
May 20, 2008 Scientific American Magazine: U.S. Should End Corn-to-Ethanol Subsidies The recent surge in world food prices is already creating havoc in poor countries and the worse is yet to come unless the U.S. ends its misguided corn-to-ethanol subsidies, according to a new article in the June 2008 issue of Scientific American.
May 19, 2008 IRI Study Finds Sustainability an Emerging Key to Product and Store Selection Half of U.S. consumers say they consider at least one sustainability factor when selecting brands to buy or stores to shop, according to a recent Information Resources Inc., (IRI) survey.
May 15, 2008 Congress Sends Veto-Proof Farm Bill to the President�s Desk Congress completed its work on 2007 Farm Bill this week and has sent it to the President for his signature, capping off two years of hearings and discussions on the bill.
May 16, 2008 Final Rule on Mandatory Price Reporting Published in Federal Register The Agricultural Marketing Service today published a final rule, �Livestock Mandatory Reporting: Reestablishment and Revision of the Reporting Regulation for Swine, Cattle, Lamb, and Boxed Beef� in the Federal Register.
May 16, 2008 Subscriber Alert: MeatAMI.com To Change Service Providers In the next 24 hours, MeatAMI.com will convert to a new service provider. This change will offer news subscribers a more user friendly news format and an easier-to-navigate site.
May 12, 2008 Negotiators Agree On Farm Bill; Bush Vows Veto House and Senate negotiators reached a final agreement on a new farm bill yesterday, President Bush will veto the measure, according to Agriculture Secretary Ed Schafer.
May 12, 2008 Hotel Deadline for AMI Environmental Conference Extended to May 16 The deadline to reserve hotel rooms at discounted rates has been extended to May 16 for the 2008 AMI Environmental Conference, to be held June 5-6 at the Marriott Country Club Plaza in Kansas City Missouri.
May 12, 2008 State Immigration Legislation Update: South Carolina and Arizona The South Carolina Senate has introduced a new employment verification system, SC-Verify. It is a paper-based system subject to random audits and supported by South Carolina business groups. If the bill passes, new verification requirements would begin in July 2009 for employers with 100 or more...
May 9, 2008 Hotel Deadline for AMI Environmental Conference May 13 The deadline to reserve hotel rooms at discounted rates is May 13 for the 2008 AMI Environmental Conference, to be held June 5-6 at the Marriott Country Club Plaza in Kansas City Missouri.
May 8, 2008 AMI Adds Hot Dog Video to Meat News Network Just in time for the start of hot dog season, the American Meat Institute added to its Meat News Network today a new video depicting how hot dogs are made. The video may be viewed at http://www.YouTube.com/MeatNewsNetwork . �The hot dog making process has been the subject of...
May 5, 2008 FSIS Issues Notice on Verification of Carcasses The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has issued FSIS Notice 35-08, �Verification of Carcasses That An Establishment Further Processes Without An Official Inspection Legend.�
May 2, 2008 Public Meeting Scheduled To Discuss Strategies for Improved Coordination During Foodborne Outbreaks The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS), the Food and Drug Administration's Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, and the National Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, will co-sponsor a two-day summit that will include a public...
May 1, 2008 AMI Joins Advocacy Groups from Across Political Spectrum in Urging Congress To Revisit Food to Fuel Mandates AMI, joined by an unprecedented cross-section of America's most important environmental and hunger groups, food industry organizations, tax and budget groups and Hispanic community advocates, today issued an open letter calling on Congress to revisit the food-to-fuel mandates that are...
Apr 28, 2008 Deadline Today for 2008 Environmental Recognition Awards (MAPS) Applications for AMI�s 2008 Environmental Recognition Awards (MAPS) are due today. Award winners will be honored on June 5-6, 2008, as part of AMIF's Environmental Conference in Kansas City, Mo.
Apr 25, 2008 FDA Amends Feed Rules The Food and Drug Administration (FDA)is amending the agency�s regulations to prohibit the use of certain cattle origin materials in the food or feed of animals, according to a notice published in the Federal Register today.
Apr 25, 2008 AMI Submits Comments On Safe Harbor Procedures for Employers Who Receive a No-Match Letter AMI submitted comments today to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in response to the Department of Homeland Security�s release of their Supplemental Proposed Rule that attempts to clarify the Final Rule issued on August 15, 2007 regarding Safe-Harbor Procedures for Employers Who...
Apr 24, 2008 FSIS Issues Directive On Inviting Non-FSIS Scientists for OPHS Scientific Seminar Presentations The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has issued FSIS Directive 10,900.1: Inviting Non-FSIS Scientists For Office of Public Health Science (OPHS) Scientific Seminar Series Presentations. This directive provides information to Office of Public Health Science (OPHS) personnel on how to...
Apr 22, 2008 California Department of Health Provides Additional Information for Meat and Poultry Recalls The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) has provided additional information affecting Class I and Class II recalls of meat and poultry products based on statutory requirements that became effective July 1, 2007.
Apr 22, 2008 AMI Files Citizen Petition to Keep All Non-Ambulatory Cattle Out of Food Supply The American Meat Institute, along with the National Meat Association and the National Milk Producers Federation, has filed a Citizen Petition with the United States Department of Agriculture�s Food Safety and Inspection Service requesting that the agency amend the rules so that nonambulatory,...
Apr 21, 2008 USDA GIPSA Reopening Comment Period on Scales and Weighing Regulations Proposal The Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration (GIPSA) has reopened the comment period regarding its proposal to amend four existing scales and weighing regulations, according to a notice published in today�s Federal Register.
Apr 18, 2008 HIKE Scenario on Egregious Electrical Stunning Available A new Humane Interactive Knowledge Exchange (HIKE) scenario designed to improve in-plant humane handling and slaughter procedures is now available online from the Food Safety and Inspection Service's (FSIS) Technical Services Center (TSC).
Apr 18, 2008 Reports Available On Proposed Public Health Risk-Based Inspection System The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is making available two reports that examine the scientific support for a proposed Risk-Based Inspection System for processing and slaughter establishments. One report discusses the proposed system for all processing and slaughter establishments...
Apr 18, 2008 U.S., South Korea Announce Agreement To Resume Beef Trade The United States and Korea have reached a formal agreement to resume beef trade. The announcement came amid South Korean President Lee Myung-bak's first formal visit to Washington since taking office two months ago. �Resumption of trade is a long overdue but very welcome development,�...
Apr 17, 2008 FSIS Notice: How To Contact the Policy Development Division (PPD) The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has issued FSIS Notice 26-08: Contacting the Policy Development Division (Formerly the Technical Service Center). This notice provides an update on recent changes that have occurred in the Office of Policy and Program Development (OPPD). In...
Apr 17, 2008 AMI Launches New YouTube Channel �Meat News Network" The American Meat Institute has launched the YouTube channel, �Meat News Network,� that will convey consumer-focused information about the meat industry in an accurate, visual way. Boyle made the announcement today before members of the House Oversight Committee�s Domestic Policy...
Apr 16, 2008 Chile Approves Imports of U.S. Poultry Chile�s Livestock and Agricultural Service has approved the U.S. inspection, control and certification systems for poultry, allowing these products to enter the Chilean market effective immediately.
Apr 15, 2008 FSIS, FDA and CDC to Host Two-Day Public Health and Food Safety Summit The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS), the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) will joinly sponsor Better Communications, Better Public Health Outcomes: Strategies for Improved Coordination During Foodborne Outbreaks, May 15 and 16 in St. Louis, MO.
Apr 10, 2008 New York Times Editorial: Biofuels Production Contributing To World Food Crisis Corn-ethanol production is contributing to a world food crisis and the United States and other developed countries have an obligation �step up to the plate� and help solve this increasing problem, according to an editorial published today in the New York Times.
Apr 10, 2008 FSIS Revises Directive 5500.2: Non-Routine Incident Response The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has updated Directive 5500.2:Non-Routine Incident Response.
Apr 9, 2008 FSIS Alerts ID Warehouses On Policy For Disclaimer or Instructional Statements Concerning E. coli The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has issued a letter to identification (ID) warehouses alerting them that FSIS will not provide identification services under 9 CFR 350.3 for warehouses to divide bulk units into smaller units if the product is beef and bears a disclaimer statement or...
Apr 9, 2008 President Bush Sends Colombia FTA to Congress President Bush this week made use of his authority to �fast track� legislation through Congress, signing a letter that will trigger a procedure whereby the U.S.-Colombia Free Trade Agreement (FTA) must be considered within 90 legislative days.
Apr 8, 2008 Downer Animal Measure Advances in California Assembly A California Assembly Committee passed a bill last week that would allow authorities to prosecute the operators of meatpacking plants that slaughter weak or diseased cows for food, the Press-Enterprise of Riverside, Calif., reported.
Apr 4, 2008 EFSA Panel: Antimicrobial Agents Do Not Increase Bacterial Tolerance or Antimicrobial Resistance The Panel on Biological Hazards of the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has concluded that there is no evidence to suggest that antimicrobial agents chlorine dioxide, acidified sodium chlorite, trisodium phosphate and peroxyacides, used to decontaminate poultry carcasses, will lead to...
Apr 3, 2008 APHIS Amends Final Rule on the Importation of Uncooked Pork and Pork Products On April 2, 2008, the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) announced it is amending the regulations for importing animal products.
Apr 2, 2008 FSIS Issues Guidance on Requesting a Waiver of Regulatory Requirements For Technology The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has issued a guidance on requesting a waiver of food safety and FSIS regulatory requirements for the use of new technology.
Apr 2, 2008 United States, Canada, Mexico Agree On Protocols For Breeding Cattle Trade Effective protocols for the trade of breeding cattle born after Jan. 1, 1999, consistent with World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) standards, were agreed to by USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), Mexico's Secretar�a de Agricultura, Ganader�a, Desarrollo Rural, Pesca...
Apr 1, 2008 Panel Finds EU Ban on Hormones Remains WTO-Inconsistent U.S. Trade Representative Susan C. Schwab announced this week that a World Trade Organization (WTO) dispute settlement panel has found that the 2003 amended ban by the European Union (EU) on beef from certain hormone-treated cattle continues to be scientifically unjustified.
Mar 31, 2008 CBO To Provide Cost Estimates For Schuler Immigration Bill This Week At the request of the House Judiciary Committee, the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) is expected to provide informal cost estimates this week for an immigration enforcement bill sponsored by Rep. Heath Shuler (D-N.C).
Mar 31, 2008 AMI Tells Ag Secretary It Opposes Expansion of FSIS E. coli Policy AMI President and CEO J. Patrick Boyle today wrote Agriculture Secretary Ed Schafer expressing concern about a recent Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announcement regarding a public meeting on E. coli policy scheduled for April 9-10, 2008. Boyle expressed particular concern about...
Mar 28, 2008 FSIS to Host Public Meeting to Discuss Challenges and Solutions for Reducing the Incidence of E. coli O157:H7 in Raw Beef The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has announced a public meeting to discuss challenges and proposed solutions concerning recalls and illnesses related to E. coli O157:H7. The public meeting will be held on Wednesday, April 9, from 8 a.m. to 5...
Mar 28, 2008 FSIS Issues Directive on Reporting in the Import Alert Tracking System The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has issued FSIS Directive 9600.1: Illegally Imported or Smuggled Products and Reporting in the Import Alert Tracking System.
Mar 25, 2008 CMMA To Co-Sponsor AMI Foundation Best Hiring Practices Workshop April 7 in Chicago The Chicago Midwest Meat Association (CMMA) will co-sponsor the AMI Foundation�s upcoming Best Hiring Practices Workshop April 7 in Des Plaines, Ill., on the DePaul University-O�Hare Campus.
Mar 24, 2008 DHS Issues Supplemental Proposed Rule For No-Match Letters Focuses on Employer Guidance The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) released its Supplemental Proposed Rulemaking for the No-Match Rule previously issued on August 15, 2007. This rulemaking addresses three issues cited in a decision of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California enjoining the...
Mar 24, 2008 Worker Safety, Health and Human Resources Conference Room Reservation Deadline Extended The deadline for room reservations for the 2008 Worker Safety, Health and Human Resources Conference, April 13-15, 2008, at the New Orleans Marriott at the Convention Center, has been extended to March 26. After this date, rooms will be available on a space and rate available basis only.
Mar 19, 2008 Senator Introduces Legislation That Would Stiffen Penalties For Slaughter Facilities Processing Downed Animals Of All Species Last week, U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) introduced legislation that would shut down slaughter facilities that repeatedly process downed animals of all species and proposes fines and other penalties for first and second time violators.
Mar 19, 2008 Best Hiring Practices Workshops Room Reservation Deadlines Approaching Room reservations for the 2008 Best Hiring Practices Workshop to be held on April 8 in Kansas City, Missouri, must be made by noon on March 24 in order to receive the special AMI rate of $129 for single or double occupancy. Reservations for the Best Hiring Practices Workshop to be held on April...
Mar 19, 2008 Charitable Donations to Animal Rights Groups Increase 5 Percent Charitable donations to animal-rights groups rose five percent in 2006, according to a new analysis by the Animal Agriculture Alliance.
Mar 19, 2008 Worker Safety, Health and Human Resources Conference Room Reservation Deadline Approaching Room reservations for the 2008 Worker Safety, Health and Human Resources Conference, April 13-15, 2008, at the New Orleans Marriott at the Convention Center, must be made by March 24. After this date, rooms will be available on a space and rate available basis only.
Mar 17, 2008 FSIS Notice Addresses Questions About Salmonella Sampling and Reporting The FSIS (Food Safety and Inspection Service) has issued Notice 18-08: Questions and Answers Related to Raw Meat and Poultry Product Performance Standards for Salmonella Sampling and Reporting. The purpose of the notice is to respond to questions about the responsibilities of inspection...
Mar 13, 2008 Annual Thermal Processing of Ready-to-Eat Meat Short Course Slated For April 8-10 The 9th Annual Thermal Processing of Ready-to-Eat Meat Short Course will be held April 8-10, 2008, at the University Plaza Hotel, 3110 Olentangy River Road, Columbus, Ohio. The program (including topics, speakers and presentation summaries), and the on-line registration form can be found at:...
Mar 13, 2008 Senate and House Pass Farm Bill Extension to Allow for Further Negotiations With negotiations on the new Farm Bill continuing, the House and Senate agreed this week to extend the 2002 Farm Bill law until April 18. The current extension was set to expire March 15.
Mar 11, 2008 Expert Economist Says National Ethanol Policy Continuing to Drive Meat and Poultry Prices Higher U.S. ethanol policy is continuing to drive meat and poultry prices higher, according to preliminary results of an analysis by expert economist Tom Elam, Ph.D., president of Farm Econ. �You cannot use the combined grain crops of Australia and Indonesia for U.S. fuel and not have an impact on corn,...
Apr 5, 2008 Good afternoon Public Affairs and Animal Welfare Committees Good afternoon, this is the third test of the system. There was a very minor glitch in the system that is now corrected. As per Janet's previous correspondance please take a moment to click through to the link below.
Apr 4, 2008 Good afternoon Public Affairs and Animal Welfare Committees Good afternoon, this is a test. As per Janet's previous correspondance please take a moment to click through to the link below.
Apr 3, 2008 This is the title or head line of the story This is the blurb. This is only a test. Please email ehartman@meatami.com to confirm you received it.
Mar 13, 2008 TEST - Welcome to AMI's new web experience... This text is what the recipient of the Portal Stories and Press Releases sees. Usually the first few sentences or even the first paragraph of the story.
Mar 11, 2008 Expert Economist Says National Ethanol Policy Continuing to Drive Meat and Poultry Prices Higher U.S. ethanol policy is continuing to drive meat and poultry prices higher, according to preliminary results of an analysis by expert economist Tom Elam, Ph.D., president of Farm Econ. �You cannot use the combined grain crops of Australia and Indonesia for U.S. fuel and not have an impact on corn,...
Mar 11, 2008 FSIS Issues Notices on Humane Handling Practices The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS or the agency) issued two new notices: Notice 16-08, Humane Handling Activities and Documentation in Livestock Slaughter Establishments, and Notice 17-08, Increased Verification of Humane Handling Requirements in Livestock Slaughter Establishments.
Mar 5, 2008 FSIS Revises Eligible Plant List for Mexico, Export Requirements for Canada The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has revised its Eligible Plant List for Mexico.
Mar 5, 2008 AMS Increasing Fees For Grading, Certification and Audit Services The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) is increasing the fees and charges for Federal voluntary egg, poultry, and rabbit grading, certification, and auditing services for the next two fiscal years, FY 2008 and FY 2009.
Mar 5, 2008 USDA and FDA To Host Public Meeting On 2nd Session of the Codex Committee on Contaminants in Foods (CCCF) of the Codex Alimentarius Commission (Codex) The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) are sponsoring a public meeting from 1 to 3 p.m. March 5 to provide information and receive public comments on agenda items and draft United States positions that will be discussed at the 2nd Session of...
Mar 3, 2008 Worker Safety Conference Early Bird Registration, Hotel Cutoff Approaching Registration for the 2008 Conference on Worker Safety, Health and Human Resources, April 13-15, at the Marriott New Orleans at the Convention Center, at the Early Bird Rate of $625 ends on March 10. Three or more registrations from the same member company at the Early Bird Rate are $565 each....
Mar 3, 2008 USDA and FDA To Host Public Meeting On 40th Session of the Codex Committee on Food Additives of the Codex Alimentarius Commission (Codex) The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) are sponsoring a public meeting to provide information and receive public comments on agenda items and draft United States positions that will be discussed at the 40th Session of the Codex Committee on...
Feb 29, 2008 2008 Environmental Recognition Awards (MAPS) Materials Available Applications for AMI�s 2008 Environmental Recognition Awards (MAPS) are now available online at http://www.meatami.com.
Feb 29, 2008 FSIS Issues Inspection and Surveillance Backgrounder The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) today issued a backgrounder regarding interim and long term steps it is taking in the wake of the USDA investigation at the Hallmark/Westland facility.
Feb 29, 2008 FSIS Issues Questions and Answers for Directive 6100.4, & Provides Updated List of New Technologies The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS or the agency) has issued Questions and Answers regarding FSIS Directive 6100.4, Verification Instructions Related to Specified Risk Materials.
Feb 29, 2008 AMI President Tells Congress That Undercover Video Reflects Multiple Failures at Plant, in Government and at Activist Group AMI President J. Patrick Boyle told members of Congress yesterday that the images shown in an undercover video taken at a Hallmark/Westland facility in California represent a shocking departure from both industry best practices and typical operations in federally inspected meat plants, but also...
Feb 27, 2008 AMI Requests Extension of Comment Period for Salmonella Notice AMI submitted a letter to the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) requesting a 60 day extension of the comment period regarding a January 28, 2008, Federal Register notice, �Salmonella Verification Sampling Program: Response to Comments and New Agency Policies.�
Feb 26, 2008 UN Set To Ration Food Aid As Prices Soar The United Nation�s agency responsible for relieving hunger is drawing up plans to ration food aid in response to escalating food prices, its director told the Financial Times newspaper. Josette Sheeran, executive director of the World Food Program (WFP) said that crisis talks are currently being...
Feb 26, 2008 USDA Raises Agricultural Exports Forecast to Record $101 Billion for 2008 The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced that U.S. agricultural exports are forecast to reach a record $101 billion for fiscal year 2008, up $10 billion from November�s forecast and an unprecedented $19 billion above 2007.
Feb 26, 2008 Food Prices Rise 0.7 Percent in January Food prices, which have been surging because of increased demand stemming from ethanol production, rose by 0.7 percent last month, the biggest monthly increase in three years, according to a Labor Department report released today. The spike was the largest monthly increase since October 2004.
Feb 22, 2008 Rosemary Mucklow Honored with AMI�s Richard E. Lyng Award AMI has awarded longtime meat industry leader Rosemary Mucklow, executive director emeritus of the National Meat Association (NMA), with its prestigious Richard E. Lyng Award in recognition of her long and continued commitment and dedication to the meat industry.
Feb 22, 2008 AMI Vice President of International Trade Delivers Address at USDA Forum AMI�s Vice President of International Trade John Reddington delivered the keynote address today during USDA�s Agricultural Outlook Forum 2008 Livestock Luncheon in Arlington, Virginia.
Mar 11, 2008 Resent by ehartman: Test story email for Orchid Suites -- From Dave to Test List This is the first sentence or two of a story which will serve as the blurb that goes out to users when they recieve this story. That is really all I have to say about this. Janet, this is only a test.
