china

China Bans Meat Exports from U.S. West Coast Facility

Dan Beef, Beef, Cattle, Exports/Imports, USDA-FSIS, USDA-FSIS

China has banned meat exports from a West Coast cold storage facility near the Port of Oakland after traces of the feed additive ractopamine were found in beef shipments. The Food Safety and Inspection Service said that Chinese customs workers detected the feed additive that’s banned by more than 150 countries. Agriculture Dive says the move is creating significant obstacles …

USDA Seeks to Reduce Chicken-Related Salmonella Outbreaks

Dan Poultry, This Land of Ours, USDA-FSIS, USDA-FSIS

(USDA/WASHINGTON D.C./ April 26, 2024) — The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced its final determination to declare Salmonella an adulterant in raw breaded stuffed chicken products when they exceed a specific threshold (1 colony forming unit (CFU) per gram or higher) for Salmonella contamination. This final determination is part of FSIS’ broader efforts to reduce Salmonella illnesses associated with the …

USDA Launches Effort to Strengthen Substantiation of Animal-Raising Claims

Dan Beef, Cattle, Equine, Livestock, Pork, Poultry, Rabbits, Sheep-Goats, USDA, USDA-ARS, USDA-FSIS

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced Wednesday that it is implementing a multi-step effort aimed at strengthening the substantiation of animal-raising claims. This action builds on the significant work USDA has already undertaken to protect consumers from false and misleading labels and to implement President Biden’s Executive Order on Promoting Competition in the American economy. “Consumers should be able to trust …

house

FSIS Removes Mask Mandate for Meat Processing Facilities

Dan Beef, Cattle, Livestock, Pork, Poultry, Rabbits, Sheep-Goats, USDA-FSIS

USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) this (last) week removed mandatory mask requirements at federally inspected meat processing facilities. As of March 1, 2022, FSIS Notice 34-21 requiring masks was rescinded. FSIS-regulated establishments are no longer subject to suspension or withdrawal of inspection services for failure to require their employees to wear masks when FSIS inspection program personnel are …

NPPC Urges Administration to Appeal Line Speed Court Ruling

Dan Pork, USDA-FSIS

A federal district court ruling striking down faster harvest facility inspection speeds allowed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s New Swine Inspection System (NSIS) goes into effect today, June 30. The National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) urges the Biden administration to file an appeal before the August 31 deadline. NPPC says this damaging ruling will quickly lead to increased pork …

NCBA President Discusses “Product of the USA” at FCA Convention

Dan Cattle, Florida, USDA-FSIS

The 2021 Florida Cattlemen’s Association Convention has been taking place this week in Marco Island, Florida and one person attending is National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) President, Jerry Bohn. NCBA recently filed a petition with the USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) to eliminate the use of “Product of the USA” (POTUSA) and other broad U.S. origin labeling claims for beef products that are …

NCBA Takes Action to Increase Producer Profitability

Dan Beef, Cattle, Economy, USDA-FSIS

Last week, the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) filed a petition with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (USDA-FSIS) to eliminate the use of “Product of the USA” (POTUSA) and other broad U.S. origin labeling claims for beef products that are potentially misleading to consumers. NCBA believes that current “Product of the USA” labels are a disservice to …