News Articles

• Sep 1, 2010 Meat Tech Presentation Proposals Due November 19 Proposals to deliver Meat Tech presentations at the 2011 Meat, Poultry & Seafood Convention and Exposition, to be held ...  
• Sep 1, 2010 AMI Announces Resources in Conjunction with National Food Safety Education Month In conjunction with September's National Food Safety Education Month, the American Meat Institute has announced number ...  
• Aug 30, 2010 AMI's Mark Dopp Asserts Facts In Contentious Panel at USDA-DOJ Competition Meeting In the most contentious panel of the August 27 U.S. Department of Agriculture-Department of Justice Competition Workshop ...  
• Aug 30, 2010 HBO's 'Temple Grandin' Sweeps 2010 Emmys With Best Picture, Best Actress, Others HBO's biopic "Temple Grandin" swept the Emmys last night, capturing some of the top awards including ...  
• Aug 27, 2010 More than a Thousand People Assemble in Fort Collins for Competition Workshop More than a thousand people assembled in Fort Collins, Colorado, today for a United States Department of Agriculture-Department of Justice workshop ...  
• Aug 26, 2010 Representative Urges Economic Analysis of Proposed GIPSA Rule In a letter to USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack, Representative Jack Kingston (R-GA) called for a sound economic analysis ...  
• Aug 26, 2010 Senators Express Concerns About Objectivity Regarding GIPSA Proposed Rule Workshops Senate leaders have expressed concern about the objectivity of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) regarding its actions surrounding the Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyard Administration (GIPSA) proposed livestock procurement rule ...  
• Aug 25, 2010 High-Tech Imaging Can Quickly Distinguish Campylobacter, Study Finds A type of high-tech imaging can be used to distinguish the foodborne pathogen Campylobacter from other microorganisms ...  
• Aug 20, 2010 AMIF and NAMP Partner to Offer Two Education Opportunities in September Registration is now open for the Center of the Plate Training Short Course, co-sponsored by ...  
• Aug 19, 2010 Obama Announces Intent to Recess Appoint Hagen to USDA Post President Obama announced today his intent to recess appoint Elisabeth Hagen...  
• Aug 19, 2010 AMI Outlines Actions USDA Should Take to Address STECS in Beef Substantial progress has been made in improving the safety of the nation's meat and poultry supply, but designating non-O157:H7 shiga-toxin producing Escherichia coli (STEC) as adulterants will result ...  
• Aug 19, 2010 Mexico Adds Tariffs to U.S. Pork Imports Mexico added pork to the list of U.S. products against which it is retaliating for the failure of the United States to live up to its obligations ...  
• Aug 18, 2010 AMI President J. Patrick Boyle Appears on The Colbert Report AMI President J. Patrick Boyle last night appeared on the popular "Colbert Report," a political comedy show on Comedy Central ...  
• Aug 16, 2010 AMI Comments on EPA's Proposed Rules Regarding Boiler Emission Limits from Area and Major Sources AMI filed comments with the Environmental Projection Agency (EPA) on two proposed rules that would set stringent...  
• Aug 13, 2010 Senate Leaders Release Manager's Package of FDA Food Safety Modernization Act Senate leaders have released a 225-page manager’s package of the Food Safety Modernization Act, S. 510, a step which may make it easier...  
• Aug 10, 2010 Mexico Ends Countervailing Duties on Imported U.S. Beef and Veal Mexico today announced an end to countervailing duties on U.S. beef and veal ...  
• Aug 10, 2010 New Resource Page About GIPSA Proposed Rule Available AMI has added a new resource page to www.meatami.com in an effort to keep its members, policymakers and the press informed about ...  
• Aug 9, 2010 FSIS Clarifies Intention On New Mandatory Test and Hold Policy Food Safety and Inspection Service today clarified its intentions regarding a new mandatory test and hold policy that was reported by trade press...  
• Aug 9, 2010 FSIS Announces Proposed Rule To Amend Regulations on Donning and Doffing The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is proposing to amend the meat, poultry products, and egg products regulations to redefine the 8-hour work day...  
• Aug 9, 2010 AMI Tells National Public Radio That Meatless Mondays Isn’t About Nutrition AMI Senior Vice President of Public Affairs Janet Riley told National Public Radio today that the Meatless Monday campaign...  
• Aug 9, 2010 APHIS Announces Animal Disease Traceability Meetings The U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) today announced in a Federal Register Notice three upcoming meetings ...  
• Aug 5, 2010 USDA Responds to AMI Petition By Announcing It Will Mandate Test and Hold, Reports Indicate USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) today said that within the next several months...  
• Aug 5, 2010 Media May Be Overhyping Benefits of Organic Agriculture, Study Finds News accounts of organic agriculture and organic food are more likely to be positive than negative and inaccurately claim...  
• Aug 5, 2010 FSIS Issues Revised Directive on Inspection and Export Certification of Livestock Intestines or Casings The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has issued Directive 9000.2, Revision 1: Inspection and Export Certification of Livestock Intestines or Casings. ...  
• Aug 5, 2010 FSIS Issues Notice on Kidney Inhibition Swab Testing The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has issued Notice 42-10 ...  
• Aug 4, 2010 Senate Committee Approves Bill to Reauthorize Mandatory Price Reporting The Senate Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Committee today approved by voice vote the...  
• Jul 30, 2010 2011 AMI International Meat, Poultry and Seafood Industry Convention and Exposition Unveils General Session Speakers Two renowned leaders with global insights will headline general sessions at the 2011 Meat, Poultry & Seafood Convention and Exposition...  
• Jul 30, 2010 AMI Sends Agriculture Secretary Vilsack a Detailed Response to GIPSA `Misconception and Explanation' Document AMI President J. Patrick Boyle this week sent Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack a detailed response to the Grain Inspection Packers and Stockyards Administration (GIPSA) ...  
• Jul 29, 2010 New York Times Calls on Congress to End Federal Tax Subsidies for Ethanol In an editorial today, the New York Times called upon Congress not to renew federal tax subsidies for ethanol...  
• Jul 28, 2010 National Advisory Committee on Microbiological Criteria for Foods Seeking Nominations The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) today announced that nominations are being sought for membership ...  
• Jul 27, 2010 Sen. Pat Roberts Urges White House to Conduct More Comprehensive Cost Benefit Analysis of Proposed GIPSA Undue Preferences Rule "Simple cursory analysis in order to validate an agency's pre-determined policy position is not in the best interest of our country ..."  
• Jul 27, 2010 AMI Urges Opposition to Potential Amendments Increasing Ethanol Blends AMI joined more than 35 diverse stakeholders in urging Senate leaders to oppose any amendment to the upcoming Senate energy bill ...  
• Jul 26, 2010 GIPSA Extends Comment Period on New Rule by 90 Days USDA today announced a 90-day extension to the comment period on the Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration (GIPSA) "undue preferences rule ..."  
• Jul 23, 2010 2010 Annual Hot Dog Lunch Photos Viewable Online Photos of the American Meat Institute Annual Hot Dog Lunch...  
• Jul 22, 2010 DHS Issues Final Rule Allowing For Electronic Signature and Storage of Form I-9 The Department of Homeland Security has issued a final rule amending Form I-9 (Employment Eligibility Verification) regulations to allow ...  
• Jul 22, 2010 AMI Joins Groups Opposing Increase in Ethanol in Gasoline to Launch Campaign Advocating More Scientific Testing As part of an effort to persuade Congress to reject calls by some to mandate an increase in the amount of ethanol...  
• Jul 22, 2010 AMI: Meat and Poultry Industry Has Variety of Metrics to Measure Food Safety The meat and poultry industry has focused efforts to reduce pathogen risk by embracing the hurdle concept of microbiological control, said American Meat Institute (AMI) Scientific Advisor Andrew Milkowski, Ph.D. in...  
• Jul 21, 2010 AMI's Annual Hot Dog Lunch a Wiener on Capitol Hill Capitol Hill staff, lawmakers, meat industry representatives, industry officials and members of the media today came together at the Rayburn House Office Building Courtyard to once again celebrate ...  
• Jul 21, 2010 More Technological Advances Critical for Adequate Food Supply, Review Finds More technological advances – not fewer -- are critical to ensure a sufficient food supply for the growing global population according to...  
• Jul 21, 2010 News Reports Paint Picture of Heated Hearing on GIPSA Rule News reports about a House Agriculture Committee hearing yesterday depict heated exchanges between lawmakers and United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) officials ...  
