U.S. agriculture secretary confident meat is safe - (USA Today/Associated Press)
July 9, 2008 – 6:58 pmSCHUYLER, Neb. — The U.S. agriculture secretary expressed confidence in the nation’s food safety system, but said the meat processing industry will always face challenges because the bacteria that animals carry evolves.
“I don’t think we’ll ever see a totally bacteria-free environment in the United States,” Ed Schafer said Tuesday during a visit of several Nebraska meat processing plants.
His tour did not include the Nebraska Beef Ltd. plant in Omaha, which recalled 5.3 million pounds of meat last week that has been linked to 41 E. coli infections in Michigan and Ohio.
Schafer said he believes the company and not the USDA inspectors at the plants should be held responsible for the tainted meat. He said the inspectors are there only to make sure the plant follows USDA rules.
The USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service concluded last week that Nebraska Beef’s production practices were insufficient to effectively control E. coli bacteria.
For the […]
MORE:
http://www.extension.iastate.edu/foodsafety/news/fsnews.cfm?newsid=27160
Related posts:
Agriculture official calls U.S. meat supply safe - (Wall Street Journal/Associated Press)
Agriculture Secretary reminds PENNSYLVANIANS to practice food safety in power outages - (Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture)
WASHINGTON: Consumer groups angered by FDA and USDA Inaction on CO-treated meat - (commondreams.org)
Rice confident in Mideast peace process
HONG KONG tests more food after egg scare - (USA Today/Associated Press)
ONTARIO: Government of Canada supports launch of Be Food Safe program to educate consumers about safe food handling practices - (Government of Canada)
CHICAGO: Get E. coli off the menu - (Chicago Sun-Times)
OPINON: Bar all downed cattle from the nation’s food supply - (The Sun)
US: National Advisory Committee on Meat and Poultry Inspection; Reestablishment- - (Food Safety and Inspection Service, USDA.)
US: Committee hears about technology use in the meat industry - (U.S. House of Representatives)
WASHINGTON: Ag Sec resists ‘downer’ cow ban - (Associated Press)
TEXAS: Ag Secretary declares U.S. beef safe, calls Korean protests political - (Meatingplace.com)
KENTUCKY: Area farmer weighs in on E. coli outbreak - (WBKO)
BLOG: One step forward for a better food safety policy - (Marler Blog)
Statement of CFA’s Chris Waldrop on USDA announcement to identify retail stores where recalled meat has been sold - (Consumer Federation of America)
USDA to name retailers in meat recalls - (Center for Infectious Disease Research & Policy (CIDRAP))
Two MINNESOTA companies defends meat packing - (wcco.com)
US: AMI president says undercover video reflects multiple failures at plant, in government and at activist groups - (American Meat Institute)
KANSAS: Inspections outdated - (Wichita Eagle)
CALIFORNIA: Downer cow meat recall is perfect storm for new Ag Secretary Shafer - (OpEdNews.com)
US: Beef recall raises worry on industry oversight - (Wall Street Journal/The Denver Post/ABC News/Associated Press)
MISSOURI firm recalls frozen pot pie products for possible salmonella contamination - (FSIS News Release)
WASHINGTON: E. coli loophole cited in recalls - (The Chicago Tribune)
US: FSIS issues directive on safe and suitable ingredients used in the production of meat and poultry products - (AMI Media Release)
CANADA: Minister Ritz statement on USDA decision to lift heightened inspection of Canadian meat exports - (Canadian Food Inspection Agency)
WASHINGTON D.C.: Press briefing on import safety by heath and human services secretary Mike Leavitt and national economic director Al Hubbard - (The White House)
WASHINGTON, DC: Boxer asks USDA and California AG to investigate meat processing plant - (Barbara Boxer)
USDA offers food safety tips for a successful summer grilling season - (FSIS News Release)
PENNSYLVANIA: PA agriculture department warns consumers of tainted raw milk sold by Perry County Dairy - (from a press release)
WASHINGTON, DC: USDA will list retail stores receiving recalled meat and poultry products - (USDA News Release)
Statement by Secretary of Agriculture Ed Schafer regarding animal cruelty charges filed against employees at Hallmark/Westland Meat Packing Company - (USDA News Release)
US: The new food inspector: you - (Washington Post)
US: Ninety percent of consumers trust supermarket meat and poultry: FMI report - (Meatingplace.com)
WASHINGTON: U.S. tightening restrictions on meat and poultry products from Canada - (The Canadian Press)
NEBRASKA: Meat processors look for ways to keep ground beef safe - (New York Times)
Grading USDA beef - (The Minot Daily News)
OPINION: The value of end-product testing and HACCP’s “science-based” meat inspection system - (John Munsell)
Confusion reigns over US plans to test CANADIAN meat at border - (The Canadian Press)
Codex Alimentarius Commission: Meeting of the codex committee on food hygiene - (Federal Register: (Volume 73, Number 201)][Page 61394-61395[DOCID:fr16oc08-27]])
WASHINGTON D.C.: Consumers urged not to eat recalled meat - (Reuters)
WASHINGTON: Food safety rules tightened after E. coli recall - (Reuters/ USA Today)
U.S.: One way to avoid meat recalls: Wait for test results - (USA Today)
