Realities of new swine inspection rule

andrew@werfoodsafety.com (Andrew Lorenz) — Wed, 02 Oct 2019 11:00:00 -0400

The hot topic of the day is the new swine inspection rule. There appears to be a lot of fake news being tossed around, at the very least a lot of information about how this is going to affect industry and how the consumer is being left out.

Phages: finally mainstream in the meat and poultry industry?

mpgrini03@yahoo.com (Megan Pellegrini) — Wed, 04 Sep 2019 10:00:00 -0400

Is there a future for phages in business? The medical industry and universities seem to think so. And now the agriculture industry seems to be embracing these targeted pathogen killers, as well.

Preventing the shipment of mislabeled meat and poultry with undeclared allergens

mitchellr@bnpmedia.com (Richard Mitchell) — Mon, 19 Aug 2019 00:00:00 -0400

Removing proteins from commerce because of adulteration or misbranding can potentially cost operators millions of dollars and negatively impact companies' standings, making it vital for operators to sharpen their focus on product ingredients and labeling.

How is the chicken industry keeping up with the latest consumer trends? Ask farmers.

mpgrini03@yahoo.com (Megan Pellegrini) — Fri, 16 Aug 2019 00:00:00 -0400

There's no denying the popularity of chicken. According to the USDA, total chicken per capita consumption should reach 94.3 pounds in 2019.

2019 Independent Processor of the Year: Jensen Meat

gazdziaks@bnpmedia.com (Sam Gazdziak) — Mon, 12 Aug 2019 00:00:00 -0400

Jensen Meat's new venture, a line of frozen, packaged single burger patties under the Solos brand, brings a variety of burger options to the customer, whether they’re meat-eaters, flexitarians or vegetarians.

2019 Crop Report: Riding the crazy train

demery11@gmail.com (Dan Emery) — Wed, 07 Aug 2019 00:00:00 -0400

No two years in farming are alike or free of drama; however, this may be one of the craziest years we've seen in a long time because of all the variables in play.

2019 Deli Report: Break from tradition

mitchellr@bnpmedia.com (Richard Mitchell) — Thu, 01 Aug 2019 13:00:00 -0400

Supermarket deli merchandisers seeking to bolster meat and poultry activity must break from tradition. With sales of bulk meats declining, it is imperative for retailers to liven up selections and branch out from emphasizing historically popular items in the bulk meat case, analysts say.

Top cured meat products vie for Best of Show at 2019 American Cured Meat Championships

gazdziaks@bnpmedia.com (Sam Gazdziak) — Tue, 30 Jul 2019 15:45:00 -0400

Nearly 500 turkeys, sausages, hams and other specialty cured meat products were brought to Mobile, Ala., last week, as part of the annual Association of American Meat Processors (AAMP) Convention.

11 takeaways from the 2019 Animal Agriculture Alliance Stakeholders Summit

Fri, 12 Jul 2019 00:00:00 -0400

The Animal Agriculture Alliance hosted its annual Stakeholders Summit in Kanas City, Mo., earlier this summer.

Plant sanitation and product safety start with employee hygiene

mpgrini03@yahoo.com (Megan Pellegrini) — Mon, 08 Jul 2019 00:00:00 -0400

Simply put, sanitation starts and ends with employees. How do companies maintain high standards when they likely experience high employee turnover?

The 2019 Sausage Report: Improving image as health & wellness gains momentum

mitchellr@bnpmedia.com (Richard Mitchell) — Tue, 02 Jul 2019 00:00:00 -0400

While sausage maintains a strong shopper following despite concerns by many consumers that it is less healthy than other protein options, the sector is set to become more popular as merchandisers offer more selections with attractive attributes.

Lunch options change as lunch consumers change

mpgrini03@yahoo.com (Megan Pellegrini) — Thu, 20 Jun 2019 00:00:00 -0400

When McDonald's delivers, it’s pretty clear lunchtime rules don't apply anymore. Uber Eats, DoorDash and flexible delivery or pick-up policies are changing how consumers view their lunch (or snack) options. Lunch formulations are changing because lunch consumers are changing.

2019 Processor of the Year: Carl Buddig and Company

hanaceka@bnpmedia.com (Andy Hanacek) — Tue, 18 Jun 2019 00:00:00 -0400

As Homewood, Ill.-based Carl Buddig and Company celebrated its 75th anniversary in 2018, there was much abuzz about the company, both internally and around the meat and poultry industry.

Reviving the art of butchery

gazdziaks@bnpmedia.com (Sam Gazdziak) — Mon, 17 Jun 2019 00:00:00 -0400

The butcher is a valued profession once more, and there is an opportunity for the trade to grow once more.

The Buffalo Bisons' partnership with Sahlen Packing Co. is a grand slam

gazdziaks@bnpmedia.com (Sam Gazdziak) — Tue, 11 Jun 2019 00:00:00 -0400

Fans of the Buffalo Bisons, the AAA minor-league baseball affiliate of the Toronto Blue Jays, have enjoyed hot dogs from Sahlen Packing Co. for several years as they've watched future superstars like Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Bo Bichette come to town.