• Jul 16, 2010 CBO Report: Ethanol Industry Reaping Benefits from Biofuel Subsidies The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) has released a study assessing the subsidies provided for producing different types of biofuels. ...  
• Jul 16, 2010 AMI Urges Senate Leaders to Allow Ethanol Tax Credit and Protective Tariff to Expire AMI, joined by national industry trade associations including the National Turkey Federation, the National Chicken Council, National Cattlemen's Beef Association, the National Pork Producer's Council and the National Meat Association is urging ...  
• Jul 16, 2010 USDA, CDC and FDA Outline Efforts to Ensure Judicious Use of Antimicrobials; Detail Efforts to Combat Resistance at Hill Hearing The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in testimony before the House Energy and Commerce Health Subcommittee this week stressed ...  
• Jul 16, 2010 AMI Op-Ed: Consumers Are Paying for Federal Ethanol Mandate in Food Costs "A 2007 Congressional mandate to divert a substantial portion of the U.S. corn crop - the chief source of food for the animals that we eat - into corn-based ethanol to be burned as fuel instead of being used as animal feed has pushed many in animal agriculture past the tipping point," says AMI...  
• Jul 15, 2010 AMI Addresses Flaws in FSIS Pre-Harvest Management Controls Guide AMI supports the use of appropriate pre-harvest programs to reduce shedding of E. coli O157:H7, but there remains a lack of scientific evidence ...  
• Jul 15, 2010 AMI Stresses Importance of Meat and Poultry in Diet in Comments Submitted to USDA in Response to Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee Report A well-balanced diet, proper portion sizes and exercise are keys to reducing obesity in Americans and meat and poultry is a nutrient dense food containing high quality protein and an excellent source of micronutrients ...  
• Jul 13, 2010 AMI: Performance Standards Should Be Based on Sound Science, Be Achievable and Have Positive Impact on Public Health Performance standards should be based on sound science, be achievable and have a significant and quantifiable positive impact on public health, something that has thus far not been accomplished, says AMI ...  
• Jul 9, 2010 AMI Joins Ag Organizations in Urging Congress to Pass Korea, Colombia and Panama FTAs AMI is joining more than 40 agriculture associations in urging Congressional Leadership to act quickly on implementing the U.S.-Korea Free Trade Agreement (FTA). ...  
• Jul 8, 2010 'Temple Grandin' Earns 15 Emmy Nods, Including Best Movie Temple Grandin, the HBO movie which paints a picture of Grandin's perseverance and determination while struggling with the isolating challenges of autism, has been nominated ...  
• Jul 8, 2010 AMI Defends Importance of Meat in Diet in Comments to USDA and HHS AMI defended the importance of meat and poultry in the diet in comments today to the Departments of Agriculture (USDA) and Health and Human Services (HHS). ...  
• Jul 8, 2010 AMI Wichita Eagle Guest Opinion: Free Trade Agreements Help Create Jobs in Kansas "In a state like Kansas where the number of cattle processed per year - 6.5 million - is more than double the size of the human population of the state, it's abundantly clear ..."  
• Jul 6, 2010 FSIS Issues Directive About Safe and Suitable Ingredients The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) issued FSIS Directive 7120.1, Revision 3: Safe and Suitable Ingredients Used in the Production of Meat, Poultry and Egg Products. ...  
• Jul 2, 2010 DHS Issues Memo on ICE Top Priorities The Department of Homeland Security has issued a new memorandum to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) employees...  
• Jul 2, 2010 AMI Offers Fourth of July Grilling Recipes and Food Safety Tips Eighty percent of Americans plan to host or attend a cook-out as part of their Fourth of July celebration...  
• Jul 2, 2010 USDA Finalizes Ground Beef Standards for School Lunch and Nutrition Programs USDA has finalized new standards for ground beef purchased by the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) for Federal food and nutrition assistance programs ...  
• Jul 2, 2010 AMI Requests 120-Day Extension of Comment Period on GIPSA Livestock Procurement Proposed Rule AMI submitted a request for a 120-day extension of the comment period regarding the proposed rule titled ...  
• Jul 1, 2010 AMI Attends President's Speech on Proposed Immigration Reform President Obama today delivered a major speech on immigration reform, calling for passage of Comprehensive Immigration Reform (CIR). ...  
• Jun 30, 2010 Senate Committee Approves Hagen, Woteki Nominations The Senate Agriculture Committee today unanimously approved the nominations of ...  
• Jun 30, 2010 Stakeholder Meetings on Food Safety Progress Scheduled The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS), and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' (HHS) Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) today announced ...  
• Jun 29, 2010 Members of Congress Urge Passage of Trade Agreements in The Hill Op-Ed; Cite Results of AMI Study "As the national unemployment rate holds at 9.7 percent - higher than the same time last year - it makes little sense to let opportunities for new jobs pass us by. ..."  
• Jun 28, 2010 FDA Issues Draft Guidance on the Judicious Use of Medically Important Antimicrobials in Food-Producing Animals The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued today the draft guidance for ...  
• Jun 25, 2010 FSIS Issues New Instructions for Selection of National Residue Program Scheduled Samples The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has issued FSIS Notice 30-10: Instructions for Carcass Selection for the National Residue Program Scheduled Samples ...  
• Jun 23, 2010 OSHA Announces Additional Stakeholder Meetings on Injury and Illness Prevention Programs The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) will host two stakeholder meetings on ...  
• Jun 18, 2010 USDA Proposes Sweeping Changes in Undue Preferences Rule Mandated by 2008 Farm Bill USDA today unveiled a proposed rule that, if adopted, would result in sweeping changes to how livestock are marketed and procured by meat packers ...  
• Jun 18, 2010 Vitamin B6, Found in Meat, Linked to Lower Lung Cancer Risk Vitamin B6, found in meat and poultry in plentiful amounts, is being linked to a lower risk of developing lung cancer ...  
• Jun 16, 2010 High-Yield Agriculture Slows Pace of Global Warming, Stanford Study Finds Advances in high-yield agriculture over the latter part of the 20th century have prevented massive amounts of greenhouse gases (GHG) from entering the atmosphere ....  
• Jun 15, 2010 AMI Supports Improvements to HACCP Systems Validation Draft Guidance; Offers Assistance in Developing Education Program AMI voiced its support for the Food Safety and Inspection Service's (FSIS) recent statements and actions made after the issuance of Draft Guidance: HACCP Systems Validation ...  
• Jun 15, 2010 AMI White Paper: FTAs Create Billions in Revenue, Thousands of New Industry Jobs Passage and implementation of the three Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) currently pending would represent an additional $2.3 billion in meat and poultry exports and the potential creation of 29,524 new jobs...  
• Jun 14, 2010 Final Report of the Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee to be Published in June 15, 2010 Federal Register A joint Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)/U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prepublication Federal Register Notice currently available for public...  
• Jun 11, 2010 AMI Joins in Urging USDA and HHS to Release Access to USDA Nutrition Evidence Library used in Revising the Dietary Guidelines for Americans AMI joined 23 food and beverage industry associations in a letter urging the Departments of Agriculture (USDA) and Health and Human Services (HHS)...  
• Jun 10, 2010 FSIS Announces Start of Nationwide Market Hogs Microbiological Baseline Data Collection Program The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has issued Notice 28-10: Nationwide Market Hogs Microbiological Baseline Data Collection Program (MHBS) - Update ...  
• Jun 9, 2010 Report: FDA Should Implement Risk-Based Approach to Improve Food Safety To more proactively tackle food safety problems, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) should implement a risk-based approach to pinpoint where along the production ...  
• Jun 9, 2010 Air Quality Expert Mitloehner to Present Research about the Role of Animal Agriculture in Greenhouse Gas Production during Free Webcast University of California Davis air quality expert Frank Mitloehner, Ph.D., author of...  
• Jun 8, 2010 OSHA Amends Notification Requirements in Hexavalent Chromium Standard The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has amended notification requirements in the Hexavalent Chromium...  
• Jun 8, 2010 EPA to Gather Wastewater Data From Some Animal Feeding Operations As Part of Court Settlement The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will gather wastewater data from concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs) that...  
• Jun 8, 2010 OSHA Proposes Sweeping Fall Protection/PPE Rule Revisions The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) announced a notice of proposed rulemaking to require improved worker protection...  
