The Postville, Iowa facility that was home to Agriprocessors Inc. before an immigration raid crippled the operation and led to charges against the owners was sold to a Canadian plastics manufacturer. Federal bankruptcy judge Paul Kilburg approved the sale of Agriprocessors Inc. to Hershey Friedman and his son-in-law, Daniel Hirsch, AP reports.

The plant, which was raided in May, 2008, and had 389 people detailed on immigration charges, will continue to be run as a kosher processing plant, Friedman says.

Source: Associated Press

Oscar Mayer introduces new deli meats

To add a fresh-taste to lunch, the Oscar Mayer brand introduced four bold new varieties of Deli Fresh Shaved Meats: Black Forest Ham, Cracked Black Peppered Turkey Breast, French Dip Flavored Roast Beef and Cajun Seasoned Chicken Breast. Sliced, packed and sealed at the peak of freshness, Oscar Mayer Deli Fresh Shaved Meats deliver the fresh- taste of the deli but are more convenient and cost 25 percent less than the best selling brand of deli counter meats.

Available nationwide, the bold new taste of Oscar Mayer Deli Fresh Shaved Meats can be found in your grocer's refrigerated meat case section and have a suggested retail price of $3.99. Classic Oscar Mayer Deli Fresh favorites including Rotisserie Seasoned Chicken Breast, Smoked Ham, Honey Ham, Oven Roasted Turkey Breast and Smoked Turkey Breast are also available in Family Size packs to feed the entire family while maximizing savings. The suggested retail price for Oscar Mayer Deli Fresh Shaved Family Size is $5.78 per 16 oz. package.

Source: Kraft Foods

National Pork Producers Council protests potential Canadian pork bailout

An emergency government subsidy program for the Canadian pork industry proposed by the Canadian Pork Council would have a “lethal impact” on U.S. pork producers, according to the National Pork Producers Council.

The CPC has asked the Canadian government to pump $800 million into the country’s pork industry. The key component of the program is a loan to pork producers – to be repaid over 10 to 15 years – of $30 for each market hog. A second component would provide $500 for each sow culled plus the market value of the animal.

The proposal would artificially prop up Canadian pork production and, according to Iowa State University economist Dermot Hayes, U.S. live hog prices would be approximately 7 percent lower than otherwise would have been the case.

“Such a subsidy program would have a lethal impact on U.S. pork producers,” said NPPC President Don Butler. “NPPC is extremely concerned about such a program, which will shift financial pain to U.S. producers, who already have lost an average of more than $21 per hog since October 2007.”

Butler pointed out that while the program is described as a “loan,” it is unlikely that commercial banks would make unsecured, subordinate loans to Canadian pork producers at a time when they are losing money. “The program is really a cash bailout,” he said.

“NPPC is keeping all options open to address this issue,” said Butler.

Source: National Pork Producers Council

WalMart continues ban on some Brazilian beef

WalMart is continuing its ban on beef purchases from the northern Brazilian state of Para, after Greenpeace alleged that Brazilian meatpackers were buying beef from deforested areas of the Amazon region.

"The company is against any move to restart beef purchases [from meatpackers in Para] before an independent audit process is established to guarantee the origin of beef from the region," Wal-Mart said in a statement, according to Dow Jones news wires. Before the ban, the company had been buying 12 to 13 percent of its Brazilian beef purchases from Para.

Source: Dow Jones

AMI wants animal antibiotics ban out of pending legislation

In a follow up to last week’s hearings, AMI, as a member of the Coalition for Animal Health, is asking Congressional leaders to ensure that H.R. 1549, the Preservation of Antibiotics for Medical Treatment Act, or any part thereof, is not added to pending legislation, particularly the food safety bill or the health care reform bill.

The bill seeks to amend and redefine “Critical Antimicrobial Animal Drugs” and “Nontherapeutic Use” as they pertain to animal health. This bill also rescinds the approval of a list of seven “critical antimicrobial animal drugs” unless the sponsor demonstrates there is a reasonable certainty of no harm to human health from the development of antimicrobial resistance from “nontherapeutic” use of the drug.

“The food safety bill and the health care reform bill are based on the important principle of prevention,” states the Coalition in a letter to Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) and Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-MD). “It would be ironic and inconsistent to add an amendment that would remove important tools for disease prevention used in veterinary medicine.”

To view this letter, go to http://www.meatami.com/ht/a/GetDocumentAction/i/51781

Source: American Meat Institute