Feb 22, 2008 Attorney General Announces Higher Civil Fines Against Employers for Immigration Violations Attorney General Michael B. Mukasey today announced higher civil fines against employers who violate federal immigration laws. The new rule, which will be published in the Federal Register early next week, will take effect on March 27, 2008 and increase civil fines by as much as $5,000.
Feb 21, 2008 New Jersey Lawmaker to Propose Illegal Immigration Measure A top New Jersey Democrat said Friday he will introduce legislation to penalize businesses that knowingly hire illegal immigrants.
Feb 20, 2008 AMI, Other Food and Agriculture Groups, Send Letter to Congress Opposing �User Fees� AMI and 28 food and agricultural groups co-signed a letter to all members of the House and Senate Tuesday in opposition to �user fees� proposed by USDA to pay for meat, poultry and egg products inspection.
Feb 18, 2008 USDA Orders 143 Million Pound Class II Beef Recall Following Release of Undercover Video The U.S. Department of Agriculture on Sunday ordered a Class II recall of 143 million pounds of beef products produced since February 1, 2006, by Hallmark/Westland Meat Company. The Department has been investigating the company since an animal rights group released video January 30 depicting...
Feb 15, 2008 Russia Approves Additional U.S. Beef Plants Russia on Thursday authorized imports of beef from five additional U.S. processors. These included plants from JBS-Swift & Co., Tyson Fresh Meats and National Beef Packing Co. This now brings the total number of beef plants and cold storage operations approved for export to Russia to 26.
Feb 15, 2008 Meat, Poultry and Livestock Groups Speak Out Against the SAVE Act and Advocate an Alternative Solution The meat, poultry and livestock sectors came together this week to inform Congress that the Secure America through Verification and Enforcement (SAVE) Act, introduced by Representative Heath Shuler and Senator Mark Pryor in November of 2007, would cause serious issues in the meat and poultry...
Feb 14, 2008 EPA Announces Renewable Fuel Mandate Level for 2008: Food-based Biofuel will be More Than Seven Percent of Gasoline The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued guidelines for achieving the nine billion gallon ethanol mandate required by the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 (EISA). EISA amends section 211(o) of the Clean Air and Water Act (the Act) to require the EPA Administrator to...
Feb 14, 2008 USDA/FDA Announce Public Meeting on Upcoming Codex Session on Methods of Analysis and Sampling USDA and FDA have announced a public meeting to be held Thursday, February. 28, 2008, for the agencies to provide information and receive comments on agenda items and draft U.S. positions that will be discussed at the 29th Session of the Codex Committee on Methods of Analysis and Sampling...
Feb 14, 2008 AMI Guest Opinion: Ban on Packer Ownership of Livestock Would �Set America�s Meat Industry Back Decades� �Driving through the American south, it�s easy to see, firsthand, the law of unintended consequence,� says AMI President and CEO J. Patrick Boyle in a guest editorial in the Sioux City Journal as he compares the unintended consequence of Kudzu, a vine native to south Asia that now covers 7...
Feb 11, 2008 AMI Guest Editorial: Packer Ownership of Livestock Helps Meet Consumer Demands �Free market principles have worked their magic in the U.S. meat industry and helped create one of the most abundant and varied meat supplies anywhere,� says AMI President and CEO J. Patrick Boyle in a guest editorial in The Bismarck Tribune. �Unfortunately, Congress is poised to toss a wrench...
Feb 8, 2008 AMI Submits Testimony on Consequences of Food-based Biofuels Program In a written testimony submitted to the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, AMI President and CEO J. Patrick Boyle expressed concern about the short-term and long-term economic consequences of burning more feed and food as fuel on the meat and poultry industry and shared a number of...
Feb 8, 2008 Study: Ethanol May Add to Global Warming The widespread use of corn-based ethanol could generate nearly twice the greenhouse gas emissions as the gasoline it would replace because of expected land use changes, authors of a new study published in Science magazine have concluded.
Feb 8, 2008 Court Upholds Arizona Immigration Law The U.S. District Court for the District of Arizona upheld an Arizona law that gives the state the authority to seek the suspension and revocation of business licenses of employers that intentionally or knowingly employ workers who are unauthorized to work in the United States.
Feb 8, 2008 FSIS Issues Salmonella and E. coli Sampling Notice for Low Volume Establishments The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) issued Notice 12-08 providing direction to agency personnel on how to submit samples for Salmonella and E. coli O157:H7 testing for establishments producing low volumes of raw ground beef.
Feb 7, 2008 FDA Unveils New Policy to Address Listeria Control in Food The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has announced a new draft compliance policy for control of Listeria monocytogenes (Lm) in ready-to-eat (RTE) foods that for the first time creates different policies for foods that support growth of the organism and foods that do not. AMI has long...
Feb 6, 2008 USDA Agrees to Grant Conditional License to Bioniche for its E. coli O157:H7 Cattle Vaccine Bioniche Life Sciences Inc., a research-based, technology-driven Canadian biopharmaceutical company, has received notice from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) that the latest data for its E. coli O157:H7 cattle vaccine �meets the �expectation of efficacy� standard� and is...
Feb 5, 2008 Annual Meat Conference Early Bird Registration Deadline Approaching Registration for the 2008 Annual Meat Conference, March 9-11 in Nashville, Tenn., at the Early Bird Rate of $595 ends on Feb.8. Three or more registrations from the same member company at the Early Bird Rate are $545 each. After Feb.8, registrations rates will increase to $695 for an individual...
Feb 5, 2008 United States Achieves Cattle Brucellosis Class Free Status The U.S. Department of Agriculture has announced that for the first time in the 74-year history of the brucellosis program, all 50 states, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands have simultaneously achieved Class Free status. Texas is the last and final state to be declared brucellosis free.
Feb 5, 2008 User Fees Included In USDA�s FY09 Budget The White House and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) released their budget proposal for FY 2009 yesterday that includes $96 million in �user fees� for the inspections for meat, poultry and egg inspection.
Feb 1, 2008 AMI, Other Food and Agriculture Groups, Ask New Ag Secretary For Reevaluation of Conservation Reserve Program Noting the importance of establishing a strong working relationship and of moving American agriculture forward, AMI, along with more than 40 food and agriculture groups, has sent a letter to the new U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Edward Shafer requesting his re-evaluation of the Department�s...
Feb 1, 2008 Federal Court Denies Request for TRO as Moot A motion filed by R-CALF to block the import of older cattle into the United States from Canada has been denied by a federal judge, who found the request moot.
Jan 30, 2008 U.S. Court of Appeals Reverses Lower Court Ruling in Schumacher Case The United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit yesterday held that a plaintiff must show that a packer acted intentionally in order to violate a provision of the unlawful practices section of the Packers and Stockyards Act (PSA).
Jan 29, 2008 Ed Schafer Sworn In as New Secretary of Agriculture Ed Schafer has been confirmed and sworn in as the 29th Secretary of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). Schafer succeeds Mike Johanns, who resigned in September to run for the Senate in Nebraska
Jan 29, 2008 FSIS Seeks Comments on Salmonella Sampling Programs and Activities The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS or the agency) announced in a Federal Register publication on January 28, 2008, new policies for the FSIS Salmonella Verification Sampling Program and related activities conducted in meat and poultry establishments. The changes include publication of...
Jan 29, 2008 E. coli Presentations Available Online Presentations from the recent E. coli Surveillance and Prevention briefing hosted by the American Meat Institute Foundation (AMIF) and the National Meat Association (NMA) are now available online.
Jan 28, 2008 KSU Conducting Survey On Food Defense A survey on food defense preparedness among meat and poultry establishments is being conducted by Kansas State University, in cooperation with NAMP, AAMP, and AMI. The University is asking for employees of large, small and very small meat and poultry processing establishments who are involved...
Jan 28, 2008 Baucus Calls for Import Protocol Opening Korea To U.S. Beef Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus (D-Mont.) implored U.S. Trade Representative Susan Schwab in a letter to devise an import protocol with Korea that provides full market access to all U.S. beef, regardless of the cut of the beef or the age of the cattle.
Jan 25, 2008 Application Deadline Extended for AMI Foundation Worker Safety Recognition Awards The application deadline for the annual American Meat Institute Foundation Worker Safety Recognition Awards program has been extended. Applications must be submitted by Friday, Feb. 1, 2008.
Jan 25, 2008 Vast Majority of Americans Enjoy Burgers From Time to Time The vast majority of Americans (85 percent) say they eat burgers once a month or more, according to a new survey, while only six percent say they never eat burgers.
Jan 24, 2008 AMI Foundation and NMA Host Well-Attended Briefing Aimed at Confronting Challenge of E. coli O157:H7 The American Meat Institute Foundation (AMIF) and the National Meat Association yesterday hosted a briefing in Washington, DC, to confront the challenge E. coli O157:H7 poses to the beef industry. Nearly 150 industry members, academics and government officials shared information about E....
Jan 24, 2008 FSIS Issues Notice on Verification of the Annual Reassessment and Establishment Training Requirements Under the HACCP System The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has issued Notice 9-08 1/23/08, which instructs inspection program personnel on how to verify that an establishment has met the Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) System annual reassessment and training requirements under 9 CFR...
Jan 24, 2008 Barbados Ends Restrictions On U.S. Beef All fresh, frozen or chilled beef and beef products (beef products include offal, variety meats and processed beef) derived from cattle slaughtered on or after January 16, 2008, are now eligible for export to Barbados.
Jan 23, 2008 Indonesia Re-Opens To All U.S. Beef Products The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food Safety Inspection Service has revised its Export Library for U.S. beef export requirements to Indonesia following an agreement by the USDA and Indonesian authorities to allow access for all U.S. beef and beef products. Under the new import...
Jan 23, 2008 National Advisory Committee on Microbiological Criteria for Foods to Hold Public Meeting The National Advisory Committee on Microbiological Criteria for Foods Subcommittee on Parameters for Inoculated Pack-Challenge Study Protocols will hold public meetings on Feb. 6 and 7.
Jan 22, 2008 National Advisory Committee on Meat and Poultry Inspection to Hold Public Meeting The National Advisory Committee on Meat and Poultry Inspection (NACMPI) will hold public meetings on Feb. 5 and 6 to address the planned public health-based slaughter inspection system for young chickens, and how a similar approach could be used for inspection in processing and other slaughter...
Jan 22, 2008 EFSA Updates EU Scientific Advice on Listeria Risk in Ready-To-Eat Foods Scientists at Europe�s food safety agency have updated advice on the risks in foods from Listeria.
Jan 18, 2008 FSIS Issues Notice On Using askFSIS The Food Safety Inspection Service (FSIS) has issued a notice that instructs inspection program personnel on how to use the new askFSIS application for viewing commonly asked questions and submitting questions.
Jan 17, 2008 Worker Safety Awards Program Deadline Approaching The application deadline for the 2007 Worker Safety Recognition Awards Program is Friday, Jan. 25, 2008. The awards, sponsored by the American Meat Institute Foundation and administered by the National Safety Council (NSC), recognize individual plants for their contribution to decrease worker...
Jan 16, 2008 FSIS Revises Plant Lists The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has revised its Eligible Plants List (Beef) � Russian Federation and Eligible Plants List � Australia.
Jan 15, 2008 FSIS Issues Second IKE Scenario Regarding Verification of Frozen Condensate in Freezers FSIS has issued Interactive Knowledge Exchange (IKE) Scenario 1-08: FSIS Verification of 9 CFR 416.2(d) Regarding Frozen Condensate in Product Freezers (Part II). This scenario is the second in a series meant to highlight questions that FSIS inspection personnel should ask when verifying...
Jan 15, 2008 Public Meeting To Be Held On First Session of Ad Hoc Codex Intergovernmental Task Force on the Processing and Handling of Quick Frozen Foods (TFQFF) The Office of the Under Secretary for Food Safety, U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), are sponsoring a public meeting on February 5, 2008, to provide information and receive public comments on...
Jan 15, 2008 FDA Says Food From Animal Clones Is Safe After years of detailed study and analysis, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has concluded that meat and milk from clones of cattle, swine, and goats, and the offspring of clones from any species traditionally consumed as food, are as safe to eat as food from conventionally bred animals....
Jan 11, 2008 EFSA Study Says Clones, Progeny Show No 'Significant Difference� From Counterparts Healthy clones and healthy offspring �do not show any significant differences� from their conventional counterparts is a key finding released from the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA). The findings will be used in consideration of any future European Union (EU) measures in relation to...
Jan 11, 2008 White Paper on CO-MAP Packaging Systems Released The American Meat Science Association (AMSA) Scientific Information Committee recently completed an exhaustive review of the scientific literature regarding meat packaging systems that utilize low oxygen with combinations of packaging gases including carbon monoxide (CO).
Jan 3, 2008 Animal Handling Conference Early Bird Registration Extended Early Bird registration for the 2008 Animal Care and Handling Conference, to be held February 14-15, at the Westin Crown Center in Kansas City, Missouri, has been extended to Jan.7, allowing attendees another opportunity to save up to $100.
Jan 2, 2008 Two Meat-Related News Stories Named Top Unfounded Scares of 2007 Two meat-related news stories made the American Council on Science and Health�s (ACSH) Top Ten Unfounded Health Scares of 2007 list. Claims that red and processed meat increased breast and colon cancer risk were selected as the number three unfounded health scare, while news about a very...
Dec 27, 2007 December 21 BeefCast Features AMI Foundation Animal Care and Handling Conference and New Livestock Transportation Conference BeefCast�s Trent Fredenburg offers a glimpse of what to expect at the 2008 Animal Care & Handling Conference and the new Livestock Transportation Conference, both in Kansas City in February.
Dec 27, 2007 America�s Second Harvest Issues Urgent Call For Food Donations In the face of a projected food shortage of 15 million pounds by the end of 2007, America's Second Harvest is urgently calling for national support to help millions of Americans facing hunger during the holiday season. According to American�s Second Harvest, the economy and rising food and...
Dec 21, 2007 Animal Handling Conference Early Bird Deadline Approaches Attendees can save $100 on registration fees by registering prior to Dec.31 for the 2008 Animal Care and Handling Conference. Early Bird member rates range from $295 to $325 per person.
Dec 21, 2007 Discounted Hotel Reservation Deadline Is Jan.7 for E. coli O157:H7 Surveillance and Prevention Briefing Guaranteed discount room rates for the 2008 E. coli O157:H7 Surveillance and Prevention Briefing to be held Jan. 23 at the Doubletree Crystal City Hotel in Arlington Virginia, will end Jan.7. Attendees are urged to reserve space now for a discounted rate of $179 single or double occupancy.
Dec 21, 2007 Discounted Hotel Reservation Deadline Is Jan.4 For Advanced Listeria Intervention and Control Workshop Guaranteed discount room rates for the 2008 Advanced Listeria Intervention and Control Workshop, to be held Jan.29-30 in Chicago, will end Jan.4. Attendees are urged to reserve space now for a discounted rate of $149 single or double occupancy.
Dec 21, 2007 CFIA Releases Trans Fat Data The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has released the first set of data from their Trans Fat Monitoring Program.
Dec 21, 2007 FSIS Releases E. coli Notices and Poultry Labeling Guidance The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has issued Notice 86-07, �New Sampling Code for Escherichia coli O157:H7 Testing In Raw Ground Beef� and Notice 87-07, �Placing E. coli O157:H7 FSIS Notices With FSIS Directive 10,010.1 On The Web Page.�
Dec 19, 2007 AMI Says Bill Trades Food for Fuel President Bush signed into law today an energy bill that will double the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) from the current 7.5 billion gallons per year to a 15 billion gallon grain ethanol mandate.
Dec 19, 2007 USDA Releases Draft of Business Plan for Advancing Traceability and National Animal Identification System User Guide The U.S. Department of Agriculture today released its draft of a Business Plan for Advancing Animal Disease Traceability. The business plan supports the 48-hour traceback long-term goal of the National Animal Identification System as well as provides benchmarks to guide the program as it moves...
Dec 13, 2007 FSIS Releases New IKE Scenario on Determining When Inspection Coverage Is Required and Overtime Is Charged The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has released Interactive Knowledge Exchange (IKE) IKE Scenario 07:07: FSIS Directive 12, 600.2 � Determining When Inspection Coverage Is Required and Overtime Is Charged.
Dec 11, 2007 Exhibit Spaces Available For AMC Tech Fair And Product Tasting Reception Exhibition spaces are still available for the popular Product Tasting Reception and Tech Fair Luncheon, to be featured at the 2008 Annual Meat Conference, March 9-11, 2008, at the Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center, Nashville, Tennessee.
Dec 11, 2007 AMI Foundation and National Meat Association To Co-Host E. Coli O157:H7 Surveillance and Prevention Briefing January 23, 2008, in Washington, DC The American Meat Institute Foundation (AMIF) and the National Meat Association (NMA) will host an E. coli O157:H7 Surveillance and Prevention Briefing January 23, 2008, at the Doubletree Crystal City Hotel in Arlington, Virginia.
Dec 11, 2007 Registration Still Available for Updated Advanced Listeria Workshop January 29-30, 2008, in Chicago There is still time to register for the Advanced Listeria Intervention and Control Workshop, scheduled for January 29-30, 2008, at the Hilton Chicago in downtown Chicago, Ill.
Dec 11, 2007 Registration Under Way For Annual Meat Conference Registration is under way for the industry�s premier retail meat merchandising conference, the Annual Meat Conference, slated for March 9-11, 2008, at the Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center, Nashville, Tenn.
Dec 10, 2007 Registration Under Way For AMI Foundation Animal Care and Handling Conference Registration is under way for the AMI Foundation Animal Care and Handling Conference for the Food Industry. The conference will be held February 14-15, 2008, at the Westin Crown Center in Kansas City, Missouri.
Dec 10, 2007 2008 Animal Care and Handling Conference To Feature Special Pre-Conference Workshop On Livestock Transportation The American Meat Institute Foundation (AMIF) together with the Animal Transportation Association (AATA) have announced they will host a Livestock Transportation Conference February 13, 2008, at the Westin Crown Center in Kansas City.
Dec 7, 2007 Senate Clears Peru Free Trade Agreement The Senate this week approved the U.S.-Peru free trade agreement by a vote of 77-18, delivering to President Bush the first trade pact under a deal reached between Democrats and the White House in May requiring trade partners to follow basic labor and environmental standards. Largely because of...
Dec 6, 2007 U.S. House of Representatives Passes Energy Bill Doubling Grain Ethanol Mandate The U.S. House of Representatives passed its energy bill that, if enacted into law, will double the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) from the current 7.5 billion gallons per year to a 15 billion gallon grain ethanol mandate. The bill, H.R.6, passed by a vote of 234-181.
Dec 6, 2007 Revised National Animal Identification System Program Standards and Technical Reference Document Available For Comment The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is making available for public comment a revised version of the National Animal Identification System (NAIS) Program Standards and Technical Reference document.
Dec 6, 2007 DHS Publishes Final Rule On Increased Security Procedures For Facilities Storing Certain Chemicals The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) published a final rule establishing requirements for registration, reporting, and possibly increased security procedures for U.S. chemical facilities and other facilities that store or use �Chemicals of Interest� in amounts above �Screening Threshold...
Dec 3, 2007 Coalition Urges Congress To Oppose RFS Being Considered For Inclusion In Energy Legislation A broad coalition representing many segments of the food and agriculture industries sent a letter to House and Senate leaders Friday voicing opposition to the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) that is reportedly being considered for inclusion in new energy legislation.
Dec 3, 2007 USDA forecasts record pork exports in 2008 The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) predicts that U.S. pork exports will reach a new record in 2008, with beef exports expected to remain steady, while dollar values of both will rise due to a continued weak U.S. dollar.
Jan 10, 2008 AMI launches new blah blah blah Researchers at University of Omaha at Lincoln have blah blah blah
Nov 26, 2007 New I-9 Form and Handbook Published In Federal Register Information on the newly amended Eligibility Verification Form (I-9) has been published in the Federal Register. All employers are required to complete a Form I-9 for each employee hired in the United States. The new I-9 Form will become mandatory December 26, 30 days after publication.
Nov 20, 2007 OSHA Announces Employer-Paid Personal Protective Equipment Final Rule The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has announced a final rule on employer-paid personal protective equipment (PPE).
Nov 20, 2007 FSIS Issues New IKE Scenario on Verification of Ventilation The Food Safety Inspection Service�s (FSIS) Interactive Knowledge Exchange (IKE) has released a draft of IKE Scenario 09D-07: FSIS Verification of 9 CFR 416.2(d) Regarding Frozen Condensate in Product Freezers (Part II). The objective of the release is to highlight the questions that inspection...