• Jun 4, 2010 Health Canada: No Risk From BPA in Canned Food Current dietary exposure to bisphenol A (BPA) through consuming canned foods does not pose a health risk to the general population...  
• Jun 4, 2010 FSIS Announces Public Meetings on New Draft Validation Guidance In order to receive public input on the Agency's draft proposed guidance relating to Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) Validation...  
• Jun 3, 2010 AMIF Releases 2010-2011 Request for Pre-Proposals The American Meat Institute Foundation (AMIF) today released its 2010-2011 request for pre-proposals (RFP). ...  
• Jun 3, 2010 A. Dewey Bond, Former Senior Vice President of AMI, Passes A. Dewey Bond, 87, former senior vice president of the American Meat Institute (AMI) passed away ...  
• Jun 2, 2010 AMIF Voices Concerns Over Changes to AFRI During Stakeholders Meeting AMI Foundation Director of Scientific Affairs Betsy Booren, Ph.D., reiterated today that food safety is the meat and poultry industry's top priority and ...  
• Jun 2, 2010 USDA Appoints New Members to the National Advisory Committee on Microbiological Criteria for Foods The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has appointed nine new members and 10 returning members to ...  
• Jun 1, 2010 Historic McCormick Place Legislation Becomes Law Historic legislation that will reform labor rules, establish exhibitor rights and realign McCormick Place operations ...  
• Jun 1, 2010 AMI Guest Column: Interference in Corn Markets Hurts Consumers in the Long Run "Thirty years ago, the federal government extended a helping hand to the corn-based ethanol industry, providing yearly subsidies ..."  
• Jun 1, 2010 AMI Releases Video on What it Means to be Lean AMI has released a new educational video outlining for consumers the nutritional requirements a cut of meat or poultry must meet ...  
• May 28, 2010 U.S. International Trade Commission to Hold Public Hearing on Investigation of IPR Infringement in China The U.S. International Trade Commission will hold a public hearing June 15, 2010, at 9:30 a.m. in Washington, D.C, to discuss ...  
• May 27, 2010 FSIS Issues Proposed Rule to Permit Air Inflation The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is proposing to revise the federal meat inspection regulations ...  
• May 27, 2010 AMI’s U.S. Meat Industry at a Glance Updated for 2010 The American Meat Institute (AMI) today released an updated version...  
• May 26, 2010 Report Finds No Evidence of Health Benefits or Harm in Consuming Organic Foods A systematic review of the available published literature finds that no evidence exists to show health benefits or harm from consuming organic foods ...  
• May 25, 2010 AMI to Host Informative Webinar on the Future of the AMI Expo The American Meat Institute (AMI) will host a short web presentation and discussion ...  
• May 25, 2010 FDA Launches New Safety Reporting Portal The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has launched a new electronic portal ...  
• May 25, 2010 AMI Files Comments Regarding Proposed Rule on Notification, Documentation and Recordkeeping Requirements AMI filed comments regarding a Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) proposed rule...  
• May 24, 2010 AMI Stresses Importance of Trade Relationship with Mexico in Letter to President, Congress AMI joined a multitude of organizations and businesses in sending an open letter to President Barack Obama and members of Congress ...  
• May 24, 2010 AMI Guest Editorial: E-Verify Is A Path Forward on Immigration Reform Although the meat industry's support for comprehensive immigration reform has not changed ...  
• May 20, 2010 Senate Agriculture Committee to Hold Hearing on Nominations of Hagen, Woteki The Senate Agriculture Committee will hold a hearing May 26, 2010, on President Obama's nominations ...  
• May 19, 2010 AMI Defends Processed Meats on ABC's World News Tonight with Diane Sawyer and Other Cable and Broadcast News Outlets AMI Senior Vice President of Public Affairs Janet Riley last night appeared on World News Tonight with Diane Sawyer to dispute ...  
• May 18, 2010 AMI Releases Video Outlining Proper Portion Sizes for Meat and Poultry Products AMI has released a new educational video outlining for consumers the proper portion sizes...  
• May 14, 2010 Climate Bill Introduced in Senate Senators John Kerry (D-MA) and Joe Lieberman (I-CT) have introduced the "American Power Act" ...  
• May 13, 2010 Sandwiches a Hot Menu Item, but Consumers Seek More Variety Most consumers (81 percent) have purchased a sandwich away from home at least once in the past 60 days. ...  
• May 13, 2010 AMI Defends Current E. coli Tracing Procedures in Comments to FSIS AMI is unaware of any data that would support the need to change current policy regarding follow-up sampling and inspection methods ...  
• May 12, 2010 USCIS To Issue Redesigned Green Card U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has redesigned the Permanent Resident Card ...  
• May 12, 2010 Sixth Circuit Joins `Legion' Of Appellate Courts Requiring Proof of Anticompetitive Effect to Support PSA Claims In a ruling consistent with seven other appellate courts, the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit held that ...  
• May 11, 2010 AMI Releases Video Explaining Different Pork Cuts AMI today unveiled a new educational video outlining for consumers the many different cuts of pork ...  
• May 10, 2010 USDA Announces New Performance Standards for Salmonella and Campylobacter in Young Chickens and Turkeys and a Compliance Guide for Pre-harvest Management to Reduce E. coli O157:H7 United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced new performance standards aimed at reducing the prevalence of Salmonella and Campylobacter...  
• May 10, 2010 Illinois Passes Historic McCormick Place Reform Legislation That Will Benefit AMI Exhibitors The Illinois General Assembly has passed comprehensive legislation ...  
• May 10, 2010 AMI, FMI and UFPA to Co-Locate 2012 Education and Trade Events The American Meat Institute (AMI), the Food Marketing Institute (FMI) and the United Fresh Produce Association (UFPA) will co-locate their premier trade shows ...  
• May 7, 2010 Secretary Vilsack Reappoints Alfred Almanza as FSIS Administrator Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack has reappointed Alfred V. Almanza ...  
• May 5, 2010 Catherine Woteki, Ph.D., Nominated for USDA Under Secretary for Research, Education and Economics President Obama has nominated Catherine Woteki, Ph.D., as USDA's Under Secretary for Research, Education and Economics ...  
• May 5, 2010 APHIS to Host Public Meetings on Traceability System The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) will host three public meetings ...  
• May 4, 2010 AMI Releases Video Explaining Different Beef Cuts AMI today released a new educational video outlining for consumers the many different cuts of beef available ...  
• May 3, 2010 Director of FDA Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition Stephen Sundlof Resigns Stephen F. Sundlof, D.V.M., Ph.D., is resigning from his position as director of the Food and Drug Administration's Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition (CFSAN) ...  
• Apr 30, 2010 FDA Seeks Data about Front of Package and Retail Shelf Tag Nutrition Labeling The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is seeking data and other information to assist the agency in regulating front of package and retail shelf tag nutrition labeling....  
• Apr 29, 2010 AMI Urges Legislators to Allow Ethanol Tax Credit and Protective Tariff to Expire AMI, joined by national industry trade associations including the National Turkey Federation, the National Chicken Council and the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, urged the House Ways and Means Committee...  
• Apr 27, 2010 AMI and National Hot Dog & Sausage Council Release Video on Hot Dog Preparation for Toddlers AMI and the National Hot Dog & Sausage Council has released a new educational video outlining the proper method to prepare hot dogs for toddlers and small children. ...  
• Apr 21, 2010 Senators Introduce Bill to Extend Ethanol Incentives Senators Chuck Grassley (R-IA) and Kent Conrad (D-ND) have introduced the Grow Renewable Energy from Ethanol Naturally Jobs Act of 2010 ...  
• Apr 21, 2010 Institute of Medicine Says FDA Should Set Standards for Salt Added to Processed Foods and Prepared Meals Group Says Salt's GRAS Status Should be Modified; AMI Says Not So Fast  
• Apr 20, 2010 AMI Unveils Consumer Video on Salt's Role in Meat Products The American Meat Institute (AMI) today released a new educational video on salt’s role in meat and poultry products, featuring meat scientist...  
• Apr 19, 2010 AMI Guest Editorial: Government Shouldn't Pick Sides in Ethanol Debate "When the federal government decided it was going to require a market for corn-based ethanol, nurture it with taxpayer dollars and ..."  