MEXICO flooded with excess produce - (USA Today/Associated Press)
Researchers boost beef jerky safety - (from a press release)
Survey shows consumers confident in the CANADIAN food supply - (Farmscape)
CHINA: Beijing promises safe food for Olympics athletes, audiences - (Xinhua News Agency)
PENNSYLVANIA: PA Agriculture Department Warns consumers of tainted raw milk sold by Clarion, Crawford county dairies - (from a press release)
American Meat Institute says government message is clear: beef recall stems from non-compliance with inspection procedures, not food safety concerns - (American Meat Institute)
MASSACHUSETTS: Even before tomato warning, many Americans lacked confidence in the food safety system - (Harvard School of Public Health)
CANADA: Government backs off claim meat plant inspectors spend half time on site - (The Canadian Press)
NEW JERSEY: Feds investigate N.J. meat plant after recall of tainted burgers - (Associated Press)
OKLAHOMA: Food industry tries to win consumers’ confidence back - (The Oklahoman)
US: Massive federal recall demonstrates need to strengthen, not dismantle federal food safety system - (Consumer Federation of America)
OPINION: Broken food chain - (Arizona Republic)
PARIS: New recall of hamburger by Socopa, on the principle of precaution - (AFP (translated from French))
LETTER: U.S. food supply is safe, abundant - (Baltimore Sun)
LOS ANGELES: Inspectors say meat safety is threatened - (Associated Press)
BARFBLOG: How to cook hamburger more from France - (barfblog)
“Kitchen Companion: Your Safe Food Handbook” - Now available from FSIS - (Food Safety Information Center)
OPINION: Eat, drink and be careful - (Washington Post)
MICHIGAN: The latest food safety crisis - (South Bend Tribune)
OHIO firm expands recall of ground beef products due to possible E. Coli O157:H7 contamination - (USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service)
US: House hearing contentious; AMI unveils Meat News Network - (Meatingplace.com)
VIRGINIA: Commissaries emphasize food handling safety - (The Fort Leaventworth Lamp)
Food safety issues of not-ready-to-eat meals - (Colorado State Univeristy, Safefood News - Spring 2008 - Vol 12 No. 1)
US: Most recalled meat is never recovered, likely is eaten - (USA Today)
PENNSYLVANIA: Agriculture department warns consumers of tainted raw milk sold by Chester County dairy - (Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture)
NEW YORK: E. coli scare: Dining hall meat not affected - (Washington Square News)
New Mexicans encouraged to continue eating tomatoes only from safe list - (New Mexico Health Department)
U.S. source disputes Iran missile tests
HARTFORD: Close tainted-meat loophol - (The Hartford Courant)
USDA awards more than $14 million in food safety grants - (United States Department of Agriculture)
WASHINGTON, DC: California firm recalls ground beef products due to possible E. coli O157:H7 contamination - (USDA News Release)
WASHINGTON: Schools keep beef off menus - (Seattle-Post Intelligencer)
CANADA: Agriculture Minister Ritz statement on USDA decision to inspect Canadian meat exports - (from a press release)
U.S. presses China over Iran
U.S. urges NATO over Afghan troops
WASHINGTON, DC: FSIS official Dr. Karen Hulebak elected Chair of Codex Alimentarius Commission - (United States Department of Agriculture)
US: Meat recall sparks calls for food safety changes - (Wall Street Journal)
USDA Statement: Statement by Secretary of Agriculture Ed Schafer regarding Hallmark/Westland Meat Packing Company two year product recall - (USDA)
FRANCE: Contamination of hamburger with E. coli O157:H7: New precautionary measures - (Ministry Of Agriculture)
U.S. unveils new food protection plan - (IFT Neutraceutical and Functional Foods Newsletter)
ONTARIO: Conservatives cannot be trusted to protect Canadians health and safety - (Liberal press release)
WASHINGTON: Illinois firm recalls beef products due to possible E. coli 0157:H7 contamination - (USDA FSIS Press Release)
MINNESOTA: Marler Clark files E. coli lawsuit against Cargill - (from a press release)
U.S. bullish as Iran test-fires more missiles
WASHINGTON pea-lentil, asparagus boards to receive federal grants - (Tri-City Herald)
UK: Agency comments on meat hygiene story - (Food Standards Agency)
Bronson announces FLORIDA tomatoes deemed safe by FDA - (Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services)
American Meat Institute responds to questions about industry support of Federal oversight - (AMI Media Release)
CANADA’s meat industry amongst world’s safest - (from a press release)
IQUALUIT walrus meat found to be clean of trichinosis - (CBC News)
PENNSYLVANIA: Rendell cabinet officials to focus on food safety during Northeast tour - (pr-gb.com)
Beef supplier remains unidentified in Topps recall - (Lancaster Farming)
USDA CONSUMER ALERT: Keeping food safe during an emergency - (USDA FSIS)
BARFBLOG: Hamburger habits: Is medium safe? - (barfblog)
FEDERAL REGISTER: Codex Alimentarius Commission: Meeting of the Codex Committee on fresh fruits and vegetables - (Federal Register (Volume 73, Number 77))
FEDERAL REGISTER: Codex Alimentarius Commission: meeting of the Codex Committee on processed fruits and vegetables - (Federal Register (Volume 73, Number 146))
OPINION: USDA can do better - (Los Angeles Times)
US: Meat recalls point to possibility threat is growing - (USA Today)