Meat products

October 16, 2009 -- Washington, DC - In response to a statement from the American Meat Institute that said that the E. coli Eradication Act authored by U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand would only "duplicate" testing currently being done by the industry, Senator Gillibrand said that in the absence of corporate responsibility, Congress must act.

"The meat industry makes some valuable points about the need to handle and cook ground beef carefully, but they are choosing to ignore their own best practices. Leading processors in the industry, like Costco, have already determined that they cannot rely on suppliers alone to test the meat. Costco says that testing the meat they receive from slaughterhouses is ‘incumbent upon' them, and I agree.    » read more »

May 23, 2008 -- FRANKFORT, Ky. –It’s that time of year again. The temperatures are rising outside and Kentuckians are lighting up their grills to cook beef. Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear recognizes this American tradition by proclaiming May 2008 Beef Month in the Commonwealth of Kentucky.

Steak: Photo by Robin (CC)    » read more »

May 20, 2008 -- Washington, DC – U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA) today applauded the decision by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to issue a rule closing a loophole in current law that can result in animals that are too sick to stand entering the food supply.

Cattle at sunset: Photo by Brad Smith (CC)    » read more »

Urges USDA to conduct industry-wide investigation

January 31, 2008 -- Washington, DC – U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) today urged the Department of Agriculture to conduct an industry-wide investigation, following the release of a video which documented cases of animal cruelty and illegal activity at the Westland’s meat packing plant in Chino, California.    » read more »

January 30, 2008 -- Washington, DC – U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA) today wrote to both U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Ed Schafer and California Attorney General Jerry Brown calling for an immediate investigation of a California meat processing plant, in light of an under cover report released today that documents numerous potential violations of laws intended to prevent animal cruelty and preserve food safety.

The text of the letters follows:

January 30, 2008

The Honorable Ed Schafer

United States Department of Agriculture    » read more »

24 January 2008 -- The Brazilian government says deforestation of the Amazon surged during the last five months of 2007.

The report, issued Wednesday, says that between August and December of last year more than 3,000 square kilometers of the world's largest rain forest were cleared. Environment ministry officials say that number may be higher after they analyze satellite images with a higher resolution.

Brazil's environment minister, Marina Silva, and other ministers are meeting with President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva Thursday to discuss how to curb deforestation.    » read more »

Statement from CFA’s Carol Tucker Foreman

January 15, 2008 -- The Bush Administration, after days of internal debate, has rejected public opposition and the pleas of the food industry and consumer groups and approved putting milk and meat from cloned animals in our food.

Milk and meat from cloned animals and their offspring will enter the food supply. They can do so immediately. The products will not be labeled as such and American consumers will have no way to avoid consuming them.    » read more »

Statement by Margaret Mellon, Union of Concerned Scientists

WASHINGTON (January 15, 2008) – The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) today released a report concluding that meat and milk from cloned animals and their offspring pose no public health threat. At the same time, the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced that it would ask producers of clones to continue to abide by a “voluntary moratorium” and keep their products off the market.

Below is a statement by Margaret Mellon, Director of the Food and Environment Program at the Union of Concerned Scientists:    » read more »

15 January 2008 -- A final report from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration concludes that meat and milk from cloned cows, pigs, goats and their offspring are safe for American consumers to eat and drink. Opponents, including a number of consumer and animal rights groups, say the FDA was heavily influenced by the biotechnology industry, and failed to consider possible side effects of cloning.    » read more »

More Studies Needed to Ensure Public Safety, Science Group Says

January 9, 2008 -- The Food and Drug Administration is expected to declare as early as this week that meat and milk from cloned animals and their offspring pose no public health threat. The agency is likely to lift its "voluntary moratorium" on their sale.    » read more »

La Villita Meat Market cited for failure to obtain proper certifications

November 20, 2007 -- AUSTIN – Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott today charged a Cameron County meat wholesaler with failing to obtain a “Grant of Inspection” from the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS). A “Grant of Inspection,” which is essentially a state license to operate as a meat wholesaler, is required under the Texas Meat and Poultry Inspection Act. According to court documents, the defendant also failed to obtain other legally required supplier certifications.    » read more »

November 7, 2007 -- NEWARK – New Jersey Attorney General Anne Milgram is advising state Attorneys General throughout the country to increase inspections of retail stores for recalled frozen hamburgers because Division of Consumer Affairs and Department of Health and Senior Services investigators continue to find these products for sale in New Jersey.    » read more »

October 30, 2007 -- Newark – A total of 138 boxes of frozen hamburger and beef products recalled by the Topps Meat Company because of potential E.coli contamination have been found on the shelves in seven stores in Hudson County, New Jersey Attorney General Anne Milgram and Acting Consumer Affairs Director Larry DeMarzo announced today.    » read more »

Records Sought from NYC-Based Distributor

October 25, 2007 -- NEWARK – New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs investigators yesterday purchased recalled Topps frozen hamburgers in a Union City store and immediately issued a subpoena seeking information from the New York City-based distributor who sold the hamburgers to the store, New Jersey Attorney General Anne Milgram and Acting Consumer Affairs Director Larry DeMarzo announced.    » read more »

October 17, 2007 -- NEWARK – The voluntary recall of frozen beef products announced by the Topps Meat Company, L.L.C., includes some products bearing brand names other than Topps and consumers are urged to check whether they have any of the recalled products listed below.

The brand names on these recalled products include Shop Rite, Pathmark, Sam's Club, Kohler, Rastelli's, Roma, Sand Castle and Westside.    » read more »