Nov 19, 2007 U.S. Border Reopens To Canadian Cattle After more than four years of restricted trade, the U.S. border has reopened to older live Canadian cattle and beef products from those animals, in accordance with the final rule published by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) aimed at further restoring normal trade in cattle and...
Nov 26, 2007 Members of Congress Urge House and Senate Leadership To Craft RFS That Encourages Development of Biofuels From Non-Food Crops A delegation of 46 Members of Congress sent a letter to House and Senate leaders considering a new Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) as part of the current energy bill, urging them to make non-food crops the centerpiece of the new provision.
Nov 16, 2007 Philippines Allows Full Market Access For U.S. Beef Acting Secretary of Agriculture Chuck Conner today announced that the Philippines has complied with international trade standards regarding beef and beef products by allowing complete market access for U.S. beef and beef products from cattle of all ages.
Nov 14, 2007 Two New Studies Confirm Effectiveness of E. Coli Vaccine Two new studies conducted by the University of Nebraska-Lincoln have found that a vaccine product containing type III secreted proteins of Escherichia coli O157:H7 effectively reduces the probability for cattle to shed E.coli O157:H7 while also reducing E. coli colonization of the terminal rectum...
Nov 13, 2007 Study Says Nitrite/Nitrate-Rich Foods May Help in Heart Attack Survival Nitrite/nitrate found in vegetables, cured meats and drinking water may help heart attack survival and quicken recovery, according to a pre-clinical study led by a cardiovascular physiologist at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston. Findings appear in the Nov. 12 early online...
Nov 8, 2007 Dueling Headlines About Overweight and Obesity Risks Reflect Ongoing Debate in Science Community After the World Cancer Research Fund (WCRF) report released last week declared that obesity increased cancer risk significantly, the Washington Post�s front page yesterday declared �Extra Pounds May Carry Certain Benefits.�
Oct 31, 2007 American Meat Institute Calls WCRF Panel Recommendations on Meat Consumption Extreme and Unfounded The American Meat Institute (AMI) today said that World Cancer Research Fund�s (WCRF) recommendations to limit red and processed meat intake to extremely low levels reflect WCRF�s well-known anti-meat bias and should be met with skepticism because they oversimplify the complex issue of cancer,...
Nov 8, 2007 USCIS Announces Revision To Employment Eligibility Verification Form I-9 U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced today that a revised Employment Eligibility Verification Form (I-9) is now available for use. All employers are required to complete a Form I-9 for each employee hired in the United States.
Nov 8, 2007 Import Safety Action Plan Unveiled; FDA Proposes Food Protection Plan The Interagency Working Group on Import Safety recently presented President George W. Bush with its recommended action plan, which contains short- and long-term recommendations for continuing to improve the safety of imports entering the United States.
Oct 31, 2007 R-CALF, Consumer Groups File Lawsuit to Enjoin USDA�s Minimal Risk Rule R-CALF and a number of consumer groups have filed a complaint in the U.S. District Court for the District of South Dakota, Northern Division, to prevent implementation of a final rule published by USDA that would further restore normal trade in cattle and meat products between the United States...
Oct 17, 2007 USDA Creates Grass-Fed Marketing Claim Standard The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) is establishing a voluntary standard for a grass (forage) fed livestock marketing claim. This standard incorporates the revisions made as a result of comments received from an earlier proposed standard.
Oct 15, 2007 Ag Groups Urge Congress To Oppose Increase of RFS for Grain-Based Ethanol A broad coalition of organizations representing many segments of the animal agriculture community sent a letter to House and Senate leaders voicing their opposition to the expansion of the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) for grain-based ethanol contained in the Senate-based version of the energy...
Oct 11, 2007 Judge Blocks Government From Implementing �No Match� Worksite Enforcement Rule A federal judge has granted a preliminary injunction against the Department of Homeland Security�s efforts to implement a rule that would require employers to follow new procedures when receiving �no match� letters � which notify employers that employees� names do not match their Social Security...
Oct 19, 2007 AMI Vice President of Scientific Affairs Gives Industry Perspective on Public Health Significance of non O157 STEC The public health significance of non-O157 shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) was the subject of a recent meeting co-sponsored by the U.S. Department of Agriculture�s Food Safety and Inspection Service, the Food and Drug Administration�s Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition and...
Oct 5, 2007 Senators Propose Resolution of Disapproval To Minimal Risk Rule For Cattle and Beef Senator Byron Dorgan (D-ND) introduced a Resolution of Disapproval in the United States Senate that, if passed, would express the U.S. Senate�s dissatisfaction with the USDA�s decision to expand the list of allowable beef and cattle imports from countries recognized as presenting a minimal risk...
Oct 4, 2007 FSIS To Increase Scrutiny of Meat Processing Plants The Food Safety Inspection Service (FSIS) announced today several actions that will affect the meat industry, including increased scrutiny of beef processing plants to ensure that the steps they are taking to control E. Coli O157:H7 are effective. FSIS also intends to review its recall policies...
Oct 4, 2007 AMI To Congress: Employment And Immigration Laws Are In Urgent Need Of Reform The employment and immigration laws that govern the hiring and employment process are dysfunctional and in urgent need of reform, according to AMI Senior Vice President for Legislative Affairs Mike Brown, who testified to the House Committee on Agriculture on the labor needs of American agriculture.
Sep 20, 2007 New Study: Ethanol Industry No Longer Needs Federal Support The ethanol industry in the United States is thriving and no longer needs a high level of federal support, according to a new study by agricultural economist Thomas Elam. The findings of the study, commissioned by the American Meat Institute, National Chicken Council and National Turkey...
Sep 20, 2007 Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns Resigns Deputy Agriculture Secretary Charles Conner Will Serve As Acting Secretary President Bush announced the resignation Thursday of Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns, who is expected to seek the Senate seat being vacated at the end of the year by Sen. Chuck Hagel (R-NE). Johanns...
Sep 21, 2007 New York Times Editorial: �Economics of the American drive to increase ethanol is discouraging" American corn-based ethanol is expensive and while it may provide modest reductions in greenhouse gases compared with conventional gasoline, it carries considerable risks, according to a recent editorial in the New York Times. �The distortions in agricultural production are startling,� the...
Sep 21, 2007 Bill Requiring New User Fees on Imports, New Restrictions on Ports and Packaging Introduced in House A bill that would mandate new user fees for imported food, require labels for meat and poultry packaging utilizing reduced oxygen formats and limit ports where food can be imported to 13 locales in close proximity to Food and Drug Administration (FDA) labs has been introduced in the House. H.R....
Sep 24, 2007 FSIS Releases Directive on Post-Mortem Livestock Inspection The Food and Safety Inspection Service (FSIS) released a new directive on post-mortem livestock inspection (Directive 6100.2). This directive provides instructions to the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) personnel on how to inspect livestock after slaughter (post-mortem). In addition,...
Sep 26, 2007 USDA Awards More than $14 Million In Food Safety Grants The USDA has announced it will award more than $14 million in food safety grants to researchers and educators at 17 universities throughout the United States. The USDA grants will focus on improving food safety nationwide, while reducing the incidence of foodborne illness among children, adults...
Sep 26, 2007 Food and Drug Administration Announces Availability of Draft Guidance Document On Microbiological Issues The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is announcing the availability of the draft guidance document entitled �Guidance for Industry: Microbiological Considerations for Antimicrobial Food Additive Submissions.� The draft guidance explains, using a question and answer format, FDA�s current...
Sep 27, 2007 Avian Influenza Detected in Canada USDA Chief Veterinarian Notes It�s Not the Strain That Hit Asia, Europe and Africa The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) announced today that highly pathogenic H7N3 avian influenza been detected on a commercial broiler breeder farm in the province of Saskatchewan. This is a...
Oct 1, 2007 Banning Lox-Oxygen Modified Atmosphere Packaging Is Unjustified, AMI Says in USA Today Op-Ed In a counterpoint to a USA Today editorial, AMI Foundation Vice President of Scientific Affairs Randy Huffman, Ph.D., today said that �Meat products packaged with modified air are proven products that have food safety and quality benefits, documented by independent scientists and reviewed and...
Oct 2, 2007 National Labor Relations Board Overturns Policy of Denying Employees Access To Secret Ballot Votes The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) voted 3-2 to overturn its policy of denying employees any access to a secret ballot vote over unionization after a union is recognized pursuant to the controversial �card check� organizing process. The NLRB ruling comes in the consolidated cases of...
Oct 2, 2007 Temporary Restraining Order On �No-Match� Letters Extended A San Francisco federal judge has extended for 10 days an order preventing the Department of Homeland Security from implementing a rule that would require employers to follow new procedures when receiving �no-match� letters from the Social Security Administration (SSA)...
Sep 9, 2004 FSIS Issues Notice To Emphasize Need for Systematic Approach to Humane Handling, September 9, 2004 In an effort to encourage industry to develop a systematic approach to humane handling, the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has published the Notice, "Humane Handling and Slaughter Requirements and the Merits of a Systematic Approach to Meet Such Requirements."
Dec 28, 2004 New HIKE Scenario Is Available to Address Humane Ritual Slaughter A new Humane Interactive Knowledge Exchange (HIKE) scenario designed to improve in-plant humane handling and slaughter procedures is now available on-line from the Food Safety and Inspection Service's (FSIS) Technical Services Center (TSC). HIKE scenario 03-04 encourages the implementation of a...
Jul 15, 2005 Federal Court Lifts Ban on Candian Cattle USDA Taking Immediate Steps to Restore Trade in "Days"
Jul 15, 2005 Federal Court Lifts Ban on Candian Cattle USDA officials are promising to move quickly to restore trade in cattle under 30 months of age with Canada following yesterday�s decision by the United States Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit that reversed a preliminary injunction blocking imports of Canadian cattle and some Canadian beef....
Sep 15, 2005 New Survey Shows 9.2 Percent Rise in Health Insurance Premiums in 2005 Health insurance premiums paid by employers increased an average of 9.2% in 2005, according to the 2005 Annual Employer Health Benefits Survey just released by the Kaiser Family Foundation and Health Research and Educational Trust. The 2005 increase ended four consecutive years of double-digit...
Jul 25, 2005 9th Circuit Issues 54-page Opinion in Reversal of Preliminary Injunction Against Canadian Cattle Imports AMI Calls Ruling �Stinging Indictment� of Lower Court Ruling
Jul 20, 2006 Agency Collecting Data on Non-Routine Incidents Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) personnel will begin collecting information about the operational status of official establishments, as well as facilities that handle FSIS-regulated products, during non-routine incidents. FSIS Notice 42-06, "Non-Routine Incident Data Collection...
Mar 10, 2004 "Downer" Amendment Defeated Soundly by House of Representatives An amendment offered by Rep. Gary Ackerman (D-NY), to exclude food companies that use non-ambulatory livestock from the liability protection against obesity-related lawsuits, was defeated in the U.S. House of Representatives today by a 276 to 141 vote. The underlying bill (H.R. 339), the...
Jun 11, 2007 AMI, Producers, Industry Voice Concern Over Quintupling of Ethanol Mandate A coalition consisting of the American Meat Institute and a host of trade associations and businesses representing the full spectrum of the food sector sent a letter to Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) and Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) noting concern about a Senate bill that would...
Apr 19, 2007 AMI Urges Congress To Take Steps to Minimize Impact of Ethanol Policy on Animal Agriculture Congress and the Administration should consider tax incentives and other legislative vehicles to support energy-based opportunities for animal agriculture because of the increased demands on corn from the ethanol industry, said AMI President and CEO J. Patrick Boyle in testimony submitted to the...
Mar 9, 2007 AMI in Des Moines Register: "There are benefits to livestock contracts" One of the benefits of livestock contracts and marketing agreements is that they are important tools producers can choose to use to manage their most volatile risks, including input costs and final price," notes a Letter to the Editor to the Des Moines Register from AMI President and CEO J....
Jun 11, 2007 AMI, Meat and Poultry Coalition Launch Web Site Calling for Balanced Food and Fuel Policy AMI and a coalition of meat, livestock and poultry organizations today unveiled www.balancedfoodandfuel-old.org, a Web site dedicated to informing policy-makers, the media and the public about the impact of national ethanol policy on the industry and on consumers. The timely Web site...
Mar 7, 2005 AMI�s Request for Injunction to Restore Full Trade with Canada Denied The American Meat Institute�s (AMI) motion for a preliminary injunction to block enforcement of a May 2003 ban on imports of Canadian cattle and beef has been denied. An opinion outlining the court�s reasoning has not yet been issued. "The U.S. meat industry continues to believe as...
Oct 20, 2004 AMI Guest Editorial: A Fully Integrated North American Market Is Better for Everyone "Differences in a vision for the future were recently highlighted in a sharply worded attack by the Ranchers- Cattlemen Action Legal Fund, concerning remarks made by the American Meat Institute's new chairman Bill Buckner, who simply acknowledged a trend that has been happening between the U.S....
Mar 12, 2002 Annual Meat Conference Sells Out Product Tasting Reception Booths for AMI�s Annual Meat Conference�s Product Tasting Reception have sold out with a 20 percent increase in spaces sold over last year. This year�s Meat Conference, to be held April 21-23 at the Wyndham Anatole Hotel in Dallas, TX, will address the latest issues affecting the meat industry...
Dec 9, 2002 Agenda for Dec. 12 Public Meeting on Improving the Recall Process Posted FSIS today posted the agenda for a public meeting scheduled for Dec. 12, 2002, to discuss improving the process for meat, poultry and egg recalls. The meeting will be held from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Thursday, Dec. 12, at the Washington Plaza Hotel, 10 Thomas Circle NW, Washington, D.C. Attendees...
Jan 24, 2001 AMA Launches New Foodborne Illness Program for MDs and Patients "Fight BAC!" Patient Information Released
Jun 8, 2005 Australian Government To Appeal Judgment Banning U.S. and Other Pork Imports The Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service will appeal an Australian federal court ruling that suspended Australian imports of U.S., Canadian and Danish pork products. On May 27, Justice Wilcox blocked the imports, ruling in favor of Australian Pork Limited and Windridge Farms and against...
Jul 11, 2002 Appeals Court Allows Assessments to Continue in Beef CheckOff Case The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 8th Circuit yesterday granted a request for a stay allowing the beef promotion program to continue uninterrupted pending the outcome of an appeal of a lower court ruling. On June 21, the U.S. District Court for the District of South Dakota ruled that the Beef...
Jun 20, 2003 AMI Accepting Nominations for Industry Awards To Be Presented at Annual Convention The nominations have officially opened for AMI�s most prestigious industry awards, which will be announced during the International Meat, Poultry and Seafood Convention and Exposition, as part of the Worldwide Food Expo �03 in Chicago, IL, Oct. 29 � Nov. 1, 2003. Each year, AMI awards the...
Apr 19, 2007 AMI Says Ban on Packer Ownership of Livestock "Detrimental to Entire Livestock Sector" The strength of the livestock marketing system in the U.S. is the flexibility it provides to producers, packers/processors and retailers in responding to market signals and offering increasing variety of alternatives for the producer through to the consumer," said AMI President J. Patrick Boyle...
Apr 7, 2006 APHIS Announces Web Conference Training Seminars for Animal ID Number Managers The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) will hold additional training seminars, via web conference, for producers and other stakeholders who intend to participate in the distribution of animal identification number (AIN) tags. The web conferences will provide additional details...
Jul 11, 2002 Agriculture Groups Request Congressional Help in Resolving Australian Trade Issues AMI joined with 18 other agriculture/agribusiness groups in requesting the assistance of the U.S. Congress in resolving outstanding agricultural trade issues with Australia. The written request was sent to all members of the U.S. Congress yesterday. The groups are concerned that the...
Jan 29, 2002 AMI, Industry Launch Grassroots Campaign to Reverse Packer Ownership Ban The Senate anticipates reviving its Farm Bill debate the week of February 11th. AMI today launched a grassroots campaign to strip the Johnson Amendment banning packer ownership from the Farm Bill, instead replacing it with an economic impact study. "We are convinced that once the sweeping and...
Oct 31, 2003 Author Jim Collins Spurs AMI Convention Goers to Greatness in Keynote Speech Best-selling author Jim Collins challenged AMI convention attendees this morning not just to survive in their businesses but to build something great despite their circumstances. "Greatness is not a function of your circumstances, but a function of conscious choice and discipline," Collins said...
Feb 23, 2005 AMI Submits Comments to CFIA Regarding Proposed Feed Ban Enhancements Additional Measures 'Will Have No Immediate Effect' on BSE Cases
Sep 25, 2002 AMI Holds Annual Business Meeting in New Orleans The American Meat Institute will hold its annual business meeting Thursday, October 24, from 11:00 - 11:30 a.m. in the Grand Ballroom-A of the Hilton New Orleans Riverside immediately following the AMI Board of Directors meeting. During the meeting, a new slate of AMI officers will be...
Jun 27, 2001 AMI Now Offering Membership Column on Inside AMI AMI will relaunch its popular membership column, "Members on the Move," with the first edition debuting on July 9. The membership column previously was available in the print edition of the AMI Newsletter. A membership column will appear in Inside AMI at www.MeatAMI.com on Mondays. The column...
Dec 20, 2002 APHIS Declares Great Britain Free of FMD, Rinderpest Great Britain is free of foot and mouth disease (FMD) and rinderpest, two diseases that have plagued the country�s livestock population over the past two years, and is relieved of certain FMD-related trade restrictions, APHIS announced this week in a final rule published in the Federal...
Nov 15, 2002 Agenda for FSIS Listeria Summit Available An agenda for the FSIS Listeria Summit scheduled for Nov. 18, 2002, at the Holiday Inn Capitol in Washington, DC, is now available on the FSIS web site. Access the agenda at: http://www.fsis.usda.gov/oa/news/2002/agenda_lm.htm . Comments on the directive will be due on Dec. 2, 2002. The...
Mar 31, 2004 American Public Gives PETA Low Ranking for Trustworthiness A survey of charities, conducted by Harris Interactive, Inc., found that People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) ranks at the bottom of the trustworthiness scale, according to a report published in The Chronicle of Philanthropy, March 18. Harris compiled a list of nonprofit...
Feb 13, 2003 AMI, Other Food and Agricultural Groups Send Letter to Congress Opposing "User Fees" AMI and 21 food and agricultural groups co-signed a letter to all members of the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate Wednesday in opposition to "user fees" proposed by USDA to pay for meat, poultry and egg products inspection. The groups wrote, �In reality, these so-called �user fees�...
Aug 23, 2006 2006 Meat Industry Research Conference to Focus on Industry Research Needs Attendee Discussions, Contributions Key to the Conference
Oct 7, 2002 Agriculture Secretary Announces Thirteen Appointments to Lamb Promotion Board Agriculture Secretary Ann M. Veneman today announced 13 appointments to the Lamb Promotion, Research and Information Board. The 13-member board is comprised of six producers and three feeders representing regions East and West of the Mississippi River, one seedstock producer and three...
Oct 7, 2004 AMI Letter to TIME: Don�t Blame Meat Packers for Illegal Immigration "It is both outrageous and unfair to blame this country's unwillingness or inability to control its borders on the meatpacking industry or other agricultural interests," says AMI President and CEO J. Patrick Boyle in a letter to the editor to TIME magazine. Although TIME didn�t print Boyle�s...
Aug 23, 2001 E. Coli Infections Resulted from Not Washing Hands After Animal Handling at Fair Wisconsin Case Finds "Bad Hygiene" Cause of Outbreak
Sep 30, 2004 AMI Guest Editorial: Layers of Misconceptions Causing Long Term Trade Crisis in Beef A number of misconceptions about BSE and the role that testing plays in food safety have exacerbated the social and economic costs ignited by the discovery of two cases of BSE in North America, says AMI President and CEO J. Patrick Boyle in 'Guest Perspective' on Meatnews.com. "Global trade in...
Oct 24, 2002 AMI Honored as Association of the Year by Hunger Relief Group AMI was named Association of the Year today by America�s Second Harvest, the nation�s largest domestic hunger relief organization. AMI received the honor for its longstanding support of America�s Second Harvest through "Meating the Need" program. The award was presented during the AMI�s Annual...
Jan 30, 2006 AMI Files Amicus Brief in Montana Case The American Meat Institute (AMI), together with four other organizations, submitted an amicus curiae (friend of the court) brief in support of the U.S. Department of Agriculture�s (USDA) rule allowing cattle and beef imports from Canada. The brief urges the continuation of cattle and beef...
