Cameco, Inc., a Verona, N.J., establishment is recalling approximately 79,312 pounds of various fully cooked, ready-to-eat meat and poultry products because the products may contain under-processed ham components after contacting surfaces of equipment.

Products subject to recall include cooked ham and turkey products, sold under the Appleton, Bridgford, CV Clear Value, Dean's, El Primero, Fas √ Chek, Food Club, IGA, Lay's Classic Meats, Meijer, Mrs. Stratton's, Pro's Ranch, Red Osgood, Quality Meats, Thank You by Cameco and Valu Time. The fully cooked, ready-to-eat meat and poultry products were produced on May 29, 2009 and June 1, 2009, and were distributed to wholesale distributors in Alabama, Arizona, California, Connecticut, Michigan, North Carolina, Ohio, Puerto Rico, South Carolina, Texas and Virginia. The distribution of the products was limited only to wholesale distributors; none of these products are available to consumers. The problem was discovered by the company.

Source: Food Safety and Inspection Service

Lifting pork bans may help Russia enter into WTO

U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk indicated that Russia's negotiations to enter into the World Trade Organization would be boosted by lifting its ban on U.S. pork imports. Russia is the largest economy not in the WTO and has been negotiating to join the organization for 16 years, Reuters reports.

Kirk said that lifting the ban "would be a wonderful manifestation of the progress" in the talks and reiterated that the ban is not based on any scientific or international standards. “We're hopeful -- particularly now with the statement as to the safety of the consumption of pork products by the WHO, WTO and others -- that Russia would revisit the issue and make the ban as short-lived as possible," he told reporters.

Last week, Russia lifted its ban on beef and poultry products from California but maintained its pork ban. It also banned pork imports from Utah, as well as two Tyson facilities in Iowa.

Source: Forbes, Reuters

Rancher's Reserve beef teams up with PBR

The Professional Bull Riders Inc. (PBR) has announced a new partnership with Rancher’s Reserve Beef, which has joined the PBR as a local sponsor of several of the remaining stops on the PBR’s elite 2009 Built Ford Tough Series (BFTS) tour. Events include the Bud Light Invitational (San Antonio, Texas – Aug. 1-2); the Copenhagen Bull Riding Invitational (Reno, Nev. – Sept. 11-13); the Dickies Invitational (Ontario, Calif. – Sept. 26-27); and the Portland Invitational presented by Cooper Tires (Portland, Ore. – Oct. 3-4). Rancher’s Reserve Beef will also be the local sponsor for the first weekend of the 2009 PBR Built Ford Tough World Finals, held in Las Vegas, Nev., on Oct. 30-Nov. 1.

“If you’re looking for tough beef, you can find it bucking in the arena,” said Sean Gleason, PBR’s chief operating officer. ”Rancher’s Reserve delivers on the promise of tender beef and we are looking forward to working with them and Safeway stores on an exciting partnership program.”

“During an 8-second ride, bull riders can really work up an appetite,” said Pete Geoghegan, Rancher’s Reserve chef. “There’s only one beef tender enough to satisfy these tough guys – and that’s our Rancher’s Reserve Tender Beef brand. We are excited to come on board as a new partner of the PBR.”

Source: Professional Bull Riders Inc.

FSIS, FDA to host meeting on retail Listeria risk assessment

The USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) today announced a public meeting to be held with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to discuss the background, approach and scope of a new interagency risk assessment on Listeria monocytogenes (Lm) at retail.

The public meeting will be held on Tuesday, June 23, 2009, from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. at L'Enfant Plaza Hotel, 480 L'Enfant Plaza, SW, Washington, DC 20024. The meeting will provide an opportunity for individuals, organizations and other stakeholders to discuss the scope and objectives of the Interagency Retail Lm Risk Assessment and to solicit comments and input on how FSIS and FDA may conduct the risk assessment.

Little is known about how Lm contamination occurs in retail facilities. Retail practices may result in either cross-contamination from one product to another or through contamination from the retail environment. It is important for food safety agencies to identify potential sources and practices that may contribute to Lm contamination in retail establishments and identify interventions that would control Lm.

To understand Lm at retail, FSIS and FDA have initiated a joint interagency risk assessment that will evaluate the dynamics of Lm contamination in retail facilities. This risk assessment will evaluate how retail practices can affect contamination and the relative effectiveness of various retail interventions. Various ready-to-eat foods, including cheeses, deli meats and deli-type salads, will be studied as part of the risk assessment.

Individuals are encouraged to pre-register to attend, and can do so at www.fsis.usda.gov or by contacting Sheila Johnson at (202) 690-6498. The agenda and other related information will be available prior to the meeting on the FSIS Web site at http://www.fsis.usda.gov/News_&_Events/Meetings_&_Events/index.asp.

Source: Food Safety and Inspection Service