• Apr 16, 2010 Temple Grandin, Ph.D., Ranked #32 in Time Magazine's 2010 List of 100 Most Influential People Temple Grandin, Ph.D., professor of animal science at Colorado State University and author of AMI’s recently released Recommended Animal Handling Guidelines and Audit Guide, 2010 Edition, has been voted #32 in Time Magazine’s 2010 list of 100 leaders, artists, innovators and icons who...  
• Apr 15, 2010 The Supreme Court of California Affirms Federal Preemption In Lawsuit Brought By AMI The Supreme Court of California has denied a petition to review a lower appellate court decision, which held that California’s Proposition 65 is expressly...  
• Apr 15, 2010 U.S. Achieves National Health Objective for E. coli O157:H7 Infections, CDC Says The U.S. has achieved its Healthy People 2010 objective for Escherichia coli O157:H7 infections, according to new data released by the...  
• Apr 14, 2010 FSIS Issues Export Library Revisions for April 2010 The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has issued its Export Library revisions for April 2010 ...  
• Apr 13, 2010 FSIS Revises Directive on Safe and Suitable Ingredients The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has issued FSIS Directive 7120.1, Revision 2: Safe and Suitable Ingredients Used in the Production of Meat, Poultry and Egg Products ...  
• Apr 9, 2010 FSIS Issues Notice on Humane Handling Activities in Livestock Slaughter Establishments The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has issued Notice 19-10: Humane Handling Activities and Documentation in Livestock Slaughter Establishments ...  
• Apr 9, 2010 Federal Court Dismisses Frivolous Hot Dog Lawsuit A frivolous, nuisance lawsuit filed through the vegan, animal rights group, the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM) and its "Cancer Project" has been dismissed ...  
• Apr 7, 2010 FSIS Will Extend Comment Period on Draft Guidance for HACCP System Validation FSIS has confirmed that the agency will extend the comment period on its Draft Guidance: HACCP System Validation...  
• Apr 7, 2010 Study: Ethanol Mandate Creates 10 Percent Chance of Corn Price Spike If the U.S. corn industry experiences a weather-induced shortfall that typically has a 10 percent chance of happening in any given year, the price of a bushel of corn could rise ...  
• Apr 2, 2010 FSIS Issues Directive on New N60 Sampling Instructions The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has issued Directive 10,010.1, Revision 3: Verification Activities for E. coli O157:H7 in Raw Beef Products ...  
• Apr 1, 2010 NHDSC Predicts Ballparks Will Serve More Than 21 Million Hot Dogs This Season Ballparks around the country will serve 21,378,064 hot dogs this season, enough to round the bases 29,691 times ...  
• Mar 30, 2010 Russia Lifts Import Ban on U.S. Pork; FSIS Issues Revised List of Plants Eligible for Export In light of Russia's announcement that it is lifting a months-long ban of U.S. pork products, Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has published a revised list ...  
• Mar 29, 2010 Wall Street Journal Editorial: When You Can't Beat 'Em Scream Monopoly "When you can't beat 'em, scream monopoly. That's the vintage gambit now playing out in the farm business ...  
• Mar 29, 2010 FSIS Publishes Proposed Rule on Notification, Documentation and Recordkeeping Requirements The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has published in the Federal Register a proposed rule ...  
• Mar 26, 2010 Eligible Foreign Establishments List for Canada Revised The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has revised its listing of Canadian ...  
• Mar 25, 2010 Comment Period Open on Task Force on Childhood Obesity The U.S. Department of Agriculture, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and U.S. Department of Education are currently accepting comments  
• Mar 25, 2010 AMI Submits Comments on Proposed Nutrition Labeling of Chopped Meat and Poultry Products The American Meat Institute (AMI) has submitted comments regarding the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) supplemental proposed rule ...  
• Mar 24, 2010 UN Admits Flaw in Report on Meat and Climate Change One of the authors of the 2006 United Nations report claiming meat production is responsible for 18 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions, more than transportation, is acknowledging ...  
• Mar 23, 2010 AMI Applauds Immigration Reform Efforts AMI has joined a coalition of organizations in supporting Senators Charles Schumer (D-NY) and Lindsey Graham (R-SC) to push forward a comprehensive immigration ...  
• Mar 22, 2010 Eating Less Meat Won't Curb Climate Change, Air Quality Expert Says Consuming less meat will not reduce our greenhouse gas production, a leading air quality expert said on Monday ...  
• Mar 22, 2010 GAO Says FDA Could Improve Its Documentation, Communication of Decisions on Food Irradiation Petitions The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) could improve its documentation and communication of key decisions on food irradiation petitions ...  
• Mar 19, 2010 Michigan Representative Introduces Resolution Calling for Meat and Poultry Appreciation Day on March 20 Rep. Dave Camp (R-MI) has introduced a resolution in the United States House of Representatives calling for Saturday, March 20, 2010, to be celebrated as ...  
• Mar 19, 2010 Senators Outline Goals for Immigration Reform in Washington Post Op-Ed Senators Charles Schumer (D-NY) and Lindsey Graham (R-SC) today outlined their bipartisan proposal for immigration reform in a much-awaited guest editorial ...  
• Mar 19, 2010 China Reopens Pork Market to U.S. The United States and China have reached a formal agreement to reopen the Chinese market to U.S. pork and pork products ...  
• Mar 18, 2010 Competition Heating Up for Breakfast Dollar, Survey Finds Breakfast has become the hottest area of competition for the foodservice industry ...  
• Mar 15, 2010 AMI Addresses Hundreds on Food Safety, Industry Issues at Panel Discussion Sponsored by House Republican Leader John Boehner AMI President and CEO J. Patrick Boyle discussed industry advances in food safety and the economic contributions of the meat and poultry sector during a panel discussion...  
• Mar 12, 2010 AMI: Current E. coli O157:H7 Tracing Procedures Not Broken In 2009, there were 40.9 follow-up samples taken for each federal ground beef verification sample, evidence that...  
• Mar 10, 2010 AMI Guest Editorial: Meat Industry Structure Serves Consumers Well "`American exceptionalism' is the notion that the United States occupies a special niche in the world in terms of its political, economic and historic development ..."  
• Mar 5, 2010 Russia to Reopen Pork Market to U.S. The U.S. and Russia have reached an agreement to reopen the Russian market to U.S. pork and pork products, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced ...  
• Mar 4, 2010 Public Meeting to Address Codex Committee on General Principles The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) will host a public meeting to provide information and receive comments on agenda items and draft U.S. positions ...  
• Mar 4, 2010 AMI Guest Editorial: Increased Agriculture Exports a Must for U.S. Producers "United States meat and poultry exports have been a major success story over the last two decades, demonstrating that great potential exists for the United States meat and poultry industry in the international trade arena," says AMI President and CEO J. Patrick Boyle ...  
• Mar 3, 2010 AMI Voices Support of Administration's Goal to Double U.S. Exports Within 5 Years The American Meat Institute (AMI), along with more than 50 other food/feed agricultural organizations is urging Congress to strongly support President Obama's pledge to double U.S. exports ...  
• Feb 26, 2010 AMS Makes Changes to Ground Beef Purchase Program The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) has announced it will make a number of changes to its ground beef purchase...  
• Feb 18, 2010 FSIS Revises Items for Collection Under Lm Sampling Programs The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is directing Inspection Program Personnel (IPP) not to collect samples of ...  
• Feb 18, 2010 New Research Review Finds Insufficient Evidence to Link Saturated Fat with Cardiovascular Disease A new meta-analysis of existing research on the link between dietary saturated fat and the risk of heart disease and stroke has found that ...  
• Feb 18, 2010 FSIS Extends Comment Period on Nutrition Labeling In response to multiple requests, the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is extending the comment period on its supplemental proposed rule ...  
• Feb 12, 2010 USDA Announces Final Rule Detailing Organic Access to Pasture USDA today unveiled a final rule addressing access to pasture for organic livestock...  
• Feb 10, 2010 USDA Launches New Online Tool The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Economic Research Service (ARS) has launched a new online tool ...  
• Feb 10, 2010 Presidential Task Force on Childhood Obesity Formed The White House, led by First Lady Michelle Obama, has launched a new campaign aimed at addressing what it characterizes as an epidemic of childhood obesity. ...  
• Feb 8, 2010 USDA to Develop New Framework for Animal Disease Traceability Agriculture Secretary Vilsack has announced that United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) will develop a new framework for animal disease traceability. ...  
