Meat&Poultry - April 2011 - 10

Business Notes
USDA proposes mandatory test-and-hold for industry
On April 5, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said the US Dept. of Agriculture is proposing a new mandatory test-and-hold policy for the US meat and poultry industry. Under the proposed legislation, processors would be required to hold meat and poultry products until food-safety test results confirm they are fit to be released into commerce. Under Secretary for Food Safety Dr. Elisabeth Hagen said the timeline for implementation of the policy hasn’t been decided. “We don’t have a specific effective date [in mind]. We are having a 90-day comment period on the proposed policy and those comments will Vilsack be analyzed.” “Our hope is by making this announcement today...that those [meat and poultry] companies currently not following this [testand-hold] procedure will get into the habit of doing so,” Vilsack added. “A large part of the industry is already following this process, so that’s good news.” Once enacted, the policy will reduce the amount of unsafe food that reaches store Hagen shelves, Vilsack said. Under the proposed requirement, USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service would hold products from commerce until test results confi rm they are safe. FSIS believes this will substantially reduce serious recalls for meat and poultry products. “Meat and poultry products will be prevented from reaching consumers until our inspectors have the opportunity to thoroughly evaluate test results,” Vilsack said. “This approach will help us enhance protection of the food supply, reduce recalls and ensure all consumers are getting the safest food possible.” Each year, FSIS inspects billions of lbs. of meat, poultry and processed egg products. The agency believes 44 of the most serious Class 1 recalls between 2007 and 2009 could have been prevented if this mandatory test-and-hold policy had been in place. In addition, mandatory test-and-hold will also apply to food imported into the US. “This [proposed test-and-hold policy] is one more tool we have to protect Americans from harm by making sure the test results are negative before these products enter commerce,” Hagen said “President Obama’s Food Safety Working Group [FSWG] is working to modernize our food-safety system by building collaborative partnerships with consumers, the industry and our regulatory partners,” Vilsack added. “Through a transparent process, we are building a food-safety system that will meet the challenges posed by a global food supply in the 21st Century.” Vilsack said he had indications from very large processors, they support this move. American Meat Institute officials also issued a statement supporting the move, and pointed out that AMI originally submitted a petition in 2008 seeking a mandatory test-and-control policy. “We are pleased that USDA has indicated that it will make mandatory our voluntary test-and-control procedures,” said J. Patrick Boyle, AMI president. “We believe that this policy will prevent needless recalls, further ensure food safety and maintain consumer confidence.” ■

George’s Inc. to buy Tyson poultry complex
A letter of intent has been signed by George’s Inc. to buy Tyson Foods’ Harrisonburg, Va., poultry complex. The deal is expected to be fi nalized soon, pending a definitive agreement and completion of closing conditions. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. Tyson acquired the Harrisonburg complex in 1989 when it bought Holly Farms. It produces commodity boneless and whole bird chicken, as well as chicken-leg quarters for sale to retail, foodservice and international customers. Harrisonburg has been an important part of Tyson for many years with an established workforce of 500 employees, however, Tyson believes it makes economic sense to sell the plant and divert resources to other operations, said Donnie King, Tyson’s senior group vice president of poultry and prepared foods. “We believe Tyson’s Harrisonburg complex will be a good fit for our company, complementing our existing poultry operations in Harrisonburg and nearby Edinburg,” said Gary George, chairman and CEO of George’s. “We don’t plan to make any immediate changes and expect to retain substantially all of the people currently employed by Tyson at Harrisonburg. It’s also our intention to honor the contracts Tyson has with the 121 contract farms that raise chickens for the complex.” Operations included in the deal are a processing plant in Harrisonburg and a hatchery in Broadway as well as a feedmill and truck shop in New Market. Tyson’s other operations in Virginia, which include poultry production complexes at Glen Allen and Temperanceville, will not be affected by the planned sale. ■

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Meat&Poultry - April 2011

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