May 12, 2006 AMS Seeking Comments on Grass Marketing Claims The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) is seeking comments on a revised proposed voluntary standard for grass (forage) fed livestock marketing claims. The proposed standard incorporates revisions made after receiving comments during an earlier published proposed standard. The proposed...
May 11, 2001 AMI Foundation Holding Foot-and-Mouth Disease Briefing June 14 The AMI Foundation will host a one-day briefing to provide up-to-date information about foot and mouth on June 14, 2001, at the Washington Hilton & Towers in Washington, DC. The Foundation is holding the briefing in response to questions about government and industry efforts to keep FMD from...
Jun 11, 2001 ARS, Maryland Research Firm Sequences Genome of Listeria USDA last week announced that researchers have examined the genetic makeup of Listeria, a bacterium known to cause food-borne illness. USDA�s Agricultural Research Service and The Institute for Genomic Research (TIGR) in Rockville, Md., collaborated in an effort to understand the genetic makeup...
Sep 6, 2002 AMI Kicks-Off Grassroots Letter Campaign on Captive Supply AMI urges its meat packers, processors and supplier members to tell their U.S. Senators and Representatives to oppose legislation that would limit or ban the use of captive supply of livestock by beef, pork and lamb packers and processors. Legislative action could occur as early as September...
Jun 11, 2002 Americans Now Showing More Interest in Nutrition, Diet Information A growing number of Americans are adopting a healthful diet and seeking nutrition information, according to results from the American Dietetic Association�s nationwide survey Nutrition and You: Trends 2002 . This conclusion may influence the debate among meat packers and processors regarding...
Jun 22, 2007 AMI Tells Cattle Country �There�s Something Fishy About Mandatory Country of Origin Labeling� "There�s something fishy about mandatory country-of-origin labeling," the American Meat Institute (AMI) told readers of today�s Tri-State Neighbor newspaper, delivered twice monthly to 30,000 farms and ranches in all of South Dakota, Southwest Minnesota, Northwest Iowa and Northeast Nebraska....
Mar 3, 2006 AMI Joins Business, Labor and Immigrants Rights Groups in Ad for Comprehensive Immigration Reform Noting "enforcement alone will not solve the problem," the American Meat Institute (AMI) joined nearly 30 business, labor and immigrants rights organizations to �fix our broken immigration system.� The ads began appearing the last week of February in Congressional Quarterly and CQ Today and...
Dec 30, 2004 Agriculture Industry to Host a BSE Briefing in Washington, DC Discounted Hotel Rooms Available Until Jan. 10
Oct 2, 2002 AMI, Other Industry Trade Groups Urge President to Help Reopen West Coast Ports AMI and five other meat, poultry and hide trade associations called upon President Bush to use his authority to reopen 29 West Coast ports closed by a labor-management dispute. The National Cattlemen�s Beef Association, National Chicken Council, National Pork Producers Council, National Turkey...
Nov 23, 2004 Wall Street Journal Reports that CDC Estimates of Obesity Death Toll May Be Flawed A front page Wall Street Journal story today says that the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has admitted to errors in a study it conducted that found obesity poised to overtake tobacco as the leading cause of preventable death. According to the Journal , an internal CDC review is now under...
Aug 13, 2001 Activities of the National Advisory Committee on Microbiological Criteria for Foods The Microbiological Performance Standards for Meat and Poultry subcommittee of the National Advisory Committee on Microbiological Criteria for Foods (NACMCF) will hold its second meeting in Washington, DC, August 14-17. The subcommittee has been charged with evaluating performance standards and...
Jun 21, 2001 AMI, Other Groups Support AgTrade Coalition Efforts Trade Promotion Authority is essential to the success of a new round of WTO global trade negotiations, AMI President J. Patrick Boyle said at a press conference today at USDA. Boyle joined Secretary of Agriculture Ann Veneman and leaders of five other agriculture/agribusiness groups today in...
Nov 13, 2001 AMI Member News AMI welcomes new members: Associate Members: Management Wise, Inc. - Kingston Springs, TN, is a process management consulting company, headed by President Robert Thrash. For additional information please call 615-952-9651. Praise: Emmpak Foods, Milwaukee, WI, received the In Good...
Jan 2, 2004 APHIS closing comments Monday on rule to permit import of low-risk Canadian cattle USDA�s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service said Friday that the comment period on a proposed rule that would potentially have allowed for imports of live cattle under the age of 30 months from Canada and other countries believed to be at minimal risk of introducing bovine spongiform...
Jan 4, 2001 AMI Process Lethality Determination Spreadsheet Now Available on MeatAMI.com AMI's Process Lethality Determination Spreadsheet is now available on MeatAMI.com and may be accessed at http://www.meatami.com/Template.cfm?Section=HACCPImplementation&NavMenuID=122 . The spreadsheet has been available for more than a year on AMI's previous web site, www.meatami.org, and...
Apr 15, 2005 Additional FSIS Workshops Address Food Security Planning The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) will hold a series of workshops from May through July 2005, to discuss food security awareness and to address self-assessment checklists, verification procedures and emergency procedures for import inspection. In addition, the workshops will...
Jul 22, 2004 2004 Hot Dog Lunch Photos Viewable On-Line A photo gallery from the 2004 American Meat Institute Hot Dog Lunch, held yesterday on Capitol Hill, is now viewable on-line. More than 1,000 guests, including 100 lawmakers, Agriculture Secretary Ann Veneman and 35 members of the media, attended the lunch. It has become one of the most...
Jun 21, 2007 AMS Reopens Country-of-Origin Proposed Rule Comment Period The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) reopened the comment period for 60 days for the proposed rule for mandatory country-of-origin labeling (COL) for beef, lamb, pork, perishable agricultural commodities, and peanuts that was published in the Federal Register on Oct. 30, 2003 (68 Fed....
Aug 3, 2001 AMI Urges Voluntary Ergonomics Guidelines for All Industries in Comments to OSHA AMI recommended in comments submitted to OSHA today that the agency work with industry groups to develop voluntary ergonomic guidelines similar the "Ergonomics Program Management Guidelines for Meatpacking Plants." This voluntary cooperation between the meatpacking industry and OSHA has resulted...
Jan 3, 2006 2006 Meat Conference: Focus on Leadership, Customer Loyalty Conference Connects Meat and Poultry Retailers, Suppliers
Nov 7, 2001 AMI, Other Groups Offer Food Security Input to New Office of Homeland Security AMI joined more than 50 food and related industry organizations in offering input on domestic food security to Tom Ridge, director of the new Office of Homeland Security. The groups contacted Ridge under the auspices of the Alliance for Food Security, a group of industry and government...
May 26, 2004 AMIF Research Funding Makes an Impact on Enhancing Meat Safety The U.S. meat industry has taken aggressive steps to identify, validate and implement science-based solutions to food safety challenges. One important step has been the industry funding of the American Meat Institute Foundation's (AMIF) Food Safety Initiative, which over the last 5 years has...
Oct 17, 2003 AMI: EPA Data Fails to Justify Effluent Limitation Guidelines for Certain Meat and Poultry Facilities New data collected and analyzed by the EPA's Office of Water fails to demonstrate that an additional layer of effluent limitation regulations is warranted, AMI said in comments filed this week to the EPA on Docket ID No. OW-2002-0014. The comments were submitted in response to the Meat and...
Feb 28, 2007 APHIS Schedules Animal ID Implementation Meeting The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has scheduled two public meetings to discuss the implementation of private and state animal identification number device distribution databases for the animal identification component of the National Animal Identification System, a voluntary...
Jul 12, 2002 Ag Administrators, Meat Industry Reps to Mingle at Special Convention Session New Bush administrators will dialogue with industry representatives at a special session during the American Meat Institute�s 2002 Annual Convention and Innovation Showcase in New Orleans. As part of the Environment/Operations and Government & Public Policy conferences, meat industry...
Nov 14, 2006 AMI Guest Editorial: "Farmer Brown�s Barn is No Love Canal" "Sometimes, reality is stranger than fiction. That�s the only way to explain a move by a handful of greedy trial lawyers and misguided elected officials to use Superfund to declare family farms across the U.S. toxic waste sites because they produce animal manure," says AMI President and CEO J....
Aug 13, 2004 2004 Meat Industry Research Conference to Highlight Safety and Animal Traceability Conference Slated for Sept. 30-Oct. 2 in Nashville, Tenn.
Jan 10, 2002 Annual Convention Committee Co-Chairs Named David Miniat, president of Ed Miniat, Inc., and Norm Winkel, general manager of food services for Multivac, Inc., will co-chair AMI�s Annual Convention committee. Miniat and Winkel will help in directing programming and exhibits for the convention. The 2002 AMI Annual Convention featuring the...
Apr 17, 2003 Agreement Assigns More Public Health Service Officials to FSIS An agreement with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services� Public Health Service (PHS) Commissioned Corps will greatly expand the number of PHS Commissioned Corps Officers assigned to FSIS, USDA Secretary Ann M. Veneman announced today. PHS Officers are highly trained health experts...
Oct 22, 2002 AMI Files Comments on Retained Water Directive AMI filed comments today with FSIS regarding a directive titled "Retained Water in Meat and Poultry Products." The directive was released last week for comment. In the comments, AMI asks for clarifications on the type and frequency of FSIS monitoring, labeling requirements and enforcement...
Oct 11, 2006 Advanced Listeria Workshop Filling Up Time Is Running Out to Reserve Your Spot
May 6, 2003 AMI Foundation Sponsoring Listeria Workshop in June The AMI Foundation (AMIF) is sponsoring its popular "Implementing Listeria Intervention and Control" workshop in June. The Listeria workshop is scheduled for June 4 � 5, 2003, at the Hyatt Harborside in Boston. The two-day course is designed to help participants examine the issues...
Nov 13, 2000 AMI Opposes Residue Policy Under Consideration By FSIS Muscle tissue from cattle carcasses is wholesome and not adulterated when testing of carcass muscle tissue does not yield results above certain tolerances, according to a letter sent to FSIS today by AMI and several other trade associations. AMI expressed concern that FSIS is considering...
Jun 12, 2003 AMI, Ag Coalition Urge Congress to Oppose Expanded USDA Enforcement Authority The American Meat Institute was among a coalition of food and livestock organizations that signed a letter urging Congress to oppose the "Meat and Poultry Pathogen Reduction and Enforcement Act" (S. 1103/H.R. 2203) introduced by Sen. Tom Harkin (D-Iowa) and Rep. Anna Eshoo (D-Calif.). The...
Nov 30, 2000 AMIF to Host 2001 Conference on Worker Safety, Health and Human Resources March 11-14 in Denver, CO AMIF will host the 2001 Conference on Worker Safety, Health and Human Resources March 11-14, 2001, at the Denver Marriot City Center in Denver, CO. In addition to the annual safety awards program and topical worker safety, human resources and ergonomics issues, this year�s conference will help...
Nov 12, 2004 AMI Foundation's Listeria Workshop Met Maximum Capacity AMI Foundation's Listeria Intervention and Control Workshop designed to guide industry personnel through the implementation of programs to control Listeria in the ready to eat (RTE) meat plant environment reached its limit of sixty attendees, last week in Rosemont, Ill. The two-day workshop...
Dec 29, 2004 AMIF Animal Care and Handling Conference to Feature Reception With Exhibits Register by December 31 and Save
Dec 20, 2000 AMS Hosts Mandatory Price Reporting Meeting The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) held a meeting December 19 for packers that the agency believes will be subject to mandatory price reporting when the rule becomes effective January 30, 2001. AMS officials explained the rule's provisions, as well as the information technology system...
Jan 9, 2002 AMI Food Security Guidelines Available at MeatAMI.com AMI has developed extensive guidelines for food security in meat and poultry plants in consultation with its members. AMI members can access the "Food Security Guidelines for the Meat and Poultry Industry" at...
Sep 5, 2003 AMI, Other Ag Groups File Comments to Codex Committee on Meat Hygiene AMI and three other agriculture trade associations this week filed comments on the "Discussion Paper on Proposed Draft Hygienic Provisions for Processed Meat;” and the “Proposed Draft Annex on Microbiological Verification of Process Control of Meat Hygiene (03/16A Appendix V)”...
Jan 11, 2002 Anthrax Kills 10 Australian Cattle Australian health officials said yesterday tests have confirmed that anthrax killed 10 cattle in Australia's northeastern state, according to Australian media reports. Two properties have been quarantined as a Queensland Department of Primary Industries team works to dispose of the dead animals...
Jan 23, 2003 Animal Welfare Advocate Adele Douglass to Deliver Keynote Address at Animal Care and Handling Conference The American Humane Association's Farm Animal Services Vice President Adele Douglass will deliver the keynote address at the Animal Care and Handling Conference for the Food Industry Feb. 27-28, 2003 in Kansas City. Douglass serves on numerous industry advisory committees and has been...
Jun 19, 2003 AMI Information Sessions Scheduled for Next Week in Pa., Minn., Before COOL Listening Sessions AMI will hold two information sessions next week to educate industry and news media to explain the controversial country-of-origin labeling law prior to USDA�s Listening Sessions on the law in St. Paul, Minn., and Lancaster, Pa. AMI�s information session in Minnesota is scheduled for June 24,...
Nov 6, 2006 AMI, Northwestern�s J.L. Kellogg Graduate School of Management to Offer Executive Education Program The American Meat Institute (AMI) has teamed with Northwestern University�s top-ranked business school to offer a custom executive education program for the meat and poultry industry that will sharpen skills in a unique setting renowned for its educational programs. The special, three-day...
Jul 1, 2004 AMI Submits Comments on Food Labeling Regulations AMI submitted comments today to USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) regarding the proposed rule Uniform Compliance Date for Food Labeling Regulations, Docket No. 03-026P. The comments were submitted regarding the proposed rule originally published in the Federal Register, May 4....
Aug 10, 2004 AMI Foundation to Host New Facility Sanitary Design Workshop The American Meat Institute Foundation will host a new Facility Sanitary Design Workshop Sept. 29, immediately prior the AMI Annual Convention & Innovation Showcase, Sept. 30-Oct. 2 at the Gaylord Opryland Hotel in Nashville, Tenn. At the workshop, eleven new principles of sanitary facility...
Apr 27, 2007 AMI Hopes Shipment of Beef to Korea is Sign of New Cooperation on U.S. Beef Imports The American Meat Institute said it hopes a shipment of U.S. beef that cleared Korean customs is a sign of new cooperation on U.S. beef imports. The Korean Chief of the National Veterinary Research and Quarantine Service announced that the 6.4 tons of beef shipped to Korea last week passed all...
Jul 20, 2005 Annual Hot Dog Lunch on Capitol Hill Celebrates National Hot Dog Month More than 1,000 Expected to Attend
Mar 12, 2002 APHIS Announces Plans to Change Slaughter Plant Disease Surveillance Program USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service today announced it would seek mandatory authority to collect blood and tissue samples in slaughter plants that receive livestock moved in interstate commerce. APHIS intends to published a proposed rule that would require plants to enter into an...
Jan 26, 2005 Application Information is Available for the AMI Foundation's Safety Recognition Awards Submission Deadline Has Been Extended Until February 11
Oct 15, 2004 Antibiotic Use in Food Animals Has Declined The volume of antibiotics used in food animals in the United States dropped nearly 8 percent from 22 million pounds in 2002 to 20.2 million pounds in 2003, according a survey conducted by the Animal Health Institute (AHI). Antibiotic production has declined steadily since 1999, when 24.4...
Jul 25, 2002 Administration Unveils U.S Agricultural Trade Proposal for Ongoing WTO Talks The Bush Administration today announced an aggressive proposal for reforming global agricultural trade rules. If accepted by U.S. trading partners in the ongoing global negotiations, the plan would phase out all export subsidies, tighten constraints on the ability of countries to provide...
Oct 2, 2003 AMI Annual Business Meeting Slated for Oct. 30 AMI will hold its Annual Business Meeting Oct. 30, 2003, at McCormick Place in Chicago, immediately following the Board of Directors meeting. Attendance at the Annual Business Meeting is limited to AMI membership....
Feb 4, 2002 Administration Proposes User Fees for Second- and Third-Shift Meat and Poultry Inspection; Annual Plant Registration Fees The Bush Administration today unveiled its budget priorities for USDA/FSIS in its FY 2003 budget blueprint and has proposed to replace the existing overtime fee schedule for meat and poultry inspection with a revised structure that will include user fees for some inspection services. The...
Sep 21, 2004 Scientific American Article Asks 'Bad rap for nitrate?' Article Details Potential Anti-Microbial Benefits
Apr 19, 2002 AMI, Other Agriculture Groups Protest Denial of Visas to Cuban Trade Officials AMI joined with 26 other agriculture and agribusiness entities yesterday in sending letters to U.S. Secretary of State Colin L. Powell; Secretary of Commerce, Donald L. Evans; Secretary of Agriculture Ann M. Veneman; U.S. Trade Representative Robert B. Zoellick; and White House officials Charles...
Aug 2, 2005 AMI Redesigns, Enhances Industry Portal MeatAMI.com Updated Site Offers New Features, Better Navigation
Jun 28, 2006 AMI Celebrates Federal Meat Inspection Act � and the Institute�s - 100 Years of Commitment to Meat Safety and Quality �Industry Represents a Great American Success Story,� AMI President Boyle Says
Feb 14, 2002 AMIF's Listeria Workshop Will Be Held in Denver in March The AMI Foundation is hosting the sixth Implementing Listeria Intervention and Control Workshop March 20-21 in Denver, CO. The workshop will provide attendees with the current industry best practices regarding the control and monitoring of Listeria in the ready-to-eat meat processing...
May 31, 2007 AMI�s Reddington Appointed to USDA Emerging Markets Committee John Reddington, vice president of international affairs at the American Meat Institute, was appointed to the U.S. Department of Agriculture�s Advisory Committee on Emerging Markets for the next two years. The committee will review funding proposals under the Emerging Markets Program, which is...
Mar 30, 2005 AMI Files Brief in Support of Intervention The American Meat Institute (AMI) and the North American Meat Processors Association (NAMP) filed an amicus brief supporting an appeal filed by the National Meat Association (NMA) regarding its efforts to intervene in R-CALF v. United States Department of Agriculture. AMI's brief to the United...
May 1, 2003 AMI Hosts Country-of-Origin Information Sessions in Austin, Other Cities Nearly 30 members of the meat and livestock industries attended an AMI-sponsored country-of-origin labeling information session today in Austin, TX, just prior to a USDA-sponsored country-of-origin labeling "listening session." AMI Senior Vice President of Regulatory Affairs and General Counsel...
Nov 5, 2004 AMIF Sponsored Studies On Listeria-control Interventions Are Published Pediocin Found Effective for Controlling Listeria
Dec 18, 2003 AMIF seeking 'Best Practices' presentations for animal handling conference The political dimensions of various activist campaigns surrounding animal handling issues are well documented, while unfortunately, scientific research pointing toward real-world improvements often receives scant attention. Now, however, the AMI Foundation is changing that, with a call for...
Jun 14, 2005 1990 Nutrition Labeling and Education Act May Place A Greater Burden on Small-Share Firms Duke Marketing Study Shows Effects of Standardized Information on Firm Survival
Sep 21, 2005 AMI, Food Industry Groups Release Industry Best Practices for Holding Tested Products A new set of industry best practices for holding tested meat and poultry products has been developed and released by AMI and seven other trade associations. In addition to AMI, the associations that developed the new best practices include: the American Association of Meat Processors,...
Nov 19, 2004 AMI Assures Public That "Regardless" of Final BSE Test Result, �Meat is Safe� The Department of Agriculture�s announcement on Thursday that yet another "inconclusive" test result had been found in its expanded BSE surveillance program sent immediate shockwaves through the media and commodity markets. Despite the fact that the final result will not be confirmed for 4-8...
Nov 27, 2001 AMI Portal MeatAMI.com Announces Advertising Opportunities MeatAMI.com, AMI's award-winning portal, will now accept paid advertising, the Institute announced today. MeatAMI.com was launched in November 2000 and has become a vital site for members of the meat and poultry industry, the news media and policymakers. Nearly 5,500 people today subscribe to...
Oct 24, 2002 AMI Honors Industry Leaders With Annual Awards During Convention AMI honored four industry leaders today during the opening general session of the Annual Convention and Innovation Showcase in New Orleans, LA. This year, a new award�the Scientific Achievement Award�was added to the cadre of honors bestowed annually on industry achievers. William Sperber,...