Bringing real Cajun to the deli

gazdziaks@bnpmedia.com (Sam Gazdziak) — Mon, 10 Jun 2019 00:00:00 -0400

Chisesi Brothers, a five-generation New Orleans processor of deli meat and sausage, recently partnered with Tony Chachere's, a producer of Cajun seasonings, marinades and other authentic products.

Ralph's Packing demonstrates the strength of family ties

gazdziaks@bnpmedia.com (Sam Gazdziak) — Thu, 06 Jun 2019 00:00:00 -0400

Under owner-operator Gary Crane and his wife Tess' guidance, Ralph's Packing has evolved from a slaughter and meat-cutting operation to one of the country's most awarded small meat processors. With daughter Erica Hering and son-in-law Jason guiding the business forward and their teenaged sons already learning the ropes, Ralph's is well-positioned to grow its business further than ever.

2019 Top 100 meat and poultry processors: Holding pattern

gazdziaks@bnpmedia.com (Sam Gazdziak) — Mon, 20 May 2019 00:00:00 -0400

In recent years, our annual Top 100 Processors Report was littered with constant references to record sales, best years ever and rosy outlooks for the future. That has, at least temporarily, come to a halt in the 2019 edition, as processors are realizing they face slower sales and looming problems.

Land O'Frost's acquisition of Wellshire Farms: 'Well' on its way

hanaceka@bnpmedia.com (Andy Hanacek) — Thu, 16 May 2019 00:00:00 -0400

David Van Eekeren, president and CEO of Land O'Frost, explains that Wellshire provides the opportunity for Land O'Frost to capitalize on a completely new set of consumers while meeting the need to fit into the Land O'Frost family from a corporate culture perspective.

Smokehouse strategies

gazdziaks@bnpmedia.com (Sam Gazdziak) — Mon, 29 Apr 2019 00:00:00 -0400

Smokehouses, if properly maintained, can have long lifespans. The latest models do come with new technology that can be beneficial to the operator.

K'Nack: A knack for quality cured meats

gazdziaks@bnpmedia.com (Sam Gazdziak) — Wed, 24 Apr 2019 10:30:00 -0400

Amidst all the fancy foods at Keg and Case Market in St. Paul, Minn., one of the most popular stops for any visitor is K’Nack.

Small meat processors and federal regulation

gazdziaks@bnpmedia.com (Sam Gazdziak) — Mon, 22 Apr 2019 00:00:00 -0400

Federal regulation is a necessary part of any meat or poultry processor that wants to sell products outside of its home state. Both sides have the same goal in mind — produce the safest food for the American public.

Entering cured meat competitions

gazdziaks@bnpmedia.com (Sam Gazdziak) — Tue, 16 Apr 2019 00:00:00 -0400

Meat competitions are friendly, to be sure. However, the word "competition" should not be overlooked, as many of these state or national events bring together high-quality processors with strong reputations.

Inclusions in meat products

gazdziaks@bnpmedia.com (Sam Gazdziak) — Fri, 05 Apr 2019 00:00:00 -0400

Adding an inclusion such as cheese or a combination of inclusions can turn a plain product into a value-added, high-end item. With a wide variety of ingredients from which to choose, processors can unleash their product development creativity and create unique best sellers.

A new spin on barbecue

eafuhrman@hotmail.com (Elizabeth Fuhrman) — Fri, 15 Mar 2019 00:00:00 -0400

Originally used as a sauce to flavor meat at barbecue restaurants, many different varieties of barbecue exist today, ranging from sweet to sour to spicy and appearing on a multitude of proteins.

2019 Food Safety Report: Outbreak of incompetence

andrew@werfoodsafety.com (Andrew Lorenz) — Wed, 13 Mar 2019 23:00:00 -0400

The variability in capabilities at the state and local levels often results in botched investigations and turf battles, and sometimes there isn't any prevention of illness or reduction in the number of people who become ill or die.

2019 Burger Report: Beyond basics

mitchellr@bnpmedia.com (Richard Mitchell) — Mon, 04 Mar 2019 00:00:00 -0500

The burger sector is turning into an increasingly complex and opportunistic protein market.

Smithfield Foods: Power players

hanaceka@bnpmedia.com (Andy Hanacek) — Thu, 21 Feb 2019 00:00:00 -0500

In December 2016, Smithfield Foods — the world's largest pork processor and hog producer — made known to the world its plan to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 25 percent across its entire supply chain by the year 2025.

A return of  epic ProPortion

gazdziaks@bnpmedia.com (Sam Gazdziak) — Wed, 20 Feb 2019 00:00:00 -0500

When ProPortion Foods decided that it would leave its Los Angeles home for a new, larger facility in Round Rock, Texas, the family-owned business worked out a plan.

Independent Processor 2019 Meat Industry Outlook

gazdziaks@bnpmedia.com (Sam Gazdziak) — Tue, 19 Feb 2019 00:00:00 -0500

Taken as a whole, 2018 was a strong year for the U.S. economy, and the New Year should keep the momentum rolling. There are concerns ahead, such as the trade war with China and the partial shutdown of the U.S. government (as of press time) that could slow the country's growth.

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