Meat&Poultry - April 2013 - 8

Commentary
BY JOEL CREWS
jcrews@sosland.com

Communications fix

EDITORIAL STAFF
Editor

Joel Crews
Executive Editor

Keith Nunes

report released by the Pew Char-

A

blipped the radar of Pew investigators.

itable Trusts earlier this month

Prior to the 2013 International Pro-

spotlighted flaws in the investigation,

duction & Processing Expo, a work-

discovery and reaction to the 2011 out-

shop titled: “Recalls and Public Health

break of Salmonella Heidelberg that re-

Investigations” addressed this very

sulted in 136 illnesses, 37 hospitaliza-

topic. With each side pleading for

tions and one death. The cause of the

transparency and open communica-

outbreak was linked to ground turkey

tion from one another, public health

from a Cargill plant in Springdale,

officials and food-safety representa-

Ark. Ultimately, the company issues a

tives from processing fi rms admitted

Chairman and Group Publisher

mammoth, 37 million lb. recall when

shortcomings and discussed how the

Charles S. Sosland

its products were linked to the out-

process could be enhanced.

L. Joshua Sosland

Senior Editor

Bryan Salvage
Managing Editor

Kimberlie Clyma
Contributing Editors

Richard Alaniz
Donna Berry
Steve Kay
Leo Quigley

Larry Aylward
Dr. Temple Grandin
Steve Krut
Bernard Shire

Internet Editor

Erica Shaffer
Graphic Designer

Fiona Rogers

PUBLISHING STAFF
Vice-Chairman
President, Publishing Director

break. However, as the Pew report’s

One of t he presenters, M i ke

name suggests, the investigation, the

Robach, vice president of food safe-

recall and the response by the public

ty, quality and regulatory with Cargill,

North American Sales Director

health system was “Too Slow.”

was intimately involved with the 2011

Publisher Emeritus

Mark Sabo
Publisher

Dave Crost
Bruce Brown

recall. His presentation included the

Mike Alaimo

Centers for Disease Control and the

same details and timeline as the Pew

BUSINESS/PRODUCTION STAFF

US Dept. of Agriculture’s Food Safety

report. Robach said a “call to action is

and Inspection Service wasn’t able to

needed immediately” to provide pro-

Audience Development Director

pinpoint the source of the contaminat-

cessors with more information, sooner

Director of E-Business

ed food until 22 weeks after the fi rst

in the recall investigation process. The

Director of On-line Advertising and Promotions

illness and 10 weeks after the outbreak

first-known illness was Feb. 27, 2011,

was identified. Few would deny there

he pointed out.

As the report documents, The US

Vice-President & Chief Financial Officer

Melanie Hepperly
Don Keating
Jon Hall
Carrie Fluegge
Circulation Manager

Judy Arnone
Design Services Manager

is ample room for improvement in the

Months later, in early July, USDA

process. However, no one should as-

investigators were discreetly probing

Manager of Advertising Design

sume the Pew report was a wake-up

Cargill’s plant, asking only for distri-

Classified Sales Representative

call for the meat and poultry indus-

bution records of the suspected tur-

Classified Designer

try, which has collectively clamored

key products. Robach said the trace-

for regulatory transparency for years.

back and Aug. 3 recall of the products

The report determined that involv-

could have been a quicker, more ef-

ing the food company in the process

ficient process had they not been left

sooner could have minimized the out-

in the dark initially.

break. One of its three recommen-

“If you’ve ever been a part of a

dations was to require the Food and

recall, there is a lot that goes on be-

Drug Administration, FSIS, CDC

fore the packer-processor is aware that

and state health officials to engage the

there is even a problem,” he said.

suspected food processor earlier in the

If this report forces a solution to a

investigation and traceback process.

known and longstanding communica-

Many food-safety experts in the

tion hiccup, I would happily tip my hat

meat and poultry processing indus-

of a positive food-safety outcome that
makes perfect sense. ■

aproach long before this incident ever

8

Becky White
Lily O’Kane
Steve Piatt
Digital Systems Analyst

Marj Potts
Advertising Manager

Nora Wages
Advertising Materials Coordinator

Sharon Alexander
Sales: dcrost@sosland.com
Editorial: jcrews@sosland.com
www.MeatPoultry.com
Address editorial correspondence to:
Editor, Meat&Poultry, 4800 Main Street,
Suite 100, Kansas City, MO 64112.
Phone: (816) 756-1000 Fax: (816) 756-0494
Letters via email can be sent to
meatpoultry@sosland.com. Letters may also
be sent via fax to (816) 756-0494. The Editor
reserves the right to edit letters for length,
content and clarity.
Requests for reprints of articles should be
sent to reprints@sosland.com or call
Lon Davis at (816) 756-1000.

to the Pew organization in the name

try have advocated for this teamwork-

Sadowna Conarroe

• Meat&Poultry • April 2013 • www.MeatPoultry.com

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Meat&Poultry - April 2013

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