• Feb 4, 2010 American Meat Institute and National Hot Dog & Sausage Council Release Super Bowl Recipes The American Meat Institute (AMI) and National Hot Dog and Sausage Council (NHDSC) have released seven appetizer and entrée recipes for Super Bowl Sunday. ...  
• Feb 4, 2010 Annual Meat Conference Early Bird Registration Deadline Feb. 5 Registration for the 2010 Annual Meat Conference, March 7-9, 2010, at the Rosen Shingle Creek, Orlando, Fla., at the Early Bird Rate of $595 ends on Feb. 5. ...  
• Feb 3, 2010 EPA Reverses Position, Paves the Way for Increased Use of Corn-Based Ethanol The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lisa Jackson announced that it has finalized its RFS-2 rule which will pave the way for increased use of corn-based ethanol...  
• Feb 3, 2010 FSIS Issues Two HIKE Scenarios The Food Safety and Inspection Service has issued two Humane Interactive Knowledge Exchange (HIKE) scenarios. ...  
• Feb 2, 2010 FY 2011 Budget Proposes Reduction of Funding for Market Access Program The Obama Administration's budget proposal for FY 2011...  
• Feb 1, 2010 AMI Urges FSIS to Revise Non-Intact Beef Risk Assessment Based Upon New Analysis The American Meat Institute (AMI) today urged USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service to revise the agency's "Comparative Risk Assessment for Intact (Non-Tenderized) and Non-Intact (Tenderized) Beef ...  
• Feb 1, 2010 User Fees Included in the USDA FY 2011 Budget Proposal The Obama Administration released their budget proposal for FY 2011 today, which includes a section noting...  
• Jan 28, 2010 FSIS Issues Notice on Nationwide Raw Chicken Parts Microbiological Baseline Data Collection Program The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has issued FSIS Notice 08-10: Nationwide Raw Chicken Parts Microbiological Baseline Data Collection Program ...  
• Jan 28, 2010 Kansas Congressman Urges Taiwan to Repeal Block of U.S. Beef Imports Rep. Jerry Moran (R-1-KS) today urged Taiwan’s parliament to allow imports of U.S. beef products. ...  
• Jan 27, 2010 Food Groups Request Extension on Comment Period for Single Ingredient Meat and Poultry Products A group representing a significant segment of the food industry recently sent a letter...  
• Jan 26, 2010 AMI Foundation Releases Supplemental Request for Proposals The AMI Foundation (AMIF) has released a detailed supplemental request for proposals on controlling...  
• Jan 26, 2010 Elisabeth Hagen, M.D., to be Nominated USDA Under Secretary for Food Safety President Obama yesterday evening announced his intent to nominate Elisabeth Hagen, M.D., as ...  
• Jan 25, 2010 Restaurant Industry Forecast Lowered U.S. foodservice industry sales are expected to decline 1.6 percent, down from the 0.8 percent decline previously estimated ...  
• Jan 22, 2010 AMI Accepting Applications for 2010 Environmental Recognition Awards Applications for the 2010 AMI Environmental Recognition Awards are now available. ...  
• Jan 22, 2010 FSIS Issues Instructions for Sampling Ammoniated Beef Products The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has issued FSIS Notice 07-10: Instructions for Sampling Ammoniated Beef Products. ...  
• Jan 22, 2010 FSIS Issues Instructions on Verification of Humane Handling and 28-Hour Law The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has issued FSIS Notice 06-10: Humane Handling at All Entrances and the 28-Hour Law. ...  
• Jan 21, 2010 USDA Research: Pork from Pigs Exposed to H1N1 Safe to Eat Pork from pigs exposed to the H1N1 virus is safe to eat, according to a recent study by the USDA Agriculture Research Service (ARS). ...  
• Jan 21, 2010 Dr. Temple Grandin to be Featured in New HBO Film Feb. 6 Colorado State University Professor of Animal Behavior Temple Grandin, Ph.D., will be the subject of a new HBO film that will premiere ...  
• Jan 20, 2010 Congressional Leaders Urge Administration to Maintain Pressure on Taiwan to Fix Beef Ways and Means Chairman Charles Rangel (D-NY), Ranking Member Dave Camp (R-MI), Trade Subcommittee Chairman Sander Levin (D-MI) and Ranking Member Kevin Brady (R-TX) today expressed frustration...  
• Jan 15, 2010 FDA Delays Final Decision on Bisphenol A Safety Pending Further Research and Review The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) provided an update today on the agency's assessment of the safety of Bisphenol A (BPA)...  
• Jan 15, 2010 FSIS Issues Multiple Instructional Notices for Inspection Personnel The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has issued the following notices:  
• Jan 11, 2010 National Salt Reduction Initiative Releases Proposed Targets New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene's (NYCDOH) National Salt Reduction Initiative today publicly released for technical comment its proposed targets ...  
• Jan 8, 2010 American Meat Institute Tells U.S. Trade Representative that Mandatory Country-of-Origin Labeling Violates International Trade Obligations AMI today told the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative that mandatory country-of-origin labeling (COOL) violates the United States’ international trade obligations ...  
• Jan 8, 2010 FSIS Amends Directive Regarding Safe and Suitable Ingredients Used in Production of Meat and Poultry Products The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has updates to Attachment 1 for FSIS Directive 7120.1. ...  
• Jan 7, 2010 AMI Tells Department of Justice Existing Antitrust and Competition Statutes Are Effective and Applicable for All Industries In comments submitted today to the Department of Justice (DOJ), The American Meat Institute (AMI) said that existing anti-trust and competition statutes are equally applicable ...  
• Jan 5, 2010 Taiwan Moves to Ban Some U.S. Beef Products; AMI Registers Objections Lawmakers in Taiwan yesterday voted to ban some U.S. beef products, a move that reverses an agreement reached between the U.S. and Taiwan in October. ...  
• Jan 4, 2010 AMI Announces Vice President of Legislative Affairs Joy Philippi, Other Staff Developments The American Meat Institute (AMI) has appointed industry veteran Joy Philippi as vice president of legislative affairs. ...  
• Dec 23, 2009 California Court of Appeals Says Federal Meat Inspection Act Preempts State Law The Court of Appeals for the Fourth Appellate District in California yesterday affirmed that the Federal Meat Inspection Act explicitly preempts a California state law ...  
• Dec 23, 2009 Senate Passes Resolution Honoring Efforts of Meat Processors, Hunters and Sportsmen's Associations to Feed the Hungry The United States Senate has passed a resolution recognizing the cooperative efforts of ...  
• Dec 16, 2009 AMI Foundation Releases Backgrounder on Role of N-60 Sampling Program in Ground Beef Safety In an effort to clarify the role of microbiological testing in ground beef safety, the AMI Foundation has released a backgrounder ...  
• Dec 15, 2009 U.S. Court of Appeals Says Plaintiffs Must Show Harm to Competition in Lawsuits The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit today issued an opinion...  
• Dec 15, 2009 Senator Urging USDA to Implement `A Strict Testing Program' for Beef in School Lunches Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) sent a letter to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) this week urging it to implement a program that would test "every single batch of beef" ...  
• Dec 10, 2009 American Meat Institute Says Russian Actions to Ban U.S. Pork Products Are Inconsistent With International Standards A series of actions by Russia to ban U.S. pork products...  
• Dec 10, 2009 AMI: Changes to Traceability System Should Be Based on Risk and Success of Meeting Objectives AMI Vice President of Food Safety and Inspection Services Scott Goltry told a joint Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) meeting today that traceability is ...  
• Dec 9, 2009 FSIS Issues Humane Handling Directive The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has issued Directive 6910.1, Revision 1: District Veterinary Medical Specialist (DVMS) - Work Methods. ...  
• Dec 8, 2009 Study: Americans Spending More at Supermarkets, Perishable Department Growing Fastest A 2009 Nielsen survey finds that 46 percent of American households are eating...  
• Dec 7, 2009 EPA Formally Declares Greenhouse Gases a Danger to Public Health The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced a final rule today stating that greenhouse gases (GHGs) are a threat to the public health ...  
• Dec 5, 2009 National Hot Dog and Sausage Council Applauds Cary, NC, Hot Dog Vendor for 'Sticking to His Buns' The National Hot Dog and Sausage Council extended get well wishes to hot dog vender Fady Sabet Awad this week ...  
• Dec 4, 2009 Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration Issues Final Rule Regarding Poultry Contracts The Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration (GIPSA) has issued a final rule regarding the initiation, performance and termination of poultry contracts.  The rule adds several new provisions to section 201.100 of the regulations, Records to be Furnished to Poultry...  
