The Murphy House, a Louisburg, N.C. establishment, is recalling approximately 4,920 pounds of ready-to-eat pork barbeque products that may be contaminated with Salmonella, the USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service announced.

The products subject to recall are 1-pound and 5-pound plastic tubs of "Murphy House Unskinned Pork With Barbeque Sauce-Textured Vegetable Protein Added" and “Murphy House Premium Pork Barbeque-Cooked, Unskinned Pork With Barbeque Sauce Added” written in red lettering on the container's top.

Each package bears the establishment number "EST. 2135" inside the USDA mark of inspection. Individual packages bear the sell-by date of 11/21/10. These products were cooked on Oct. 6 and Oct. 7, 2010, packed between Oct. 6 and Oct. 12, 2010, then distributed to wholesale and retail establishments throughout North Carolina.

The problem was discovered through FSIS' microbiological sampling program. FSIS has received no reports of adverse reactions due to consumption of these products.

Source: FSIS

Former Tyson employee accused of putting blades in beef

A former Tyson employee has been accused of breaking a sawblade into pieces and inserting it into beef products. Nwee Lah, 20, has been indicted for allegedly picking up the blade off the floor while he was working on the production line, breaking it into four pieces, and inserting it into beef on the line.

Lah’s actions were witnessed by another line worker, who notified management. The Associated Press reports that the incident, which took place on Sept. 30 in a Tyson plant near Amarillo, Texas, was isolated, and no recalls have been issued as a result.

Source: AP

Five in Ohio charged with illegal deer meat sales

Five people in Lancaster, Ohio, including the owners of a butcher shop and a candidate for county commissioner, have been charged with a misdemeanor count of illegally selling deer meat, reports the Columbus Dispatch.

Kenneth and Kathleen Jo Rienschield, owners of Rienschield Finer Meats Inc., located in Bremen, Ohio, were charged with three felony counts of prohibited sale of wildlife. Kenneth Rienschield was also charged with one felony count of theft, accused of stealing deer meat that was supposed to be donated to food pantries through the Farmers and Hunters Feeding the Hungry program.

Also charged was George Hallarn, the Democrat candidate for Fairfield County commissioner. He said that he didn't know he was doing anything wrong and was surprised to have been charged with a crime. He said he processes the deer that hunters bring him, then has it made into summer sausage rolls that he sells.
"It makes me look like a bad guy and, with the election time, it's going to hurt me," said Hallarn, 62, who lives in Carroll. "They couldn't have waited two weeks?"

The Rienschields are accused of illegally selling thousands of pounds of deer meat from July 6, 2007, to April 4, 2010, according to authorities.

The illegal sale of deer meat is not unheard of in Ohio, but the amount that the Rienschields allegedly sold is unusual, said Kirk Kiefer, an investigator with the Division of Wildlife.

"The magnitude of this one is uncommon," he said. "I think a lot is going on, but just not this quantity."

The Rienschields’ lawyer said a plea deal will likely resolve the case.

Source: Columbus Dispatch

Tyson expands poultry plant

Tyson Foods Inc. has expanded and improved the fresh-poultry operation at its chicken processing plant in Wilkesboro, The Journal-Patriot reported.

Bob Johnson, the plant’s manager, said the company has added 24,000 square feet to the plant, brought in new equipment and created 165 production jobs, which will bring the plant’s total employment to more than 2,500 people. There are also plans to replace more equipment, bringing the total cost of the upgrades to about $20 million.

The plant’s fresh-chicken operation supplies vendors such as retail supermarkets and restaurants. The Wilkesboro complex also includes a food-service operation which produces fully cooked frozen chicken for institutions and schools.

Source: Winston-Salem Journal

Butterball partners with Weekly Reader

Butterball LLC has partnered with Weekly Reader to develop “Celebrate Agriculture” – a compelling set of classroom learning materials designed to educate children about the importance of responsible agriculture.

Butterball’s “Celebrate Agriculture” Weekly Reader program will provide educational materials to more than 200,000 teachers with a reach of 6 million students.

“Weekly Reader has been a trusted educational resource for teachers for more than 100 years,” said Keith Shoemaker, CEO, Butterball LLC. “We are excited to work with such a well-known and credible organization to educate students on how socially responsible agricultural processes lead to animal health and healthy food for consumers.”

“Celebrate Agriculture,” designed for students in grades three through six, will include math, nutrition and science activities for students, as well as a teacher’s guide with step-by-step instructions for incorporating the activities into their lesson plans.

“Agriculture plays an integral part in American culture,” said Shoemaker. “Butterball recognizes the impact safe farming has on the food industry, and most importantly on health, which is why we are proud to join with Weekly Reader to help educate students on these issues.”

Source: Butterball LLC