Dec 3, 2002 AMI Comments on FSIS� E. coli Contamination of Beef Products Notice AMI filed comments last week regarding a draft notice, "E. coli O157:H7 Contamination of Beef Products," which provides guidance documents for industry on strengthening food safety programs. The notice was filed in the Federal Register on Oct. 7, 2002. To access the comments, visit:...
May 17, 2002 Acting FSIS Administrator Announces Personnel Changes Current Assistant Administrator for Staff Services Linda Swacina will become Associate Administrator, according to an announcement this week by Acting FSIS Administrator William Hudnall. She will be acting in that role until her paperwork is final. Also, William Smith has been appointed as...
Aug 3, 2005 "Non-Definitive" Sample Tests Negative for BSE in both U.S. and England Industry Reminds Consumers that Regardless, Food Supply Never at Risk
Dec 27, 2003 Bans on U.S. Beef Imports Unfortunate, Not Justified By Science, AMI Says AMI yesterday called bans on U.S. beef unfortunate and scientifically unjustified in a statement released to the news media. The Institute made its statement following announcements by major trading partners, including Japan, South Korea and Mexico, that they will ban U.S. beef. Canada opted...
Dec 6, 2006 AMI Files Comments Objecting to Montana Country of Origin Labeling Act The American Meat Institute (AMI) and the Food Marketing Institute (FMI) today submitted comments opposing the implementation of Montana�s Country of Origin Placarding Act. The associations stated in their comments that the provisions in the law, and its attendant proposed regulations, that...
May 6, 2003 AMI President, VP of International Trade Appointed to Trade Policy Committees AMI President J. Patrick Boyle has been reappointed to a key international trade committee charged with advising the Administration on trade matters. AMI Vice President of International Trade John Reddington has been appointed for the first time to a commodity-specific international trade...
Jun 1, 2001 Animal Health Protection Act Introduced in U.S. House of Representatives Comprehensive Bill Would Compensates Parties Affected by Animal Diseases
Aug 22, 2005 AMI Supportive of FSIS Rulemaking on Food Standards, Offers Improvements AMI filed comments with the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) recently regarding a proposed rulemaking titled "Food Standards; General Principles and Food Standards Modernization." AMI�s comments support many of the basic principles of the proposal but provide several recommendations...
Sep 22, 2005 �Six Sigma� Management Session to be Held at Worldwide Food Expo Attendees of the 2005 Worldwide Food Expo can learn about Six Sigma Quality Management Principles at a special session on Friday, October 28 from 8:30 - 9:45. American consumers are demanding increasingly high standards of quality in the products they buy. Six Sigma is a quality management...
Dec 4, 2003 Basic Pilot Extension, Expansion Signed Into Law Yesterday, President George W. Bush signed into law a bill (S.1685) recently passed by Congress to extend and expand the Basic Pilot Employment Verification Program. The now-enacted law will extend the program through November 2008, as well as expand it to all employers in all 50 states by...
Mar 28, 2007 AMI Calls Beef and Sperm Count Paper a Health Study in Search of a Health Problem A new paper alleging that higher beef consumption during pregnancy could result in lower sperm counts in male offspring is a health study in search of health problem, according to the American Meat Institute. While headlines today are raising the alarm about lower sperm counts, the study itself...
Jul 21, 2004 AMI Hot Dog Luncheon a Sizzling Success National hot dog day came in with a bang as several thousand hotdogs, kielbasa and sausages of every variety and hundreds of gallons of beverages were consumed under a hot July sun at AMI�s annual hot dog lunch. The invitation-only event drew at least 100 members of Congress, more than 1,000...
Jun 14, 2004 AMI Guest Op - ed in Rocky Mountain News Calls for Opening of Market to Canadian Beef "Sometimes groups become so emotionally invested in an issue that their rhetoric becomes overheated and outright inaccurate, and their quest for a narrow victory on one specific issue blinds them to the damage they're inflicting to the greater whole" says AMI President and CEO in a Sunday op-ed...
Jun 10, 2004 AMI and R-CALF Go Head to Head over Canadian Beef In an interview this week that aired on the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation's show "Countrywide", AMI President and CEO J. Patrick Boyle challenged accusations by R-CALF�s Chief Bill Bullard that Canadian beef is unsafe and should be banned from the U.S. until further study. Bullard argued...
Aug 25, 2006 Campylobacter Report Issued by Microbiological Criteria Committee The final version of the National Advisory Committee on Microbiological Criteria for Foods (NACMCF) Campylobacter report and accompanying methodology flowchart has been posted on the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) Web site. Without a final report addressing Campylobacter methods,...
Jul 10, 2002 AMIF Requests Research Preproposals on Controlling Pathogens in Meat and Poultry Products The AMI Foundation is inviting interested researchers to send in preproposals on applied and fundamental research to improve the control of microbial pathogens in meat and poultry products, specifically Listeria monocytogenese ( L.m. ) on ready-to-eat (RTE) meat and poultry products and E....
Apr 30, 2004 AMI President J. Patrick Boyle Tackles Claims that BSE Case Justifies Mandatory Country-of-Origin Labeling Op Ed Published in South Dakota Tri-State Neighbor
Dec 4, 2000 AMI, Other Ag Groups Urge USTR to Guard Against China Backsliding AMI and more than 100 other agricultural/agribusiness entities have urged United States Trade Representative Charelene Barshefsky to ensure agricultural provisions included in the U.S.-China bilateral agreement are not weakened in the ongoing negotiation of China�s protocol of accession to the...
Jan 11, 2001 AMI Summary of Final Moisture Retention Rule Available Rule's Impact Potential Small
Apr 1, 2004 AMI Urges USDA to Eliminate Dedicated Equipment Requirement In a letter dated March 30, AMI urged USDA to eliminate its requirement that beef imported from Canada must be processed using dedicated equipment when removing specified risk materials (SRMs) from cattle over 30 months of age versus those under 30 months of age. In the letter, sent by AMI...
Sep 26, 2005 AMI Annual Business Meeting Slated for Oct. 27 AMI will hold its Annual Business Meeting Oct. 27, 2005, at McCormick Place in Chicago, immediately following the Board of Directors meeting during the Wordlwide Food Expo. Attendance is limited to AMI members, who are all cordially invited....
May 15, 2003 AMI Foundation, Beef Checkoff Jointly Fund E. coli O157:H7 Research The AMI Foundation and the National Cattlemen�s Beef Association (NCBA) on behalf of America�s beef producers are collaborating on a follow-up study to an AMIF/Texas Tech University research project that found two strains of lactobacilli, bacteria commonly used to make yogurt, fed to cattle can...
Dec 10, 2003 AMIF Announces Availability of Worker Safety Award Materials Washington, D.C. - The American Meat Institute Foundation now has available application packets for its 2004 worker safety program awards. The Safety Recognition Award Program, which is administered by the National Safety Council, attracted a record participation of 198 meat and poultry...
May 12, 2005 AMI Op-Ed and Editorial Cartoon: The Great Flight North The beef-trade embargo that has ensued since the discovery of Canada�s first case of BSE nearly two years ago is causing long-term and perhaps irreversible harm to many on both sides of the border. But to some U.S. cattlemen, it has had the opposite effect, with some producers bragging about...
Aug 10, 2001 AMI Meets With Mexican Government Officials on Immigration Reform AMI discussed immigration reform legislation pending before the U.S. Congress in a meeting yesterday with senior officials from the Mexican government. Mexican Foreign Secretary Jorge Castaneda was in Washington, DC, to meet with his counterpart, Secretary of State Colin Powell, and Attorney...
Nov 15, 2004 Agriculture Secretary Ann Veneman Resigns Agriculture Secretary Ann Veneman today announced her resignation from the cabinet-level post she has held for four years. There was no immediate word on her successor, though Reuters is reporting that an announcement may be made later today. Veneman, who was the first woman to serve as U.S....
Oct 14, 2003 AMI Foundation Sponsoring Implementing Listeria Intervention and Control Workshop in Boston in December The AMI Foundation (AMIF) will hold its popular "Implementing Listeria Intervention and Control" workshop Dec. 3 - 4, 2003, at the Hyatt Harborside in Boston, Mass. The two-day course is designed to help participants examine the issues surrounding Listeria control and testing and to provide...
Jul 11, 2005 67 Herdmates of Texas Cow Test Negative for BSE USDA's Animal Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has reported BSE testing results as part of the on-going investigation instituted following the finding of a BSE positive cow from the state of Texas. All of the 67 adult herdmates of the BSE-positive cow tested negative according to USDA....
Jan 2, 2002 AMS Announces Daily Lamb Market News Reports AMS announced last week that two revised daily lamb market reports and one new daily report will be published beginning January 7, 2002. These publications will complement existing reports issued as part of the Livestock Mandatory Reporting Program. The revised reports are the U.S. Daily Lamb...
Sep 23, 2002 AMI, Other Industry Groups Oppose Port User Fee in Security Bill AMI joined with a cross section of industries involved in international trade in opposing a new $4 billion tax on imports and exports aimed at improving security at ports in the U.S. In a letter to Senate Majority Leader Thomas A. Daschle, the groups said the tax, or port user fee, would impede...
May 26, 2006 AMI Releases Avian Influenza Materials for Plant Employees New Brochures Available in English and Spanish
Aug 18, 2004 2004 AMI Annual Convention and Innovation Showcase to Feature Animal Health Track Education Super Session 'Spotlight on Animal Disease' to Cover BSE, FMD and AI
Nov 1, 2002 AMI Objects to Mississippi Country-of-Origin Labeling Proposal A Mississippi state senate bill develops a country-of-origin labeling law that would conflict with a federal law, AMI said in comments to Mississippi officials. AMI notified the state attorney general Mike Moore and the sponsor of the state senate bill, Sen. Joe Stogner, in a letter earlier...
Feb 3, 2005 2005 Edition of Animal Handling Guidelines Unveiled at AMI's Animal Care and Handling Conference Conference Is Scheduled for Feb 9-10; Registration Is Still Available
Jul 19, 2005 "Ticked at R-CALF? You�re not Alone" AMI Guest Editorial, Cartoon Discuss Cost of Canadian Ban
Feb 22, 2006 AMI, 40 Food and Agriculture Groups Urge Congress to Renounce "User Fees" The American Meat Institute, joined by over 40 other food and agriculture organizations, sent a letter to every Member of Congress urging rejection of new inspection user fees that were included in the 2007 U.S. Department of Agriculture budget proposal. The letter addressed the fact that new...
Dec 7, 2000 APHIS Places "Port Hold" on European MBMs In the wake of EU�s recent ban on meat and bone meal, USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) yesterday placed a "port hold" on all imports of meat and bone meal (MBM) from all European countries. Three years ago, APHIS restricted the importation of all live ruminants and most...
Dec 20, 2005 AMI Supports Efforts of FDA to Protect Industry from BSE The American Meat Institute (AMI) today filed comments to support the Food and Drug Administration�s (FDA) efforts to strengthen existing safeguards by removing certain risk materials from animal feed while minimizing the economic and environmental concerns associated with the disposal of all...
Apr 9, 2001 AMI�s Sara Lilygren to Appear on C-SPAN Washington Journal Tuesday, April 10 AMI�s Senior Vice President of Legislative and Public Affairs Sara Lilygren will appear on C-SPAN�s Washington Journal Tuesday, April 10 at 9 a.m. Eastern to react to a story about meat safety and inspection by investigative reporter Joby Warrick that appeared in today�s Washington Post . A...
Apr 22, 2004 AMI, USMEF Host International Media Briefing to Communicate U.S. Beef Safety, Call for Reopening of Borders Leading Journalists from Japan, Mexico and the U.S. Attend
Jul 3, 2003 AMI, Other Ag Groups Urge Decisions Toward Reopening of Canadian/U.S. Border by End of July A science-based approach based on the Harvard Risk Assessment on bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) that gains global acceptance will be needed to reopen the border between Canada and the United States, AMI and other agriculture groups said in a letter this week to Canadian and U.S....
Oct 2, 2000 AMI Testifies Against Agribusiness Antitrust Legislation In testimony before the Senate Antitrust Subcommittee September 28, AMI President J. Patrick Boyle said proposed agribusiness antitrust bills would dilute current federal antitrust enforcement, unfairly target the agribusiness community and politicize antitrust enforcement. Boyle�s testimony...
Mar 27, 2007 AMI to Congress: It�s Time for China to Put Beef Back on the Menu Negotiations to resolve the protracted ban on U.S. beef should be part of the formal agenda for the upcoming Strategic Economic Dialogue meeting set to occur in mid-May, said AMI President and CEO J. Patrick Boyle in testimony submitted to Congress. "The U.S. has demonstrated its...
Apr 9, 2001 Animal Handling Expert Temple Grandin to Be Featured Expert on Washingtonpost.com Animal Handling expert Temple Grandin, assistant professor of animal science at Colorado State University, will be the featured expert in a chat on Washingtonpost.com Tuesday, April 10, 2001, at 1 p.m. EST. Her chat will focus on a story expected to run in tomorrow�s Washington Post about...
Oct 30, 2003 AMI Announces Tiered Environmental Program for Meat and Poultry Industry AMI's Board of Directors today approved the development of a voluntary four-tiered environmental program aimed at increasing and incentivizing companies to use environmental management systems in the meat and poultry industry. The vote came during AMI's Annual Business Meeting, held at McCormick...
Aug 30, 2001 AMI Cautions President Bush to Resolve Sanitary/Phytosanitary Issues Before Negotiating FTA With Australia AMI has joined 33 other U.S. agriculture and agribusiness organizations and companies in cautioning President Bush against committing to negotiate a free trade agreement (FTA) with Australia before resolving a number of sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) barriers impeding U.S. exports to that...
Oct 1, 2004 AMERICAN MEAT INSTITUTE ELECTS 2004-2005 OFFICERS Bill Buckner, Corporate Vice President of Cargill, to Serve as Chairman
Jun 21, 2007 AMI Tells Lawmakers to �Peel Away� the Rhetorical Wrapping Paper on Mandatory Country-of-Origin Labeling In an ad in Roll Call newspaper today, the American Meat Institute (AMI) urged readers to "peel away the rhetorical wrapping paper" on mandatory country-of-origin labeling and see that the costly and burdensome law is actually an effort to block meat and livestock exports from other countries....
Aug 13, 2003 AMS Session Outlines Beef Verification Program Expectations USDA�s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) in a public meeting this week detailed its plans to implement the recently announced Beef Export Verification (BEV) program. Companies now must qualify for the program in order to export products to Japan and possibly certain other countries as of...
Aug 15, 2002 ARS Nutrient Database With Updated Meat and Poultry Data Now Available Online ARS today launched an updated version of the "Nutrient Database for Standard Reference, Release 15" that reports nutrients in 6,220 food items. The database, SR15 for short, is the major authoritative source of food composition in the United States. The meat products category in particular...
Jun 5, 2001 AMIF Hosting June 14 FMD Briefing in Washington One-day Seminar Features APHIS Officials
Apr 3, 2002 AMI Urges NAS to Consider Data Gaps Surrounding Microbiological Performance Standards and Relationship to Human Health AMI Vice President of Regulatory Affairs Skip Seward, Ph.D., today urged the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) to identify and fill data gaps when considering the issue of microbiological performance standards and their relationship to human health. Seward, a member of the National Advisory...
Apr 24, 2001 AMI and Others Urge President to Lobby Leaders on Biotech Food Labeling AMI and eight other U.S. farm and food groups urged the President to lobby Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chretian and other heads of government to reject proposed labeling guidelines for foods produced by biotechnology. The heads of state are now gathered at the Third Summit of the Americas in...
Apr 18, 2005 AMI Letter to the Editor: Human Rights Watch Report "Long on Rhetoric, Short on Credibility" "Accusations of abuse in the U.S. meat industry cited in the Human Rights Watch report defy both common sense and years of government scrutiny," noted AMI�s Presdient and CEO J. Patrick Boyle in a letter to the editor in the Austin American Statesman. Boyle pointed out that contrary to the...
Oct 24, 2003 AMS Proposes to Include Boxed Lamb Cut sales in Mandatory Reporting Regulations AMS is proposing to amend the Livestock Mandatory Reporting (LMR) regulations to include submission of information on domestic and imported boxed lamb cut sales. The Agency asserts the proposed changes will improve the accuracy and reliability of data being reported by AMS on domestic boxed...
Feb 23, 2007 Answers to Commonly Asked Slaughter Operations Posted Answers to commonly asked questions concerning compliance requirements regarding red meat slaughter operations have been made available online by the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS). The questions answered � those commonly received from small and very small plants � are another in a...
Feb 3, 2005 AMI Foundation Funds Four New Projects To Reduce Pathogens In Meat Products Board Approves Projects Combating both E. coli and Listeria
Mar 20, 2003 Agriculture Secretary Says USDA Considering Changes to Meat and Poultry Inspection System, Enforcement Authorities Agriculture Secretary Ann M. Veneman yesterday said USDA is considering asking for legislative authority to use several new tools -- including the imposition of civil penalties on meat and poultry companies -- that would purportedly "modernize " the Department�s inspection authority. During...
Feb 5, 2004 AMI comments in support of national animal ID, trace back system AMI is providing detailed, proactive comments on the "Draft United States Animal Identification Plan," which would allow producers, processors and regulators to trace food animals from meat production to an animal�s point of origin. "Any mandatory animal identification and trace back program...
Aug 30, 2001 APHIS Extends Comment Period for Scrapie Eradication Document APHIS today reopened and extended the period for which comments will be accepted on the Scrapie Eradication Uniform Methods and Rules (UMR). The comment period, which ended June 19, 2001, was reopened and will now close on September 20, 2001, according to a notice in the August 30, 2001,...
Aug 30, 2005 Amplification Step May Lead to Blood Test for Prions Researchers Hope It May Shed Light on Advanced Testing System for BSE
Apr 22, 2003 AMI Submits Testimony on Country-of-Origin Labeling Before Senate Subcommittee in Missouri A voluntary, U.S. meat certification program is a far better alternative to a costly, burdensome, mandatory country-of-origin labeling program, according to AMI President J. Patrick Boyle. Boyle's comments are part of testimony submitted to a hearing of the Senate Subcommittee on Marketing,...
Feb 9, 2004 AMI Submits Comments to Codex Committee Today, AMI submitted comments to the Codex Committee on Food Additives and Contaminants (CCFAC), for agenda items of its upcoming meeting March 22 to 26 in Rotterdam. The comments were submitted to the Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, Food and Drug Administration. The comments were...
Jun 28, 2005 "Complaints over US beef half-baked" Says Taipei Times Editorial Some legislators and the Consumer Federation in Taiwan "have preferred fear over facts" by demanding that U.S. beef be removed from shelves following the USDA's announcement of a second case of BSE, according to an editorial published in today�s Taipei Times. A group of legislators filed a...
Jan 3, 2006 Animal Handling Conference Hotel Block Expires Soon If you are registered to attend the 2006 Animal Care and Handling Conference in Overland Park, KS Feb. 23 � 24, the deadline to reserve your room and save is fast approaching. After Jan. 31, 2006, attendees will no longer be guaranteed a room at the special group rate of $134 per night. To make...
Aug 4, 2005 AMI Convention Gala To Celebrate Rich, 100 Year History Social events at the 2005 AMI International Meat, Poultry & Seafood Industry Convention and Exposition, Oct. 26-29, 2005, at Chicago's McCormick Place, will celebrate history and offer networking opportunities. International guests will receive the VIP treatment during a special welcome...
Aug 12, 2003 AMI Foundation to Sponsor Ergonomics Seminar in October; Worker Safety Conference in April 2004 The 2004 Conference on Worker Safety, Health and Human Resources is set for April 18 to 22, 2004, in Phoenix at the Hilton Regency. The AMI Foundation sponsors this annual conference, the centerpiece of which is an awards program honoring worker safety achievement in the meat and poultry...
Jun 24, 2005 Annual Meat Industry Research Conference To Highlight Allergens, Food Defense Don't Miss the Welcome Reception on Oct. 25, Sponsored by The Solae Company
Aug 31, 2005 America�s Second Harvest Requests Food, Monetary and Transportation Support in Wake of Hurricane �Katrina' AMI Members Can Offer Assistance through Industry �Meating the Need� Program'
Dec 14, 2005 Animal Handling Conference Early Bird Deadline Approaches Register by December 31 and Save!