• Dec 3, 2009 FTC to Host Public Forum on Food Marketing and Childhood Obesity The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) will host a public forum on December 15, 2009, to discuss current research on the impact of food advertising ...  
• Dec 2, 2009 FSIS Issues Notice on Importation of Canadian Cattle, Bison, Sheep and Goats The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has issued Notice 80-09: Importation of Canadian Cattle, Bison, Sheep and Goats in the United States. ...  
• Dec 1, 2009 EPA Delays Decision on E15 Waiver The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today announced it will not make a final determination on a waiver ...  
• Nov 23, 2009 USA Today Article Highlights Sustainability Efforts by Meat Producers A growing number of companies are turning their attention to creating renewable products - such as adhesives and plastics - from the animal byproducts ...  
• Nov 20, 2009 New Holiday Food Safety Site Unveiled A new Web site (www.holidayfoodsafety.org) offering tips on holiday food safety was launched this week...  
• Nov 20, 2009 Judge Dismisses Case Challenging No-Match Rule U.S. District Judge Charles Breyer has dismissed the case challenging ...  
• Nov 20, 2009 AMI Submit Comments in Support of Rule Governing Interstate Shipment of Meat and Poultry Products AMI submitted comments today in support of Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) Rule 2008-0039 that would allow inspected establishments to participate in ...  
• Nov 19, 2009 Coalition of Agricultural Trade Associations Opposing PAMTA A Coalition of Agricultural Trade Associations urged Senate leaders to oppose the attachment of S. 619, the Preservation of Antibiotics for Medical Treatment Act (PAMTA) of 2009 ...  
• Nov 18, 2009 FDA Modernization Act Passes HELP Committee The Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee today passed S. 510, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Food Safety Modernization Act, by a...  
• Nov 17, 2009 USDA: U.S. Hunger Rate Highest in Nearly Two Decades AMI Urges Support for 'Meating the Need' Partnership with Feeding America  
• Nov 9, 2009 Boyle Defends Food Safety Progress on Good Morning America The meat industry has made great strides over the past decade in reducing E. coli-related illnesses, says AMI President and CEO J. Patrick Boyle, who appeared on "Good Morning America" today. ...  
• Nov 6, 2009 OIE: Recent Identification of H1N1 in Animals Not Cause for Alarm or Trade Restrictions With no evidence suggesting that animals play any role in the spread of Novel H1N1 to humans, the international trade of live pigs and other ...  
• Nov 6, 2009 CDC Publishes Interim Guidance for Workers at Commercial Swine Farms to Prevent Spread of Novel H1N1 The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has published interim guidance for workers who are employed at commercial swine farms ...  
• Nov 5, 2009 FSIS Issues Notice on Usage of In-Commerce System The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has issued Notice 76-09: Ensuring the Integrity of Firm Information Data in the In-Commerce System (ICS). ...  
• Nov 3, 2009 USDA Withdraws Interim Rule for Increasing User Fees for Certain Commercial Vehicles and International Air Passengers The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is withdrawing the recently published interim rule ...  
• Oct 30, 2009 AMI Honors Richard G. Searer, Retired President of Kraft Foods North America, with Industry Advancement Award AMI today honored Richard G. Searer, retired president of Kraft Foods North America and former chairman of AMI, with its highest award: the Industry Advancement Award.  
• Oct 30, 2009 AMIF Honors Land O' Frost Vice President of Research John Butts, Ph.D., with Scientific Achievement Award The American Meat Institute Foundation (AMIF) today honored John Butts, Ph.D., vice president of research at Land O' Frost, with the AMIF Scientific Achievement Award. ...  
• Oct 30, 2009 AMI Recognizes Paul Allen of Advance Food Company Inc. with Jones Community Service Award AMI today recognized Paul Allen, co-chairman of Advance Food Company Inc. in Enid, Oklahoma, with its Edward C. Jones Community Service Award. ...  
• Oct 30, 2009 Alchemy Systems Named AMI 2009 Supplier of the Year Alchemy Systems, based in Austin, Texas, today was named AMI 2009 Supplier of the Year. ...  
• Oct 30, 2009 Meat Injury and Illness Rates Continue Two-Decade Decline The meat industry continues to build on a two-decade record of improvement in worker safety, according to recent numbers released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).  
• Oct 29, 2009 AMI Elects New Members to Board of Directors AMI elected nine new members to its Board of Directors during its Annual Business Meeting at the Worldwide Food Expo, Oct. 28-31, at McCormick Place in Chicago, Ill.  
• Oct 29, 2009 American Meat Institute Elects New Officers AMI today elected the six officers that will guide the organization through the next year. ...  
• Oct 28, 2009 FSIS Issues Notice on Raw Product Excluded from Salmonella Testing The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has issued Notice 75-09: Raw Product Destined for Ready-to-Eat Product Excluded from Salmonella Testing. ...  
• Oct 27, 2009 AMI Submits Comments on ANPR Regarding Wood Packaging Materials; Urges Collection of Basic Information AMI submitted comments in response to advance notice of proposed rulemaking (ANPR) regarding ...  
• Oct 23, 2009 Public Meeting to Address Codex Committee on Food Hygiene The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Office of Food Safety and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Food and Drug Administration (FDA) today announced...  
• Oct 23, 2009 FSIS Issues Directive on Verification of Less Than Daily Sanitation Procedures The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS or the agency) has issued Directive 5000.5, "Verification of Less Than Daily (LTD) Sanitation Procedures." ...  
• Oct 22, 2009 Meat Industry Urges USDA to Develop Age Verification Program for Exports to Taiwan in Wake of Market Opening The U.S. government should establish an age-verification Quality System Assessment (QSA) Program for Taiwan to ensure an orderly expansion to a full market opening to U.S. beef ...  
• Oct 22, 2009 AMI Chairman Rod Brenneman Testifies Before Congress on Economic Challenges Facing Pork Industry; Urges Action "There are many challenges facing the economic viability of the pork sector including higher input costs for feed and energy, an over-abundance of supply in the domestic market, weakening demand and international trade barriers," said AMI Chairman...  
• Oct 21, 2009 Web site Launched Addressing Harms of E-15 The sundry problems caused by E-15, which would increase the corn-based ethanol blend in gasoline by fifty percent, is the subject of a new Web site...  
• Oct 21, 2009 Senate Approves FY10 Homeland Security Conference Report The Senate yesterday approved the $42.8 billion FY10 Homeland Security conference report, which includes a three-year extension of...  
• Oct 20, 2009 AMI Reiterates Request to USDA to Implement Policy that Would Require Companies to Hold FSIS-Tested Control Product Until Results Are Received The American Meat Institute (AMI) is urging the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to act on AMI's previous request to implement a policy that would require ...  
• Oct 19, 2009 AMI's Riley Tells Lou Dobbs that Meatless Monday Campaign Denies Students, Parents Freedom of Choice, Important Nutritional Options AMI Senior Vice President for Public Affairs Janet Riley during an appearance on CNN's "Lou Dobb's Tonight" yesterday criticized...  
• Oct 19, 2009 USDA Confirms Novel H1N1 in Minnesota Pigs; AMI Assures Consumers That Pork is Safe AMI President and CEO J. Patrick Boyle today assured consumers that U.S. pork is safe, following an announcement ...  
• Oct 16, 2009 Possible Novel H1N1 Cases In Pigs Not Unexpected; Experts Say U.S. Pork Is Safe To Eat USDA has confirmed that hogs at the Minnesota State Fair may have screened positive for the novel H1N1 virus. USDA's National Veterinary Services Laboratories expects ...  
• Oct 16, 2009 FSIS Announces Upcoming Food Defense Plan Survey The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has issued Notice 72-09 announcing the upcoming food defense plan survey ...  
• Oct 13, 2009 AMI President and CEO Defends Safety of Meat Supply During Appearance on `Larry King Live' "(The meat industry) has invested tens of millions of dollars over the last ten years in research programs to make our products safer. And they've shared the results in a non-competitive environment ..."  
• Oct 12, 2009 AMI President J. Patrick Boyle to Discuss Meat Safety on Larry King Live Tonight AMI President and CEO J. Patrick Boyle is scheduled to appear on...  
