Meat products

May 24, 2007 -- SPRINGFIELD – Illinois Governor Rod R. Blagojevich today signed legislation that bans the slaughter of horses in Illinois for human consumption. House Bill 1711, sponsored by State Representative Robert S. Molaro (D-Chicago) and State Senator John Cullerton (D-Chicago), bans importing or exporting horsemeat if any horsemeat will be used for human consumption.

“It’s past time to stop slaughtering horses in Illinois and sending their meat overseas. I’m proud to sign this law that finally puts an end to this practice,” Gov. Blagojevich said.    » read more »

May 16, 2007 -- TRENTON -- A New Jersey Superior Court judge has ordered a waste meat rendering facility and its owner to take immediate action to correct certain air quality and other environmental violations at the plant, Attorney General Stuart Rabner announced today.    » read more »

Human Health Risk Assessment Updated

WASHINGTON, May 15, 2007 - Testing confirms that meat from swine fed rations supplemented with pet food scraps containing melamine and related compounds is safe for human consumption, prompting the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to allow swine held on farms to be released and approved for processing.    » read more »

Illinois State Public Health Director extends an alert after last week’s warning about food borne illness linked to ground beef consumption; 2nd recall - still no Illinois cases of E. coli from consumption of recalled beef in Illinois

May 15, 2007 -- SPRINGFIELD – Dr. Eric E. Whitaker, state public health director, today issued an alert expanding last week’s warning about E. coli O157:H7, a specific strain of E. coli, which can be associated with the consumption of some ground beef products. After last week’s recall from a Minnesota company, the U.S.    » read more »

May 10, 2007 -- HARRISBURG – Because beef and eggs are main staples in the diets of many Pennsylvanians and in recognition of the contribution each industry makes in the state, Pennsylvania Governor Edward G. Rendell has proclaimed May as Beef Month and Egg Month.

“The beef and egg industries are part of the foundation of Pennsylvania’s largest industry, agriculture,” Governor Rendell said. “The farmers and companies that deliver safe, top-quality products to our dinner tables here and across the world are also driving our economy.”    » read more »

Complaint Alleges Newark Facility is Longtime Polluter, Has Ignored State Law

May 10, 2007 -- TRENTON -- New Jersey Attorney General Stuart Rabner announced today the filing of a state lawsuit charging an Essex County meat rendering plant with being a persistent polluter, and seeking a court-order requiring that the plant immediately correct long-standing violations of environmental law.    » read more »

May 9, 2007 -- WASHINGTON – The FDA Authorization bill approved by the Senate today includes a provision by Sen. Carl Levin, D-Mich., that will require the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to review the use of carbon monoxide to alter the color of meat, potentially making it appear fresh long after its expiration date. Levin has argued that this procedure deceives consumers and conflicts with the FDA’s policies against products that alter the coloration of meat.    » read more »