Aug 1, 2005 Agro-Terrorism Bill Introduced in U.S. Senate Unrelated Provision Voiding Arbitration in Livestock Contracts Included
Nov 16, 2000 Australia to Call for End to U.S. Lamb Import Restrictions Australia will push for an end to tariff-rate quotas in a hearing today in Washington before the U.S. International Trade Commission, according to a November 14 press release issued by Australia�s trade minister. The USITC currently is conducting its "mid-term" review of restrictions placed on...
Oct 5, 2006 APHIS Soliciting Nominations for Poultry Committee Nominations for the election of regional membership and a member-at-large for the General Conference Committee of the National Poultry Improvement Plan are being solicited by the Secretary of Agriculture. The committee serves as a forum for the study of problems related to poultry health and,...
Feb 15, 2006 2006 FSIS Food Safety Education Conference Scheduled The Food Safety and Inspection Service�s (FSIS) 2006 Food Safety Education Conference, "Reaching At-Risk Audiences and Today�s Food Safety Challenges" is scheduled for Sept. 27 � 29, 2006 at the Adams Mark Hotel in Denver, Colo. The conference will include presentations on innovative...
Feb 15, 2005 AMI�s Letter in NY Times: Treatment of Meat Industry "Outrageous" The American Meat Institute�s (AMI) letter to the editor in the New York Times pointed out that the Times� February 6th editorial unfairly criticized the meat industry for ''extraordinarily high rates of injury" on the job and food safety issues. "Worker safety guidelines developed in 1990...
Jun 12, 2006 AMI Reiterates That U.S. "Should Not Cede" Listing and Delisting of Packing Plants to Other Countries U.S. Meat Inspection System Among Finest in the World, AMI Notes
Apr 13, 2001 AMIF President Emphasizes Key BSE Prevention Strategies in Talk James Hodges Addresses National Restaurant Association
Feb 6, 2006 2007 USDA Budget Adds User Fees The 2007 budget proposal for the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) again includes funding derived from new Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) user fees for inspection of meat, poultry and egg products. The budget includes charging $105 million to producers, which will undoubtedly be...
Dec 15, 2000 AMI Petitions FSIS to Amend Rules of Practice AMI and two other trade associations today filed a petition to amend FSIS' Uniform Rules of Practice. The Rules of Practice specify how HACCP and other Federal Meat Inspection Act and Poultry Products Inspection Act regulations should be enforced. AMI�s petition asserts that the procedural...
Jul 29, 2002 AMI Files Comments on Use of Microbial Pathogen Computer Modeling Plans AMI today filed comments on a draft FSIS notice that provides guidance to inspectors on appropriate verification activities when an establishment uses Microbial Pathogen Computer Modeling (MPCM) programs in validating and maintaining its HACCP plans. The notice states that an establishment...
Nov 29, 2000 L.m. Risk Assessment, Action Plan Slated for Release in December Planned Release This Week Delayed Due to Disagreements Between USDA, FDA
Jun 26, 2001 Agriculture/Agribusiness Groups' Letter Urging TPA Action Presented to Senate at Rally A letter signed by a broad coaltion of agricultural/agribusiness groups and individual companies urging Congress to act quickly on trade promotion authority was formally presented to senators today at a rally outside the U.S. Capitol. AMI and other trade associations are part of the coalition...
Aug 29, 2006 13,000 Migratory Birds Test Negative For High Path AI The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Department of Interior (DOI) and the State of Alaska reported today that after testing more than 13,000 wild migratory birds for highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), all results have returned negative. The testing is a part of the national wild...
May 20, 2004 AMI Now Offers Employment Liability Coverage to its Membership AMI and its partner, MRM, LLC, are now offering Employment Practice Liability Coverage to all members: large and small businesses, packers, processors and suppliers. This special program is exclusively priced for AMI members at a discounted rate. These insurance policies provide worldwide...
Oct 10, 2003 Animal Welfare in a Changing Regulatory and Business Climate Explored in AMI Convention Session Humane handling and care regulations, new customer requirements and consumer attitudes will be the focus of a special panel discussion at the AMI International Meat, Poultry and Seafood Convention and Exposition later this month at Chicago's McCormick Place. Humane animal handling regulations...
Apr 23, 2001 AMIF President Briefs Group of Agricultural Journalists on BSE AMI Foundation President James H. Hodges said today prevention measures put in place in U.S. have significantly lowered the risk of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) showing up in U.S. livestock. "Our risks today of BSE are lower than they�ve ever been since we understood the threat the...
Apr 16, 2002 Animal Proteins Linked to Higher Bone Mass Density in Elderly Men and Women Animal protein plays a significant role in strengthening the bone density of elderly women, according to a study published in the latest edition of the American Journal of Epidemiology . The team of researchers from the University of California, San Diego, investigated the link between bone...
Oct 24, 2002 AMI Elects New Officers and Other Officials at Annual Business Meeting AMI elected the officers who will lead the organization through the next year during AMI�s Annual Business Meeting at the Annual Convention and Innovation Showcase today in New Orleans, LA. New members of the board of directors and executive committee also were elected to three-year and...
Feb 7, 2005 AMI's Safety Recognition Awards Application Deadline Is February 11 Application Information is Available Online at MeatAMI.com
Sep 30, 2005 AMI's Reddington Elected to ATAC Chair John Reddington, Vice President for International Trade at AMI yesterday was elected chairman of the Animal and Animal Products Agricultural Technical Advisory Committee. The committee is made up of 35 companies, associations and ranchers who have been appointed by Secretary Johanns and USTR...
Jun 13, 2006 AMI Urges Congress to Pass Trade Status for Vietnam Citing "significant new opportunities for U.S. agriculture," the American Meat Institute, along with 30 other agricultural trade associations, urged members of Congress to provide Permanent Normal Trade Relations (PNTR) status to Vietnam. U.S. trade officials finalized the terms of Vietnam�s...
Dec 7, 2006 50+ Organizations Urge Vote Against Bill that Would Deprive U.S. Workers of Private Ballot When Casting Vote on Union Membership "This week, organized labor will rally in support of legislation that would deprive American workers of secret-ballot elections," notes a letter signed by AMI and more than 50 other organizations and sent to members of Congress. The letter explains that the �falsely� named legislation,...
May 24, 2001 AMS Posts Corrected Calculations of Mandatory Price Reports USDA�s Agricultural Marketing Service released corrected Choice and Select boxed beef cutout and primal cut values for April 3 through May 11 in the National Daily Boxed Beef Cutout and Boxed Beef Cuts report this week. On May 14, AMS discovered a technical error in the computer program for the...
Jul 8, 2005 Additives Updated for Use in Meat and Poultry Products Food additives approved for use in meat and poultry products have been updated for inclusion in the Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) listing. The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has amended the directive, 'Safe and Suitable Ingredients Used in the Production of Meat and Poultry...
Jun 18, 2001 AMI, Industry Groups Gather at White House to Support Trade Promotion Authority President Stresses Importance of TPA in Remarks to Agriculture Leaders Today
Oct 1, 2004 Americans Will Try Something New, But Are Slow to Make Lasting Change, Balzer Tells AMI Convention Attendees Don't mistake Americans' willingness to try something new for a trend because Americans are slow to make lasting change, according to Harry Balzer, vice president of NPD Group, who keynoted the American Meat Institute's 2004 Annual Convention & Innovation Showcase, Sept. 30-Oct. 2 in Nashville,...
Jul 13, 2004 AMI, OSHA Renew Alliance to Enhance Safety AMI and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) signed a two-year renewal of an Alliance ( http://www.osha.gov/dcsp/alliances/ami/ami.html) aimed at advancing workplace safety and health within the meat industry. The extension was announced by OSHA Administrator John...
Sep 29, 2005 AMI's AgTrade Coalition Partners Release WTO Priorities The AgTrade Coalition recently released its 2005 WTO Policy Statement, a list of priorities for the U.S. to pursue through the World Trade Organization (WTO) Doha Development Agenda negotiations on agriculture. AgTrade is comprised of U.S. based trade associations representing agricultural...
Nov 1, 2003 AMI's New Chairman Pledges 'Pride, Progress' for Meat Industry in 2004 Chicago -- With a nod to the industry's "remarkable accomplishments" in the past several years, AMI newest chairman pledged tonight (Oct. 31) to lead an intensive effort to communicate to constituents, customers and consumers the success stories he said the industry has compiled in areas such as...
Dec 30, 2004 AMI Files Legal Challenge to Continuing Ban on Canadian Cattle Charging that continuing to enforce a ban on importing older cattle is "arbitrary and capricious," AMI today filed a lawsuit in U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia saying there is no legal or scientific justification for continuing to ban Canadian cattle 30 months of age and older....
Jul 14, 2005 AMI Press Briefing Following 9th Circuit Hearing Lays Out Case for Full Trade with Canada
Jan 18, 2007 AMI, Producer Organizations Call on USDA to Appoint Biofuels Working Group The American Meat Institute and several national producer organizations called on the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to assemble a panel within the Office of the Chief Economist to study the emerging biofuels economy and its implications for livestock producers and animal agriculture....
Oct 6, 2005 "FDA safeguards are sufficient" Says AMI Guest Editorial "More Good News" for Consumers, Notes Hodges
Aug 13, 2002 Application for Nominations to National Advisory Committee on Meat and Poultry Inspection Available Online A link to the FSIS� application form to nominate candidates to the National Advisory Committee on Meat and Poultry Inspection was incorrect in an Inside AMI story yesterday. The application form is available online at http://www.fsis.usda.gov/FSISForms/AD-755.pdf . AMI regrets the error....
Dec 4, 2006 �Natural� Claims Topic of Upcoming USDA Public Meetings Three listening sessions, public meeting scheduled to discuss �natural� meat and poultry product claims
Oct 12, 2004 Availability of Q&As Regarding Post-Lethality Exposed Ready-to-Eat Products The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has posted a Questions and Answers document (Q&A) to provide additional guidance regarding the Production Information on Post-Lethality Exposed Ready-to-Eat Products (Form 10,240-1) affecting establishments that produce RTE products. This Q&A...
Jan 18, 2001 Listeria Monocytogenes Draft Risk Assessment and Risk Management Action Plan Availability The FDA and FSIS made a pre-publication announcement today of their joint Listeria risk assessment and risk management action plan. The draft risk assessment addresses the relationship between foodborne Listeria monocytogenes (Lm) and human health in 20 ready-to-eat food categories. The...
Sep 27, 2006 APHIS Instituting Voluntary AI Control Program A voluntary program for the control of the H5/H7 subtypes of low pathogenic avian influenza in commercial poultry is being established by the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) under the auspices of the National Poultry Improvement Plan. The new program also provides payment of...
Sep 28, 2001 Agencies Doing "Admirable Job" of Keeping Animal Diseases at Bay, AMIF President Says Hodges Encourages More Cooperation Between APHIS, FSIS
Sep 26, 2001 AMI Members Can Search On-Line for Second Harvest Food Banks AMI Members Can Search On-Line for Second Harvest Food Banks AMI members seeking to contribute surplus meat and poultry products through AMI's "Meating the Need" program may now search America's Second Harvest website to locate local food banks. America's Second Harvest is the nation's largest...
May 22, 2003 Atkins Dieters Lost More Weight, Improved Heart Disease Risk Indicators, Studies Show The high-protein, low-carbohydrate Atkins diet produced significantly greater weight loss and improvements in risk indicators for heart disease, such as "good cholesterol" and triglycerides, than conventional low-fat, high-carbohydrate diets, according to a pair of recent studies published in...
May 11, 2006 AMI Op-Ed: "Carbon Monoxide: Who�s the Real Spoiler?" "Some of the most challenging opponents in battle are those who believe suicide missions are an appropriate option. They believe that because they are likely to lose, they might as well scorch as much earth and wound as many of their opponents as possible," notes AMIF�s Dr. Randall Huffman in an...
Jan 7, 2005 ARS Develops New Technique to Detect Toxins and Improve Food Safety A new technique to improve food safety that detects heat-resistant toxins in foods such as ham, milk and eggs has been developed by USDA's Agricultural Research Service (ARS). The technique may help researchers and inspectors detect toxins that cause gastroenteritis. In addition to detecting...
Apr 8, 2005 APHIS Proposes a Rule to Cease Swine Imports From EU Uniform Set of Requirements Needed to Protect From Swine Fever
Feb 27, 2004 AMI Submits Comments to the Agricultural Marketing Service Regarding Mandatory Country-of-Origin Labeling Today, AMI submitted comments to the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS or the agency) regarding the agency�s proposed rule concerning mandatory country-of�origin labeling (COL) of meat and other specific products. In the comments AMI reiterated its opposition to mandatory COL and stated...
Feb 14, 2003 AMIF Conference on Worker Safety, Health and Human Resources Offers Certificate Course on Training in the 21st Century The AMI Foundation�s Conference on Worker Safety, Health and Human Resources will include a certificate course titled "Training in the 21st Century," a four-session course aimed at enhancing plant training programs. During the sessions, leading industry players will discuss the latest on how to...
Sep 2, 2004 Beef Baccalaureate A Big Success Texas Tech Faculty Host Outstanding Media Education Event
Dec 11, 2001 Appeals Court Upholds Lower Court Ruling that USDA Salmonella Performance Standard Is Invalid A three-judge federal appeals panel has ruled unanimously that USDA's Salmonella performance standard conflicts with the statutory language in the Federal Meat Inspection Act (FMIA) and therefore is invalid. The Salmonella performance standard is part of the 1996 HACCP/Pathogen Reduction...
Nov 19, 2001 AMI Will Hold Epidemiology Meeting to Help Companies Prepare for Investigations AMI will hold a one-day workshop about epidemiological investigations January 15, 2002, at the Hyatt Regency in Atlanta, GA. The course, titled "Preparing Your Company for an Investigation: What the Industry Needs to Know About Epidemiology," will be taught by epidemiologists, scientists and...
Jul 29, 2005 AMI Urges USDA to Permit Imports of Canadian Cattle 30 Months of Age and Older AMI today urged USDA to publish a proposed rule to permit the importation of cattle 30 months of age and older and beef products derived from such animals. "Many U.S. beef packers that specialize in the slaughter of older animals still find themselves in an extremely difficult economic...
Jan 18, 2001 AMI Requests Continuation of Current Report by AMS AMI submitted a letter to the Agricultural Marketing Service requesting that AMS continue publishing the National Base Lean Hog Carcass Slaughter Cost Report to prevent serious disruption in contracting for hogs and for pork products. AMI's letter expressed concerned that ceasing publication of...
Sep 8, 2006 �Export Tip of the Week� Added to Weekly FSIS Update An "Export Tip of the Week" has been added to the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) Constituent Alert, distributed each Friday summarizing new and revised notices, directives and other communications occurring over the previous five days. The new feature will take issues and questions...
Jun 5, 2006 AMIF Request for Pre-Proposals Released The American Meat Institute Foundation (AMIF) has released its 2006-2007 Request for Pre-Proposals. The topics covered in the request are based on AMIF�s research priorities as defined by the AMIF Research Advisory Committees. These committees are comprised of industry, academic and government...
Mar 14, 2003 AMS Announces Deadline for Comments on Approved Food Safety Technologies for Commodity Purchase Programs AMS announced this week it will receive input regarding a requirement in the 2002 Farm Bill pertaining to the use of approved food safety technologies for commodity purchase programs until April 11, 2003. The comment period opened Nov. 22, 2002. USDA has compiled facts and information about...
Jun 13, 2005 AMI Op-ed: Canadian Cattle Ban Risk for U.S. "Heartened by the high cattle prices triggered by the ban on Canadian cattle after the discovery of BSE in Canada, some members of Congress are now pushing for the embargo against Canadian cattle to become permanent. Eliminate Canadian cattle from the U.S. meat supply, and cattle and beef prices...
Oct 30, 2003 AMI Directors Vote to Support Development of National Animal ID System CHICAGO - In a timely reaffirmation of a longstanding policy, the American Meat Institute Board of Directors voted today to support development of a national food animal identification and trace back system that would allow producers, processors and federal regulators to track livestock back to...
Sep 14, 2004 AMI Recommends Transition to Mandatory Animal ID Program A mandatory animal identification program for all livestock species should be immediately implemented, says the American Meat Institute in comments submitted to the three government agencies involved in this debate. The comments, sent to the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS),...
Jan 13, 2005 AMI Worker Safety, Health and Human Resources Conference Sessions Address Violence in the Workplace Conference Scheduled in Atlanta from April 3-5, 2005
Apr 7, 2003 AMI President Elected to Partnership for Food Safety Education Board of Directors AMI President and CEO J. Patrick Boyle is among the first board members elected to the Partnership for Food Safety Education (PFSE) Board of Directors. Tim Hammonds, Ph.D., president and CEO of the Food Marketing Institute (FMI) will serve as chairman and John Farquharson, FMP, president of the...
Jan 30, 2007 Annual Worker Safety Awards Application Deadline Extended Applications Due Friday, Feb. 2
Jun 3, 2003 AMI, Other Groups Comment on Codex Committee Additions to Meat and Poultry Hygiene Paper AMI joined three other trade groups this week in commenting on the first draft of the Appendices of the Codex Committee for Meat and Poultry Hygiene's "Proposed Draft Code of Hygienic Practice for Meat." The National Cattlemen�s Beef Association (NCBA), National Food Processors Association...
Mar 17, 2003 AMI Expresses Opposition to Packer Ownership Provision in Draft Legislation AMI last week reaffirmed, in a letter to Rep. Tom Latham, R-IA, its opposition to any legislation banning packer ownership of livestock. Latham is seeking input from interested parties on draft legislation he may introduce in the 108th Congress, titled "Livestock Packer and Producer Fairness...
Jan 18, 2005 American Farm Bureau Endorses Return to "Normalized" Trade with Canada Also Supports Voluntary Country of Origin Labeling
Jun 8, 2007 AMI Urges World Pork Expo Attendees to �Bring Your Lawmaker in Out of the Cold� on Mandatory Country-of-Origin Labeling An ad AMI placed this week in the on-site guide for World Pork Expo, June 7-9 in Des Moines, urged attendees to "bring your lawmakers in out of the cold" by urging them to repeal mandatory country-of-origin labeling (COOL). The ad detailed COOL�s high cost estimates and noted that seafood COOL,...
Jun 21, 2006 AMI Accepting Nominations for Annual Awards Submissions Due By July 28, 2006
Dec 13, 2002 Animal Care and Handling Conference Slated for February 27-28 in Kansas City AMIF's Fifth Annual Animal Care and Handling Conference will be held February 27-28, 2003, at the Hyatt Regency Crown Center in Kansas City, MO. The conference is the largest of its kind in the industry and last year attracted nearly 300 people. Conference cosponsors include the Animal...
Oct 16, 2000 E. coli O157:H7 In Raw Ground Beef FSIS data for E. coli O157:H7 in raw ground beef covering years 1995 through 1999 are available through the FSIS web site at http://www.fsis.usda.gov , under "What's New." The contact persons for the data are Gerri Ransom and Priscilla Levine of the Microbiology Branch, telephone (202)...
Feb 27, 2007 Alternative Methods for Lean Meat Trimmings Released Establishments can now meet the minimum 12 percent lean tissue standard in meat trimmings by either visually examining each piece of trim or by using statistically-based sampling and analytical testing methods, the Food Safety and Inspection Service announced. FSIS Notice 15-07, "Alternative...
Feb 28, 2001 AMI Exchanges Views With EPA on CAFO Rule Public Meetings Scheduled Nationwide in March
Dec 20, 2000 APHIS Ban on MBMs Just a Precautionary Measure, Agency Head Said While no cases of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) or "mad cow disease" have been found in the U.S., Dr. Craig Reed, of the USDA�s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, said the agency�s decision to ban the import of meat and bone meal products from Europe is based on �sound science...
Dec 16, 2002 Additional Materials Available From the NACMPI November Public Meeting Additional materials presented during the Nov. 6-7, 2002, meeting of the National Advisory Committee on Meat and Poultry Inspection (NACMPI) are now available on the FSIS web site. Material topics include education and training of the FSIS field workforce, E. coli O157:H7 developments and the...
Jan 21, 2004 Additional key officials confirmed for BSE Briefing in the nation's capital Registration now available online
Oct 2, 2003 AMI Foundation's Huffman Appointed to Center for Food Industry Excellence Advisory Panel AMI Foundation Vice President of Scientific Affairs Randy Huffman, Ph.D., has been invited to serve as a member of the industry advisory board for the International Center for Food Industry Excellence at Texas Tech University. Ten American food industry members and one international member will...