• Oct 8, 2009 Members of Congress Urge USDA to Provide Further Assistance to the Pork Industry Sixty-three members of the House of Representatives joined 32 members of the United States Senate in urging Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack to take immediate action to assist  
• Oct 8, 2009 Committees Reach Conference Agreement on Homeland Security Appropriations Bill; Include Three-Year Extension of E-Verify The House and Senate Appropriations Committees have reached a conference agreement on the FY 2010 Homeland Security Appropriations Bill. ...  
• Oct 7, 2009 Canada Requests WTO Panel on U.S. Mandatory Country-of-Origin Labeling The Canadian government has announced its intention to file for a World Trade Organization (WTO) dispute settlement process over the U.S. mandatory country-of-origin labeling (COOL)...  
• Oct 7, 2009 DHS Issues Final Rule Rescinding Controversial `No-Match' Regulation The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) issued a final rule today rescinding its controversial "no-match" regulation. ...  
• Oct 7, 2009 Meat Industry is Making Great Strides in Improving Food Safety, Boyle Tells New York Times The meat industry has made great strides in improving the safety of its products, with the incidence of E. coli O157:H7 declining 45 percent...  
• Oct 5, 2009 FSIS Updates List of Safe and Suitable Ingredients for Use in Production of Meat and Poultry Products The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has updated its list of safe and suitable ingredients for use in meat and poultry products ...  
• Oct 5, 2009 AMI Urges Baltimore City Public Schools to Drop 'Meatless Mondays' AMI is urging Baltimore Public Schools to reconsider its decision to hold 'Meatless Mondays,' noting that meat and poultry products are an essential part of a balanced diet. ...  
• Oct 2, 2009 China Should Be a Promising Market For Food Safety Products, Study Finds China's demand for food safety products is forecast to grow 15 percent per annum...  
• Oct 2, 2009 IBM Survey Finds Meat and Poultry Top Shopping Lists During Difficult Economic Times Meat and poultry are among the top items shoppers won't give up despite tough economic times, according to a new IBM study that reveals ...  
• Sep 30, 2009 FSIS Personnel to Address Importance of Food Defense Plan at Establishments Without Plan in Place The Food Safety and Inspection Service has issued Notice 67-09, General Food Defense Plan, instructing Inspection Program Personnel (IPP) at establishments that do not have a food...  
• Sep 25, 2009 Meat and Poultry Trade Groups Tell EPA That Changes to RFS Could Substantially Effect Commodity Prices, Hurt Animal Agriculture Comments submitted today to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) by the American Meat Institute (AMI), National Turkey Federation, National Chicken Council and FarmEcon LLC sharply criticized EPA's...  
• Sep 22, 2009 AMI Voices Opposition to Use of `Mid-Level' Ethanol Blends in Letter to Senators AMI joined a broad coalition of business associations, public interest organizations and environmental groups in urging Senators to oppose an amendment filed ...  
• Sep 23, 2009 AMI, Coalition Publish Ad Opposing Increase in Ethanol Blend Levels AMI, in partnership with a number of other trade organizations, voiced its opposition today to the use of mid-level ethanol blends in commerce in a full-page print advertisement titled ...  
• Sep 22, 2009 EPA Finalizes New Greenhouse Gases Reporting Rule; Monitoring to Begin in 2010 The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has finalized a new greenhouse gases reporting rule that, beginning in January 2010, will require ...  
• Sep 22, 2009 AMI Announces New Meat & Poultry Safety IQ Quiz In conjunction with September's National Food Safety Education Month, AMI today posted a new meat and poultry IQ quiz ...  
• Sep 22, 2009 Higher Intake of Meat During Middle Age May Prevent Later Decline in Abilities, Study Finds A higher intake of meat during middle age may prevent a future decline in activities of daily living (ADL) among the elderly, a new study by Kyoto Women's University (Japan) has found ...  
• Sep 22, 2009 FSIS Publishes New Notice on Testing and "For Cause" Food Safety Assessments in Response to Ready-To-Eat Testing Results The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has issued Notice 64-09: Intensified Verification Testing and “For Cause”’ Food Safety Assessments in Response to Ready-to Eat Testing Results. ...  
• Sep 18, 2009 No Link Between Brain Tumors and Nitrites and Nitrates, Study Finds Intake of nitrates and nitrites is not related to the risk of glioma (brain tumors found in supportive tissue) as reported through a new study from from ...  
• Sep 18, 2009 AMI Calls on USDA to Move Forward With Petition to Allow Carcass Irradiation; Says Technology Should Be Treated As Other Processing Aids The American Meat Institute (AMI) is urging the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) to move forward with the rulemaking process ...  
• Sep 17, 2009 DHHS to Host Live Novel H1N1 Preparedness Webcast for Small Businesses Friday The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services will host a live webcast on how small businesses can prevent or reduce novel H1N1 on Friday ...  
• Sep 17, 2009 Mandatory Greenhouse Gas Reporting Rule Clears OMB The Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Mandatory Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Reporting final rule today cleared the...  
• Sep 17, 2009 AMI Urges Quick Passage of Trade Agreements with Korea, Colombia The American Meat Institute (AMI) is urging for the quick passage of a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with Korea and a Trade Promotion Agreement (TPA) with Colombia ...  
• Sep 17, 2009 Mid-Level Ethanol Blends Act of 2009 Introduced in Senate A bill to ensure that new fuels introduced into the marketplace are compatible with the inventory of gasoline-fueled engines in widespread use at the time of introduction ...  
• Sep 16, 2009 FSIS Proposes Interstate Commerce Shipping Regulations for Small Plant Operations The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has published proposed regulations regarding a new voluntary cooperative program under which ...  
• Sep 16, 2009 Today Is Last Day for Discounted Registration for Worldwide Food Expo Today is the deadline for discounted pre-registration for Worldwide Food Expo 2009, October 28-31, 2009, at Chicago's McCormick Place, is Sept.16. ...  
• Sep 14, 2009 FSIS Seeking Further Comment on Use of the Voluntary Claim `Natural' in the Labeling of Meat and Poultry Products The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced through the publication of an Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPR) that it is soliciting additional public comment regarding ...  
• Sep 11, 2009 FSIS Issues Notice on Collecting of Environmental Samples During Risk-Based Listeria Monocytogenes Sampling The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has issued Notice 62-09: Compositing of Environmental Samples Collected During Routine Risk-Based Listeria Monocytogenes (RLm) Sampling. ...  
• Sep 11, 2009 USDA Holds Media Briefings on H1N1 Preparation Efforts; Urges News Outlets to Drop `Swine Flu' Label USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack and Deputy Secretary Kathleen Merrigan addressed the media on the department’s H1N1 preparations in separate briefings ...  
• Sep 9, 2009 Public Meeting Scheduled to Address Agenda Items for the 3rd Session of the Codex Ad Hoc Intergovernmental Task Force on Antimicrobial Resistance The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food Safety and Inspection Service and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Food and Drug Administration (FDA) today announced a public meeting ...  
• Sep 9, 2009 FDA "Questions and Answers Regarding the Reportable Food Registry" Available The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) guidance document entitled ``Questions and Answers Regarding the Reportable Food Registry as Established by the Food and Drug Administration Amendments Act of 2007'' is now available. ...  
• Sep 3, 2009 Following Industry Urging, USDA Will Buy an Additional $30 Million in Pork Products for Federal Feeding Programs USDA today announced that it will purchase an additional $30 million in pork products in FY 2009 for federal food and nutrition assistance programs. ...  
• Sep 2, 2009 Discounted Pre-Registration Deadline for Worldwide Food Expo Approaching The deadline for pre-registration for Worldwide Food Expo 2009, to be held October 28-31, at Chicago's McCormick Place, is Sept.16. ...  
• Sep 1, 2009 Department of Homeland Security Offering Free E-Verify Webinars The Department of Homeland Security is offering a series of free Webinars in September on the E-Verify system, which will include discussions on ...  
• Sep 1, 2009 Reduced Airfare Available to Worldwide Food Expo Attendees American Airlines and Continental Airlines is offering discounted rates to those attending the Worldwide Food Expo, October 28-31, at McCormick Place in Chicago. ...  
• Sep 1, 2009 AMI Foundation Responds to Good Morning America Segment about Processed Meats "Just as ABC chose to cite studies that raise concern about processed meat products, numerous other studies have shown...  
• Sep 1, 2009 Worldwide Food Expo Offers New Online Tool for Exhibitors A new feature is available for exhibitors at Worldwide Food Expo...  