Jun 15, 2007 AMI Writes to Producer Groups About Country of Origin Labeling Implementation Institute�s Letter Follows Receipt of Letter from Food Marketing Institute
Jan 14, 2004 AMI Submits Comments to APHIS Regarding Inconsistencies in Proposed Importation Rules On January 5, AMI submitted comments to APHIS regarding the proposed rule, Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy: Minimal Risk Regions and Importation of Commodities (Docket No. 03-080-1). AMI is concerned that the proposed rule creates substantial inconsistencies regarding the treatment of certain...
Aug 6, 2001 Washington Post Accuses EU of Pandering to Voters on Biotech Labeling Rules A Washington Post editorial appearing Sunday criticized the European Union's recently proposed labeling rules for products of biotechnology as "the most burdensome in the world." "If the technology posed unmanageable risks, this might be exusable. But Europe's policymakers are responding to...
Feb 19, 2007 AMI Experts Call Low Ox MAP CO Packaging Controversy �A Study in Food Politics That Warrants Peer Review� In the January/February issue of Food Safety Magazine, two AMI experts called a year-long competitive attack on low-oxygen MAP packaging with CO "a study in food politics that warrants peer review." The feature-length article, co-authored by AMI Foundation Vice President of Scientific...
Jul 28, 2005 AMI: CAFTA-DR "A Shot in the Arm for Economic Growth and Prosperity" Bill a "Win-Win" Situation for All Countries
Apr 17, 2001 AMS Offers New IMPS Photo Series With Help of AMI, Other Industry Groups With the help of AMI and other industry members and associations, AMS recently added color photos to its Institutional Meat Purchase Specifications (IMPS) for Fresh Beef Products Series 100. The new IMPS Series 100 with photos is available on the AMS web site at:...
Jul 12, 2002 Ag Administrators, Meat Industry Reps to Mingle at Special Convention Session New Bush administrators will dialogue with industry representatives at a special session during the American Meat Institute�s 2002 Annual Convention and Innovation Showcase in New Orleans. As part of the Environment/Operations and Government & Public Policy conferences, meat industry...
May 29, 2003 Analysts Say Consumers Still Confident in U.S. Beef Safety Consumer confidence in U.S. beef appears to have remained high over the Memorial Day weekend, despite reports of a Canadian cow testing positive for BSE and record high wholesale prices for beef, leading industry analysts said this week. Cattle-Fax, a leading economic and market analysis firm...
Oct 14, 2005 9th Circuit Denies R-CALF Request for Rehearing The United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit yesterday denied an R-CALF request for rehearing of the decision by a three judge panel of the appellate court to overturn a preliminary injunction blocking Canadian cattle imports. The three-judge panel that ruled in July also issued...
Aug 16, 2004 AMI Calls FDA Decision to Ban SRM from Animal Feed 'Unwarranted' Full Compliance with Feed Rules Best Way to Contain BSE
Dec 2, 2002 APHIS Proposes Rule to Grant Agency Authority to Collect Blood and Tissue Samples in Slaughter Plants USDA�s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) last week published a proposed rule that would enhance the agency�s authorities to collect blood and tissue samples in slaughter plants as part of its animal health surveillance and monitoring system. Specifically, the rule would grant...
Jun 20, 2002 AMI, Other U.S. Livestock and Poultry Groups Cite New China Trade Barriers Meat, poultry and egg groups today sent a letter to U.S. Trade Representative Robert B. Zoellick detailing the industry's continuing concerns about new Chinese policies that impede imports of U.S. meat and poultry products. In the letter, AMI, the National Cattlemen's Beef Association, National...
Jul 20, 2005 AMI Hot Dog Lunch Another Big Hit On the Hill More than 100 Lawmakers Attend Popular Annual Event
Aug 25, 2005 AMI's Boyle Meets with Japanese Ambassador on BSE Institute Says Japanese Concern About U.S. Beef Safety Unwarranted, Further Trade Delays Unacceptable
Jul 13, 2004 AMI to Hill: U.S. Response to BSE Extraordinary, Reflects Decade Of Planning The U.S. response to a single case of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) has been extraordinary and reflects more than a decade of planning and foresight, according to AMI Foundation President James H. Hodges. Hodges submitted written testimony today in advance of a joint hearing of The...
Jun 6, 2003 Listeria Interim Final Rule Now Available Online FSIS today published its interim final rule on Listeria monocytogenes control in the Federal Register . The interim final rule, titled "Meat and Poultry Inspection: Ready-to-Eat Meat and Poultry Products; Listeria monocytogenes Control, 34207-34254 [03-14173]," is available at...
Nov 13, 2000 AMI Objects To Alabama Code Dating Provision An Alabama law governing the sale of code dated product is preempted by federal law, according to AMI. The Institute, along with the National Turkey Federation, sent a letter November 9 to the Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries protesting the implementation of the new code dating...
Jan 5, 2004 AMI Submits Comments to FSIS Supportive of Risk Analysis Standard Operating Procedures
Jan 26, 2005 AMI Product Recall Insurance Program Now Available to Supplier Members AMI members that manufacture equipment or produce ingredients and additives can now purchase the Product Recall Insurance Program through the American Meat Institute (AMI). This recall insurance is now available at a discounted rate to all supplier members. This new level of protection is part...
May 29, 2007 AMI Critiques Claims by Country-of-Origin Labeling Advocates in Letter to Key Lawmakers In a letter to key lawmakers, the American Meat Institute (AMI) late last week affirmed the safety of U.S. meat and poultry and made clear that mandatory country-of origin labeling (COL) is an anti-import law, not a food safety program. The letter, sent to Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) and Sen....
Jul 23, 2004 100 Percent Testing for BSE "Not Justified," says Meat and Poultry Magazine Guest Editorial "Six months after the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced the discovery of a BSE-positive cow on American soil, meatpacking and processing companies continue to struggle with the economic impact," notes Greg Henderson, editor of Drovers Magazine in a guest editorial in July�s Meat and...
May 16, 2007 2007 Environmental Recognition and Achievement Award Materials Available Applications Due July 13
Dec 19, 2006 American Meat Institute Requests Extension to "Natural" Comment Period AMI, along with eight other trade associations requested a 60 day extension to the comment period associated with the Food Safety and Inspection Service�s (FSIS) notice, "Product Labeling: Definition of the Term �Natural�." The extension was requested to allow time to collect meaningful input...
Mar 3, 2006 Animal Rights Group Convicted of Inciting Terror A federal Jury in Trenton, N.J. convicted on Thursday an animal rights group and six of its members of inciting violence and terror during their campaign to stop a company from using animals to test drugs and consumer products. The verdict against Stop Huntingdon Animal Cruelty (SHAC) came...
Sep 23, 2002 AMI Reiterates Views to House Ag Committee on Packer Ownership Ban AMI responded last week to a questionnaire from the House Agriculture Committee regarding the effect of a ban on packer ownership, which was proposed and rejected as an amendment to the 2002 Farm Bill. House Agriculture Committee Chairman Larry Combest enlisted agriculture and agribusiness...
Jan 21, 2005 "Colorectal Cancer is Red Meat for Media," Says STATS "Red meat is not quite the red flag claimed by the media," reports the Statistical Assessment Service (STATS) which reviewed a recently published study by the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) investigating possible links between read meat consumption and colorectal cancer. The...
Sep 22, 2005 APHIS to Hold Meeting on National Animal Identification System The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) will hold a public meeting concerning the animal movement tracking database component for the National Animal Identification System (NAIS) on Wednesday, October 12 at the Radisson Hotel & Suites Kansas City, Mo. APHIS has reviewed more...
Dec 17, 2001 Austria Confirms First BSE Case According to Reuters, Austria on Friday confirmed its first case of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE). This leaves Sweden as the only country in the European Union (EU) without a reported case of the brain-wasting disease. Mandatory testing for BSE, carried out after the suspect animal was...
Jun 23, 2004 AMI Invites Nominations for the AMI Annual Awards The American Meat Institute is seeking nominations of industry groups and companies for four awards that will be presented during the AMI Annual Convention, held this year from Sept. 30 � Oct.2 in Nashville, Tenn. There are four awards for which AMI is accepting nominations: The Edward C....
Oct 12, 2004 APHIS Finalizes Two Interim Rules Regarding Swine Two interim rules that amended animal health regulations relating to swine were finalized without change by The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS). The first interim rule establishes regulations to provide indemnity payments for the voluntary depopulation of swine herds known to...
Jan 12, 2004 AMI co-sponsoring ergonomics workshop with targeted instruction, software training Few initiatives in the arena of workplace safety are as important as effective implementation of an in-plant ergonomics program. Now, there is a seminar specifically designed to deliver maximum training in ergonomics for meat industry participants. Titled "Ergonomics: Practical Solutions for...
Jan 14, 2003 Annual Meat Conference Information Now Available Online The Annual Meat Conference web site www.meatconference.com is now live and packed with information about this year's conference dedicated to helping retailers, wholesalers, packers and processors "Meat the Future." Material now available online includes: Downloadable registration form...
Oct 16, 2000 Agr. Groups Urge Caution On Whaling-Related Trade Sanctions AMI joined 18 other agricultural organizations and companies in signing an October 11 letter to the President, which cautions against imposing trade restrictions on Japanese goods that would violate U.S. obligations under the World Trade Organization (WTO). The Administration has threatened to...
Jan 22, 2001 2001 Membership Directory Still Accepting Ad Orders Deadline for Order Is January 26
Jun 1, 2005 Australia Bans Pork From U.S. and Canada An Australian judge has banned the import of pork products into Australia from the United States, Canada and Denmark because of the alleged risks of Post Weaning Multi-systemic Wasting Disease. This ruling came despite a risk analysis by the Australian government that concluded the introduction...
May 24, 2004 American Meat Institute Says Politically-Motivated BSE Rhetoric Must Stop; United States and Canadian Beef Both Safe In response to comments in the media yesterday by some lawmakers questioning whether Canadian beef is safe for U.S. consumers, AMI President J. Patrick Boyle made the following statement: "Consumers in the United States are the beneficiaries of an efficient, North American meat industry that...
Mar 4, 2003 AMIF, NTF Sponsoring Listeria Workshop for April The AMI Foundation is partnering with the National Turkey Federation (NTF) to hold the AMIF�s popular "Implementing Listeria Intervention and Control" workshop April 2 - 3, 2003, at the Hilton Milwaukee City Center in Milwaukee. The course is designed to help participants examine the issues...
Dec 10, 2002 AMIF Releases Animal Handling Training Videos in Spanish The AMI Foundation has released Spanish versions of the popular "Good Animal Handling Practices for Beef Processors" and �Good Animal Handling Practices for Pork Processors.� The English version of the training videos were released in 1999 as part of a joint effort between AMIF, Grandin...
Aug 19, 2005 AMI Submits Comments Regarding Inspection Fee Increases AMI submitted comments to the FSIS noting "significant concerns" regarding the agency�s proposal to increase substantially fees for fiscal years 2005 through 2008. Specifically, the agency is proposing to raise fees for voluntary inspection, �to reflect, among other factors, national and...
Jun 27, 2002 AMI Animal Handling Guidelines, Training Materials Endorsed by Retail and Restaurant Groups AMI�s animal handling guidelines and training materials were endorsed today by the Food Marketing Institute (FMI) and the National Council of Chain Restaurants (NCCR) following a review of animal welfare guidelines in use throughout animal agriculture. FMI and NCCR established an Animal Welfare...
Jan 16, 2004 APHIS offers BSE Rapid Test licensing application information FAQs, license applications for BSE Rapid Test now available online
May 16, 2001 AMI Makes New BSE Prevention Graphic Available A new graphic depicting the many firewalls in place in the U.S. to prevent bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) is now available on meatami.com at http://www.meatami.com/Template.cfm?Section=BSE&NavMenuID=188&template=TaggedContentFile.cfm&NewsID=389 . The chart is designed to help...
Oct 7, 2004 AMI Relocating to Downtown D.C. AMI will be relocating its headquarters to downtown, Washington, D.C. on Oct. 8, after 24 years in Arlington, VA. The new location will be 1150 Connecticut Avenue, NW, 12th floor. AMI's new office will be open for business on Monday, Oct. 11. Please note however that the telephone system...
Feb 9, 2004 Annual Meat Conference Features Product Tasting Reception and Technology Fair Luncheon The 2004 Annual Meat Conference touts two of the most, innovative and enjoyable conference events: the Product Tasting Reception and Tech Fair Luncheon. These events both offer information and innovation in an interactive setting, while allowing participants the opportunity to network. The...
Aug 5, 2005 AMI Op-Ed: "Let's put consumers in the driver's seat on country-of-origin labeling" "Congratulations to state officials and cattle producers in the state of South Dakota. Those folks recently launched a new, voluntary program intended to allow cattlemen to try to differentiate the cattle produced in that state and capture part of a niche market that many producers covet," notes...
Jan 26, 2004 'Scaring up support' for COOL based on BSE 'uncool,' says policy analyst A major policy paper by a top analyst at the Washington, D.C.-based Cato Institute calls the recently de-funded country-of-origin labeling (COL) mandate "a complicated, costly" measure that he said is ultimately all about "saddling others with what should be the marketing costs of domestic...
Dec 13, 2000 AMS Sets Mandatory Price Reporting Education Sessions To assist producers and others in understanding the new mandatory price reporting program, USDA�s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) is providing education and outreach sessions across the country, starting next week. The new program, announced Nov. 28, will require large packers and...
Apr 12, 2001 AMI Objects to Post Story on E. coli Outbreak Institute Highlights Errors and Omissions, Questions Ethics of Newspaper�s Approach
Sep 21, 2004 AMI Guest Editorial: Loss of Canadian Beef Imports Hurting Both Sides of the Border, Unnecessarily "While the announcement that a single instance of mad cow disease had been found had immediate and major economic implications for the Canadian beef industry, the reaction of the United States to Canada�s crisis has severely wounded, if not permanently scarred, Canadian cattlemen," writes AMI...
Sep 8, 2005 AMI Foundation Announces Allergen Control Conference The AMI Foundation, in cooperation with the Food Allergy Research and Resource Program (FARRP) and Bodendorfer Johnson Inc., announced its first ever Allergen Control Conference for the meat industry. The Conference will be held on December 6 and 7, 2005 at the Crown Plaza O�Hare in Chicago....
Nov 16, 2000 Listeria Roundtable Underscores Need for Comprehensive Strategy to Eliminate Listeria monocytogenes AMI Foundation Outlines Ongoing Listeria Research Efforts
Sep 16, 2004 AMI, Other Industry Associations Request Elimination of Wet Tare Inspection Industry groups including AMI yesterday petitioned the Food Safety and Inspection Service to eliminate the 'wet tare' inspection method in current net weight regulations for meat and poultry products due to unreliability and conflict with certain standards of identity. The National Chicken...
Sep 12, 2006 "Billionaire" Burger Big Hit With Consumers Ground sirloin on a toasted French baguette dipped in garlic butter, steak sauce on the side and aged Cheddar, Blue or Gruyere cheese on top, also known as the "Billionaire" burger was preferred by consumers over nine other concepts tested, according to a recent report issued by The NPD Group....
Dec 31, 2003 AMI Expresses Support for USDA's Package of New BSE Regulations Minutes after USDA Secretary Ann Veneman announced new measures in response to the nation's single case of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) yesterday, AMI's senior staff organized a national teleconference to commend USDA for its vigilance and express AMI's belief that these regulations...
Jan 24, 2002 Applications for AMI/National Safety Council Awards Due Tomorrow Applications for the 2001 AMI/National Safety Council Worker Safety Awards are due January 25, 2002. AMI annually solicits participation in this industry-wide safety excellence recognition program. The awards are given out at the annual Worker Safety Conference, which will be held from March...
Jan 4, 2006 AMI Letter to South Korean Government: Make Restoration of Full Beef Trade with U.S. "Highest Economic Priority" Noting the importance of restoring full beef trade throughout the world, AMI President and CEO J. Patrick Boyle sent a letter urging the South Korean government (SKG) to make the full resumption of beef trade with the U.S. their "highest economic priority." �South Korea�s continuance of an...
Oct 19, 2001 AMI Board Elects New Directors and Officers at Annual Business Meeting The AMI Board of Directors elected six officers, seven executive committee members and six new directors yesterday during the Institute�s Annual Business Meeting held during Worldwide Food Expo �01, at McCormick Place in Chicago, IL. The following officers were elected to serve one-year terms:...
Jul 16, 2002 AMI President Testifies Against Ban on Packer Ownership of Livestock Boyle Says Modern Business Model Should Not Be Illegal for Meat Industry
Jan 30, 2006 AMI Submits Comments on Good Guidance Practices AMI submitted comments to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) regarding a proposed bulletin on good guidance practices. In the comments, AMI supported OMB�s efforts to clarify and increase the quality of agency guidance documents; however, it criticized the use of the documents as binding...
Nov 15, 2005 AMI, NCBA Letter to President Bush: Push for Full Restoration of Beef Trade with Japan Current Agreement Opens Small Portion of Former Market
Apr 29, 2002 Australia Says Farm Bill Results Question U.S. Commitment to Agricultural Trade Reform The Australian government is "very disappointment with the trade-distorting measures allowed for in the new U.S. Farm Bill," according to a press release today from the office of Australia�s Trade Minister Mark Vaile. He said �the Farm Bill shields American farmers from market signals and will...
Oct 27, 2005 AMI Elects 2005-2006 OFFICERS Nine New Board of Directors Members Also Elected
Apr 12, 2006 AMI Applauds U.S. Trade Representative Negotiations with Peru The American Meat Institute praised the U.S. Trade Representative in negotiating the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between the United States and Peru. The aggressive market access provisions coupled with the agreement on equivalence make the Peru agreement one of the best FTAs negotiated by the...
Oct 24, 2002 AMI Board of Directors Votes on Animal Welfare, Irradiation Policies at Annual Business Meeting AMI�S Board of Directors today voted to make animal welfare a non-competitive issue, offering mentoring programs to help solve handling issues, and to urge USDA to establish a pilot program for purchasing irradiated ground beef for the School Lunch Program. The Board made its decisions during...
May 24, 2006 AMI Member Recall Program Significantly Enhanced The AMI Member Affinity Program through MRM now includes four new benefits. All policies will now include a new coverage extension for customers� loss of profits. It provides reimbursement to member�s customers for the profits they would have realized had there not been a recall. The...
Jul 20, 2004 AMI Challenges PETA Tactics In Washington Post AMI today challenged People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals' (PETA) tactics in The Washington Post�s "Reliable Source" column. The Post reported that PETA plans to protest AMI�s Annual Hot Dog Lunch by having former Playboy Playmates pass out �veggie dogs" outside the "real" Hot Dog...
Jan 26, 2007 Animal Ag. Groups Point out Importance of Bio-based Fuels to Treasury Department Urge Action to Support Renewable Diesel in U.S.
Mar 4, 2004 APHIS Amends Regulations Governing Interstate Transportation of Animals The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) today amended its regulations governing interstate transportation of animals to establish requirements for the collection of blood and tissue samples from livestock and poultry at slaughtering and rendering establishments when it is...
Feb 4, 2002 2001 FDA Food Code Available Online The 2001 FDA Food Code is now available free online. The 450-page document can be downloaded or printed at http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/~dms/fc01-toc.html . The Code is a reference document for regulatory agencies that oversee food safety in food service establishments, retail food stores, other...
Feb 3, 2003 2003 Annual Meat Conference Product Tasting Reception To Be Largest Ever The 2003 Annual Meat Conference Product Tasting Reception is expected to be the largest ever held in conference�s recent history. With the theme "Hotlanta-A Taste of Tomorrow" the reception will feature more than 100 innovative meat and poultry products from an estimated 60 companies. The...
Apr 8, 2005 APHIS Environmental Assessment Finds No Significant Impact for USDA's Final Rule The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) published a finding of no significant impact with respect to the final rule concerning bovine spongiform encephalopathy minimal risk regions and importation of commodities that was scheduled for implementation on March 7. This finding was...
Apr 10, 2003 APHIS Publishes Annual Veterinary Services� Report APHIS has published its Veterinary Services� 2002 Highlights Report, titled "Safeguarding Animal Health in 2002." This comprehensive report is designed to provide stakeholders and the general public with an overview of the Agency�s activities in the past fiscal year. Some Agency activities...
Sep 27, 2004 AMI Convention to Feature Media and Lobbying 'Boot Camp ' Special Saturday Session Will Be Featured at 2004 AMI Annual Convention in Nashville, Tenn.
Aug 3, 2001 AMS Publishes �3/70/20� Modification to Mandatory Price Reporting Rules USDA�s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) today published a notice announcing a change to the confidentiality guidelines it follows regarding mandatory price reporting. AMS expects that using the new guidelines will increase the numbers of published reports. Under the new "3/70/20"...
Sep 19, 2001 AMI Officials Named to USDA/USTR Trade Advisory Committees American Meat Institute (AMI) President and CEO J. Patrick Boyle and Vice President for International Trade Leonard Condon have been appointed to key committees charged with advising the Administration on trade matters. On September 17, Secretary of Agriculture Ann M. Veneman and U.S. Trade...
Sep 19, 2002 Annual Listeria Workshop Set for December 4 � 5 in Cincinnati The AMI Foundation, along with the National Meat Association (NMA), will hold the popular annual workshop titled "Implementing Listeria Intervention and Control" December 4 � 5, 2002, at the Hilton Cincinnati at Netherland Plaza in Cincinnati, OH. The course is designed to help participants...
Feb 5, 2001 AMS Releases Agricultural Contract Guide for Farmers AMS recently released a publication titled "Agricultural Contracting: A Resource for Farmers" to help navigate farmers through the often complex issues involved with contracts. Available on the Internet at http://www.ams.usda.gov/contracting/contracting.htm , the guide explains critical issues...
Apr 7, 2006 APHIS Releases Implementation Plan for National Animal Identification System The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) released its implementation plans for a National Animal Identification System (NAIS). The NAIS is being developed to facilitate rapid tracing of livestock in the event of an outbreak of an animal disease of concern. The documents released...
Jan 8, 2001 AMS Offers Voluntary Certification of Sanitary Design For Equipment Used in the Processing of Livestock and Poultry Products The final rule issued January 5, 2001, by the Agricultural Marketing Service titled "Regulations Governing the Certification of Sanitary Design and Fabrication of Equipment Used in the Processing of Livestock and Poultry Products" goes into effect today. The rule establishes a voluntary,...
Jul 9, 2002 Americans Increasingly Aware of Foodborne Illness, USDA Surveys Say More Americans are now changing their cooking habits in response to warnings about pathogens in undercooked meats , the Agriculture Department said Monday. After analyzing 10 years of annual food survey results, USDA said that 80 percent of American households now report cooking their homemade...
Apr 4, 2006 Salmonella Verification Sampling of Turkey Carcasses Instructions Released The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) released Notice 20-06, Salmonella Verification Sampling of Turkey Carcasses. The Notice provides inspection program personnel who receive sample collection request forms (FSIS Form 10,210-7) with information and instructions for conducting the...
Jan 4, 2001 AMS Publishes Final Rule Establishing New Meat and Poultry Equipment Approval Program The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) has initiated a voluntary, fee-for-service program to inspect and certify equipment and utensils used in meat and poultry product processing for sanitary design and cleanability. The final rule will be published in the Federal Register on January 5. AMS...
Oct 18, 2002 AMI Files Comments on FSIS Foreign Materials Directive AMI filed comments yesterday with FSIS asking for clarification of several points included in their directive on the presence of foreign material in meat and poultry products, including when a foreign object is considered a food safety hazard and when an establishment needs to conduct a review...
Mar 8, 2007 AMI Files Amicus Curiae Brief Supporting USDA Rule AMI and four other trade associations, the United Food and Commercial Workers Union and two businesses filed an amicus curiae or "friend of the court" brief in support of USDA and its defense of a 2005 rule that partially reopened the Canadian border by allowing the import of cattle less than 30...
Mar 27, 2001 AMS Plans to Remove Zero-Tolerance for Salmonella and Allow for Irradiation in Ground Beef Specifications According to Dr. Ken Clayton, Acting Administrator of AMS, the agency will be announcing new specifications for commodity ground beef later this week. Among the changes, AMS plans to: 1) remove the zero-tolerance for Salmonella policy and base testing programs on appropriate indicator...
Mar 31, 2003 American Expected To Enjoy 25.9 Million Hot Dogs During 2003 Baseball Season Spring has sprung and with opening day of the 2003 Major League Baseball season, Americans' return to their love affair with baseball and hot dogs. This season, the National Hot Dog & Sausage Council estimates that 25.9 million hot dogs will be enjoyed in major league stadiums-the number one...
Sep 16, 2002 AMI, Food Industry Coalition Say Chemical Security Bill Could Compromise Sensitive Information AMI and the Food Industry Environmental Council are opposing a bill aimed at shoring up security at the nation's chemical plants, but which may have serious unintended consequences. "The Chemical Security Act" (S. 1602), sponsored by Sen. Jon Corzine (D-NJ), would require chemical plants to...
Jan 26, 2001 AMS Announces New Launch Date for Mandatory Price Reporting The effective date for mandatory price reporting has been changed from January 30 to April 2, 2001, according to an AMS press release issued today. AMS said in the release that the change was made to allow for more testing of the electronic information collection system the agency intends to...
Aug 10, 2006 APHIS Proposing to Remove BSE Importation Restrictions Several restrictions regarding the processing of animals from minimal-risk regions would be removed under a new rule proposed by the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS). Specifically, the proposed rule would: � Amend regulations to allow means other than eartags for individual...
Dec 20, 2001 AMI Files Extension Request for Pizza Standards of Identity Comments AMI today requested a 60-day extension for comments on the standards of identity for pizza. The comment period began and is scheduled to close during the holiday season making it difficult to get input from all interested parties, AMI stated its request to FSIS....
Sep 12, 2001 AMI Offices Open in Wake of Terrorist Attack on Pentagon AMI offices are open today after yesterday�s terrorist attack on the Pentagon, which occurred in full view of the Institute's offices in downtown Arlington, VA. However, members attempting to reach AMI staff may continue to have difficulty due to busy phone lines. AMI office hours are 8:00 a.m....
Feb 14, 2003 AMI Foundation Unveils Findings on Reducing Listeria Monocytogenes on Meat, in Plants The AMI Foundation today unveiled three new research studies with significant findings on reducing Listeria monocytogenes on ready to eat meat and poultry products as well as in the processing plant environment. The Foundation funded all three studies. The research unveiled today included:...
Oct 29, 2003 Baker Makes Case for Strong Ag Exports, 'Victory' in Iraq, At Worldwide Food Expo Opening Session Chicago -- In a pointed and occasionally passionate speech keynoting today�s Worldwide Food Expo, former Secretary of State James Baker III told attendees that free trade is "essential to our economic growth," and urged Americans to remain steadfast in the Iraqi rebuilding process. But the...
May 13, 2005 AMI Hosts Inaugural Award Program to Recognize Environmental Responsibility in the Meat and Poultry Industry Award Applications Must Be Submitted by June 30
Dec 26, 2000 Argentina Agrees To Permit Imports Of U.S. Bone-in Pork Argentina announced December 22 that it will permit imports of bone-in U.S. pork. The Argentine market just recently opened to boneless pork exports from the U.S. Now, bone-in products from the U.S. will also be accepted. The Argentine market for imported pork is estimated at 30,000 metric...
Apr 17, 2007 AMI Tells House Committee That Government Data and Economic Analyses Show Meat Packing Industry is Dynamic and Competitive American Meat Institute President J. Patrick Boyle today told the House Committee on Agriculture, Subcommittee on Livestock, Dairy, and Poultry that the U.S. meat packing industry is dynamic and competitive and that the industry will oppose legislative and regulatory efforts to restrict...
Dec 11, 2000 AMIF to Host Third Annual Animal Handling and Stunning Workshop AMIF will host its third Annual Animal Handling and Stunning Workshop, February 1-2, 2001, at the Westin Crown Center in Kansas City, MO. The conference is designed to educate attendees about optimum animal handling and stunning practices, new research and technology, the use of self-audits to...
May 18, 2001 AMI Will Work With AMS on Price Reporting Inaccuracies AMI will meet next week with USDA�s Agricultural Marketing Service to determine the scope of the meat and livestock reporting inaccuracies, AMI said in a statement today. The scope of the problem and its financial impact is not yet known, the statement said. But AMI is eager to work with the...
Oct 30, 2006 AMI Supports FSIS Risk-Based Meat Inspection Concept Efforts to shift to risk-based meat inspection hold promise according to joint comments submitted to USDA Friday by the American Meat Institute (AMI) and the Food Products Association (FPA). The new risk based inspection (RBI) system is being developed by USDA�s Food Safety and Inspection...
Jul 27, 2004 AMI Launches a New Web site: Meatsafety.org Consumer-Friendly Information About Meat and Poultry Safety, Proper Handling Featured
Jul 24, 2003 AMI Submits Testimony Opposing Antitrust Legislation Any legislation to create new and different premerger review processes and antitrust enforcement procedures would unfairly single out the agribusiness sector from the rest of the business community, AMI President J. Patrick Boyle said in testimony submitted yesterday to the Senate Judiciary...
Oct 5, 2001 AMI Helps Avert Country-of-Origin Labeling Effort for Meat Despite passage yesterday in the U.S. House of Representatives of an amendment mandating country-of-origin labeling for produce, AMI and other groups successfully persuaded House members not to offer a similar amendment for meat. Earlier this year, AMI helped ensure a stunning defeat of...
Feb 3, 2006 2006 Annual Conference on Antimicrobial Resistance Scheduled The 2006 Annual Conference on Antimicrobial Resistance, sponsored by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases and 10 other national agencies, will take place June 26 � 28 at the Hyatt Regency Bethesda, in Bethesda, Md. Twenty-eight...
Feb 5, 2001 AMIF President Will Discuss BSE Measures in U.S. During On-Line MeatAMI.com Chat Feb. 6 AMIF President Jim Hodges will answer questions and discuss the effectiveness of U.S. measures to prevent the introduction of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) into the country's cattle supply. The chat, titled "A Review of BSE Control Measures in the United States," will take place on...
Feb 19, 2003 AMI, Other Ag Products Groups Urge Consideration of Trade Action Against Russia AMI and 23 other agri-business groups urged the Bush Administration to investigate whether restrictions on U.S. meat and poultry imposed by Russia warrant trade action under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974. The coalition made their case in a letter last week asking that the office of the...
Apr 8, 2004 AMI, Other Groups Request Change to SRM Policy AMI yesterday urged USDA and the Canadian Agriculture Ministry to consider a policy change that would permit removal of only a portion of the small intestine (distal ileum) from cattle, instead of requiring that the entire small intestine be removed. Joining AMI in a letter to Agriculture...
Jan 21, 2003 APHIS Issues Notice of Rulemaking on BSE Risk Reduction Strategies for Dead Stock, Nonambulatory Animals USDA�s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has issued an Advanced Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPR) to help develop approaches to control the risk that dead stock and nonambulatory animals could pose to the spread of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) should it occur in the...
Jul 20, 2001 AMI Says Listeria Risk Assessment Is Dynamic Document, Not Finished Product The FDA/FSIS Listeria risk assessment is a dynamic risk assessment that should be continually updated so that it can yield helpful information in the effort to prevent foodborne illness, according to the AMI. In comments submitted this week to the agencies, the Institute also commended their...
Apr 18, 2001 Agriculture Secretary Outlines Food Safety Priorities Conference Remarks Hail Fight BAC! Campaign
Jan 14, 2002 APHIS Sets Public Forum on Cattle Importation The process and science regarding compliance with protocols for importing cattle into the U.S. is on the agenda of an APHIS public meeting scheduled for February 6, 2002. The meeting is open to the public and will cover the disease status of exporting regions or countries, transportation issues,...
Jan 17, 2007 AMI Tells New York Times That U.S. Meat Supply is Safe, Abundant and Affordable "Yes, 100 years ago Upton Sinclair wrote a book about the plight of the immigrant and focused in part on the meat industry," notes AMI�s letter to the editor to the New York Times (Jan. 16, 2007) in response to a January 2 column by Times columnist Adam Cohen. �But 100 years later, our...
Aug 23, 2006 Agency Adopts FAST Test For Livestock The Fast Antimicrobial Screen Test (FAST) will be replacing the Swab Test on Premises (STOP) in swine slaughter establishments according to a new directive issued today by the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS). Directive 10,220.3, "Using the Fast Antimicrobial Screen Test (FAST) to...
Jun 5, 2002 AMI Members �Meat the Need� Today, Hunger Awareness Day Companies Donate Product In Ten Cities, Pledge More Donations
Apr 13, 2005 AMI Editorial Cartoon in Feedstuffs: "The Domino Effect" This week�s Feedstuffs features an editorial cartoon that demonstrates the long term, and far reaching economic and social consequences of the prolonged border closure with Canada. The American Meat Institute has long argued that the embargo is causing permanent, structural changes in the...
Jun 8, 2007 AMI Sends Letter to Senate Urging Passage of Immigration Reform Despite Setback, Hope Remains for Comprehensive Bill
Apr 4, 2001 AMIF President Says Proactive Measures Have Prevented BSE in U.S. Meat Scientist Testified in Senate Subcommitte
Aug 27, 2004 "Consume a Variety of Foods" Within Basic Food Groups, Notes Advisory Committee Final Report Consumption of foods from each of the basic food groups, including meat and poultry, are essential for meeting nutrient intake requirements, concludes the report filed by an expert committee overseen by two government agencies chiefly involved with monitoring the American diet and nutrition....
Feb 4, 2005 APHIS Delivers Strong Response to R-CALF in New Fact Sheet USDA�s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) delivered a point-by-point rebuttal to R-CALF�s statements about BSE, Canada�s risk profile and Office of International Epizootics guidelines. The rebuttal, made in a February 2 APHIS fact sheet, details seven different claims made by...
Jan 20, 2006 AMI Expresses Regret Over Shipment of Veal Not Approved for Export to Japan Boyle Affirms Safety of U.S. Beef in Press Conference, Media Interviews
May 24, 2001 AMI Voices Opposition to Illinois Legislature�s Bill Regulating Contracts AMI President J. Patrick Boyle wrote key Illinois state legislators to voice AMI�s opposition to a bill (HB 0524) which would further regulate agribusiness contracts and "have significant, negative legal and business implications." A growing number of transactions between agribusinesses and...
Aug 12, 2002 AMI Files Comments on Country of Origin Labeling Guidelines AMI submitted comments August 9 detailing its input on how best to structure the voluntary country of origin labeling guidelines that USDA's Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) must issue by September 30, 2002. AMI reiterated its earlier suggestion that products bearing an ingredient statement...
Jun 6, 2007 2007 AMIF Request for Pre-Proposals Released The American Meat Institute Foundation (AMIF) has released its 2007-2008 Request for Pre-Proposals. The topics covered in the request are based on AMIF\x{2019}s research priorities as defined by the AMIF Research Advisory Committees. These committees are comprised of industry, academic and...
Feb 25, 2005 AMSA Call for Papers for Meat Scientists Students are Welcomed to Submit
Aug 29, 2001 Alfalfa, Clover Sprouts Implicated in E. Coli, Salmonella Outbreaks, Study Says Alfalfa and clover sprouts were to blame for more than half of confirmed foodborne illnesses reported in California between 1996 and 1998, according to a study published last week in the Annals of Internal Medicine. The study investigated six multi-county outbreaks of bacterial infections and...
Jul 20, 2001 Background Video for Media on Hot Dog Manufacturing Now Available From AMI A new background video or "b-roll" for media about the hot dog manufacturing process is now available from AMI. The video depicts the entire manufacturing process, including food safety strategies, and depicts hot dog lovers enjoying one of America's favorite foods in ball parks and...
Nov 1, 2003 AMI Recognizes Industry Stars at Annual Chairman's Gala in Chicago AMI tonight bestowed its annual honors on outstanding industry performers at its annual Chairman's Gala, held at the world renowned Field Museum in Chicago. The Institute's highest honor was awarded to the Equipment Design Task Force, chaired by Kraft Foods North America, Inc. Director of...
Dec 30, 2003 As BSE Investigation Targets Cow's Origin, USDA Asserts: 'System Works' Even as preliminary information suggesting that the BSE positive cow discovered Dec. 23 in Washington state came from Alberta, Canada, USDA officials said Monday Canadian records indicate that the index cow may have been brought into the United States as part of a group of as many as 82 dairy...
Jun 12, 2002 AMI Asks FSIS for Clarification on Retained Water Regulation In a letter to FSIS this week, AMI asked for further clarification regarding a rule regulating retained water in raw meat and poultry products. Specifically, the letter asked Deputy Administrator Phil Derfler to clarify for the red meat industry what practices and products are exempt from the...
Jun 7, 2001 AMI Backs "Normal Trade Relations" for China In a June 5 letter sent to Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, J. Dennis Hastert (R-Ill.), AMI joined with 69 other business and agriculture organizations in urging the Speaker to continue to exercise strong leadership in extending normal trade relations with China. As reported by...
Jan 13, 2006 AMS Proposes Updating Administrative Requirements for Voluntary Shell Egg, Poultry and Rabbit Grading The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) has proposed to amend administrative requirements in the regulations governing the voluntary shell egg, poultry, and rabbit grading programs. These amendments will update the administrative requirements and make minor, nonsubstantive changes for clarity...
Oct 1, 2001 Appeals Panel Grills Lawyers in USDA Appeal of Supreme Beef Decision AMI officials today attended oral arguments heard by a three judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit regarding the USDA appeal in the Supreme Beef litigation. The panel repeatedly interrupted the prepared presentations of attorneys for both sides, asking numerous pointed...
Nov 20, 2001 American Meat Institute Portal MeatAMI.com Wins Award for Excellence Institute to be Honored At American Society for Association Executives Convention
Apr 2, 2001 AMS Issues Draft Revised Specifications for Commodity Ground Beef and Ground Pork Last week, AMS issued revised draft specifications for commodity ground beef (Technical Data Supplement or TDS 136) and ground pork (TDS 496) that would remove the zero tolerance for Salmonella in commodity ground beef and allow the use of irradiation for fine ground beef, fine ground pork and...
Apr 25, 2005 AMI and Six Other Amicus Brief Partners Not Alone in Those Lining Up to Reopen Canadian Border The Amicus Curiae brief filed by the American Meat Institute and six other organizations was but one of many briefs submitted last week in support of the U.S. Department of Agriculture�s (USDA) effort to expand beef and cattle trade with Canada. Signing onto AMI�s brief were the North American...
Jul 11, 2002 Agriculture Committee Recommends APHIS Functions Split Between USDA, Homeland Security Agriculture Department inspectors at U.S. ports of entry and the USDA research facilities at Plum Island Animal Disease Center in New York state should be transferred to the proposed Homeland Security Department, the House Agriculture Committee decided today in voting on recommendations. The...
Oct 10, 2001 AMI Files Comments on FSIS Initiative to Identify "U.S. Beef" AMI filed comments yesterday in response to an advance notice of proposed rulemaking (ANPR) published August 7. In the ANPR, USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) invited comment on the need for regulations to clarify the definition of "United States cattle" and "United States fresh...
May 7, 2004 AMI Enhances Risk Management Insurance Program for Members In an effort to provide optimal benefits to our members, AMI has added several enhancements to the AMI Risk Management Program. If you are currently in the program or just thinking about recall insurance, here are the changes that we have made: � New policy limits: Limits are now available for...
Apr 9, 2003 Approval of Technologies Can Boost Safety of Meat and Poultry Products, AMI Says in Letter to USDA USDA can assist in enhancing the microbiological safety of meat and poultry by expediting the evaluation and approval process for the most promising food safety technologies, AMI President J. Patrick Boyle said in a letter to USDA officials. The letter details several food safety technologies...
Mar 17, 2005 AMI Guest Editorial: R-CALF Members "Caught with their Hands in the Cookie Jar" After nearly two years of border closure with Canada, on March 7th, the USDA was poised to restore trade in beef and cattle with Canada. "That was, until Montana-based Ranchers-Cattlemen Action Legal Fund obtained a preliminary injunction that blocked the reopening of the Canadian border,"...
Jun 6, 2007 Anti-Import Group �Parts Ways with the Facts,� AMI President Says in Letter to Key Lawmakers In a letter to key lawmakers, the American Meat Institute (AMI) pointed out the errors, contradictions and distortions contained in a May 31 letter recently sent to Capitol Hill by the anti-trade group Ranchers Cattlemen�s Action Legal Fund (R-CALF). "Although a highly unusual event, a...
Feb 1, 2001 AMS Equipment Approval Program Up and Running AMS's new meat and poultry equipment certification program, launched January 8th is off to a flying start, according to an AMS official. "We are extremely pleased with the volume of certificati

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