• Sep 1, 2009 Early Registration Deadline for Center of the Plate Training at Kendall College Extended Registration for Center of the Plate Training at Kendall College, to be held Sept.21-22, has been extended until Sept.4. ...  
• Aug 31, 2009 GIPSA Publishes Proposed Rule on Scale Tests The Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration (GIPSA) has published a proposed rule, Required Scale Tests, in the Federal Register. ...  
• Aug 28, 2009 AMI Continues H1N1 Media Outreach As part of ongoing efforts to urge the media to cease the use of the term "swine flu" when referring to the Novel H1N1 virus...  
• Aug 28, 2009 AMI Urges State Agriculture Leaders and Rural America to Respond to Biased Time Magazine Cover Story AMI President and CEO J. Patrick Boyle is urging state agriculture commissioners, secretaries and directors to...  
• Aug 26, 2009 AMI Letter to Editor: Time Article on one of the Great American Success Stories is ‘Dumbfounding’ “In a world of 7 billion people and expanding, where malnutrition, hunger or outright famine are commonplace, it’s dumbfounding that Time magazine would take one of the great American success stories..."  
• Aug 24, 2009 FSIS Publishes List of Issuances Slated for September The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) plans to release the following issuances during the month of September ...  
• Aug 24, 2009 New CAST Issue Paper Examines Cloned and Transgenic Animals The Council for Agriculture Science and Technology (CAST) has released a new paper, "Animal Productivity and Genetic Diversity: Cloned and Transgenic Animals," which reviews the complexities surrounding ...  
• Aug 20, 2009 AMI's Boyle Meets with President Obama and DHS Secretary Napolitano on Immigration Reform AMI President J. Patrick Boyle was invited to the White House today to give the meat industry's perspective on comprehensive...  
• Aug 20, 2009 MIRC to Tackle the Technical Development Challenges the Meat Industry Faces in the Current Economy Meat industry scientists and technical experts will be discussing the new economic reality in the food industry and the impact it has had on technical development at the Meat Industry Research Conference (MIRC) ...  
• Aug 14, 2009 FSIS Issues Directive on Laboratory Sampling Program for Imported Meat and Poultry Products The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has issued Directive 9500.5: Laboratory Sampling Program for Imported Meat and Poultry Products. ...  
• Aug 12, 2009 FSIS Issues Notices on Export Library Revisions, New PBIS Codes The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has issued Notice 55-09, Export Library Revisions for July 29. The notice provides ...  
• Aug 11, 2009 GAO Report: Industry Structure Not Affecting Commodity or Food Prices The structure of the processing segment of the beef, pork and dairy sectors and the retail sector overall has not adversely affected commodity or food prices, according to a new report by the United States Government Accountability Office (GAO). ...  
• Aug 10, 2009 FSIS Issues Notice on Ante-Mortem Verification of Livestock The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has issued Notice 52-09: Ante-Mortem Verification of Livestock Offered for Slaughter by the Establishment. ...  
• Aug 7, 2009 FSIS Issues Directive 5420.1, Revision 6 USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service yesterday issued Directive 5420.1, Revision 6: Homeland Security Threat Condition Response...  
• Aug 6, 2009 FDA Commissioner Hamburg Lays out Public Health Vision for FDA "The FDA must be vigilant, the FDA must be strategic, the FDA must be quick, and the FDA must be visible," said Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Margaret A. Hamburg, M.D. in...  
• Aug 5, 2009 Agriculture Appropriations Bill Passes the Senate The Fiscal Year 2010 Agriculture Appropriations bill (H.R. 2997) passed the...  
• Aug 4, 2009 AMI Letter to the Editor: Meat Production Is Not a Major Source of Greenhouse Gas Emissions Ezra Klein's commentary "The Meat of the Problem" [Food, July 29] was “inaccurate and not scientifically based...  
• Jul 31, 2009 FSIS Issues Notice on E. coli Bench Trim Testing and a Revised Directive to Consolidate the Agency’s E. coli Instructions The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) today issued Notice 51-09...  
• Jul 31, 2009 AMI Announces New Regulatory Affairs Director Ashley Peterson, Ph.D. The American Meat Institute today announced that Ashley Peterson, Ph.D., will assume a new role as director of regulatory affairs...  
• Jul 31, 2009 Senator Introduces Bill for Mandatory Meat and Poultry Recalls This week Sen. Tom Udall (D-NM) introduced S.1527, which would amend the Federal Meat Inspection Act and the Poultry Products Inspection Act to authorize the ...  
• Jul 28, 2009 American Meat Institute Calls Upon Congress to Fix and Mandate `E-Verify' Employment Verification System The American Meat Institute (AMI) today urged Congress to pass legislation that would enhance and mandate E-Verify ...  
• Jul 24, 2009 2009 Annual Hot Dog Lunch Photos Viewable Online Photos of the American Meat Institute Annual Hot Dog Lunch, held July 22, 2009, on Capitol Hill, are now viewable online. ...  
• Jul 22, 2009 AMI's Annual Hot Dog Lunch Hits A Grand Slam on Capitol Hill Capitol Hill staff, lawmakers, lobbyists, meat industry representatives and members of the media today came together at the Rayburn House Office Building Courtyard to once again celebrate National Hot Dog Month at...  
• Jul 22, 2009 FSIS Publishes List of Issuances Slated for August The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) plans to release the following issuances during the month of August ...  
• Jul 21, 2009 AMI Continues to Urge Congressional Leaders to Keep Animal Antibiotics Ban Out of Pending Legislation In a follow up to last week's hearings, AMI, as a member of the Coalition for Animal Health, is asking Congressional leaders to ensure that...  
• Jul 20, 2009 AMI Urges EPA to Deny Petition to Increase Ethanol Blend Levels AMI joined a diverse group of business associations, public interest organizations and environmental groups in urging the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to deny ...  
• Jul 17, 2009 AMI Joins Coalition in Voicing Opposition to Animal Antibiotics Ban AMI, as a member of the Coalition for Animal Health, is voicing its opposition to...  
• Jul 17, 2009 AMI Urges Congress to Oppose Mid-Level Ethanol Blends AMI, joined by a diverse array of business associations, public interest organizations and environmental groups urged Congress this week to oppose any legislative authorization of ...  
• Jul 16, 2009 AMI Tells Congress Meat and Poultry Industry Is Meeting Challenge of Continuously Improving Food Safety The meat and poultry industry has been working successfully to meet the challenge of continuously improving the safety of meat and poultry products, said AMI President and CEO J. Patrick Boyle, who today testified ...  
• Jul 16, 2009 FSIS Issues Revised Directive on Custom Exempt Review Process The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has issued Directive 5930.1, Revision 4: Custom Exempt Review Process, which provides instructions for FSIS Inspection Program Personnel (IPP) ...  
• Jul 15, 2009 USDA Provides Quality and Yield Grading Information The Agricultural Marketing Service has announced the availability of a new web-based tool that provides additional Meat Grading and Certification historical quality and yield grade information. ...  
• Jul 15, 2009 Affordable Fuel for America Act Introduced in Congress Legislation that would gradually phase out government support for corn-based ethanol over five years and encourage the commercial...  
• Jul 13, 2009 FSIS Proposes New Definition and Standard for `Roaster' and `Roasting Chicken' The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is providing new information on and re-proposing the definition and standard for...  
• Jul 10, 2009 Jerold R. Mande, M.P.H., Appointed USDA Deputy Under Secretary for Food Safety, Will Head FSIS Jerold R. Mande, M.P.H, has been appointed to serve as Deputy Under Secretary for Food Safety at the U.S. Department of Agriculture’ s (USDA) Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS). ...  
• Jul 9, 2009 FSIS Docket Room, Some Policy Offices Relocating to Beltsville, Maryland The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) will begin relocating four divisions of the Office of Policy and Program Development from ...  
• Jul 7, 2009 AMS Accepting Comment on Proposed Revisions to IMPS Fresh Beef and Fresh Pork Series The United States Department of Agriculture's Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) is inviting comment on proposed revisions of two Institutional Meat Purchase Specifications (IMPS) series ...  
• Jul 7, 2009 Obama Administration Announces Steps to Improve Safety of Nation's Food Supply The Obama Administration today announced several steps to improve the safety of the nation's food supply including ...  
• 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 Secretaría de Agricultura, Ganadería, 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