Meat and Poultry Processing

News and new products from the AAMP 2026 expo floor, part 1

Fri, 10 Jul 2026 11:31:19 -0400

Attendees get a look at the latest innovations to help level up their businesses.

Sausage bucks slumping sales trends in processed meats category

wilkinsonf@bnpmedia.com (Fred Wilkinson) — Fri, 10 Jul 2026 00:00:00 -0400

Sausage consumption is fairly uniform throughout various income levels, while lower income families consume the most breakfast sausage.

North Carolina grants support expanded meat processing capacity

Wed, 08 Jul 2026 10:00:38 -0400

Projects related to meat production account for $3.1 million of the grant total.

Food safety programs prioritize prevention, verification, and traceability

bredars@bnpmedia.com (Sammy Bredar) — Wed, 08 Jul 2026 00:00:00 -0400

Across processing operations, food safety strategies are becoming increasingly interconnected.

Western Heritage Meat Co. founder steps back from day-to-day operations

Tue, 07 Jul 2026 09:54:13 -0400

Board for Western Heritage Meat Co. appoints Beth Hebert as chief executive officer and Brian McGuire as chief operations officer.

TotalEnergies Corbion PLA foam targets meat and poultry packaging pressures

Tue, 07 Jul 2026 09:30:42 -0400

TotalEnergies Corbion introduces Luminy Foam 50F, a high melt-strength PLA grade developed as a drop-in alternative to polystyrene for extruded XPS protein trays.

USDA's Justin Ransom discusses the Small Processors Action Plan

Mon, 06 Jul 2026 10:08:31 -0400

Food safety focus shapes outreach to small processors.

ESI Group begins expansion project for Frick’s Quality Meats

Mon, 06 Jul 2026 08:45:04 -0400

Project in Washington, Mo., includes the design and construction of a 63,500-square-foot freezer, cooler and dock addition designed to support Frick’s continued operational growth and distribution capabilities.

RMC 2026 workshop details costs related to meat discoloration

wilkinsonf@bnpmedia.com (Fred Wilkinson) — Thu, 02 Jul 2026 13:35:44 -0400

Meat discarded due to discoloration represents an annual loss of $3.73 billion in revenue.

What meat and poultry processors should know about hygienic fluid transfer

Thu, 02 Jul 2026 10:35:24 -0400

Sanitary design, material selection, effective CIP and documented controls can help processors manage risks inside closed fluid-transfer systems.

Japanese Wagyu Tour seeks US-based meat distributors, butchers and restaurant operators

Wed, 01 Jul 2026 10:50:27 -0400

Japan External Trade Organization and Japan Livestock Products Export Promotion Council sponsor the tour, planned for January 2027.

Classic BOM vs. reverse BOM: what works best for meat and poultry processors

Wed, 01 Jul 2026 09:43:24 -0400

Cost allocation in a reverse BOM environment is one of the more demanding problems in food ERP.

USDA rolls out SPUR program for small and mid-size beef processors

Wed, 01 Jul 2026 07:00:52 -0400

USDA introduces the Strengthening Processing for US Ranchers Program to provide up to $500 million in payments for eligible beef processors who have faced increased costs of acquiring cattle for processing.

Litigation returns on the reporting of farm emissions

Tue, 30 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0400

The poultry and egg industry advocates for the continuation of the exemption.

Impact of freezing, thawing and refreezing on beef strip loin palatability and thaw loss

Tue, 30 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0400

Processors and foodservice operators are advised to fabricate beef products in a frozen state and delay thawing until final preparation to optimize yield and minimize economic loss while maintaining palatability.

Catalina Food Solutions introduces new ingredient for nitrite-free meat products

Mon, 29 Jun 2026 10:20:08 -0400

Catalina Food Solutions launches its Nitrite-Free. For Real ingredient as meat processors navigate consumer demand for simpler labels and questions around cured meat claims.

Meat Institute says meatpacking industry restructuring won’t lower beef prices

Fri, 26 Jun 2026 09:00:18 -0400

Association argues herd contraction is driving the current price environment and warns policy actions could complicate recovery efforts.

Perhaps the most dangerous words in food safety: ‘We’ve always done it this way’

stevens@foodindustrycounsel.com (Shawn K. Stevens) — Fri, 26 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0400

Plant procedures must reflect updated operational realities.

Younger consumers favoring spicy, umami-rich and fermented flavors

wilkinsonf@bnpmedia.com (Fred Wilkinson) — Thu, 25 Jun 2026 11:44:02 -0400

As consumer demand for healthier options rises, more shoppers are reading labels and seeking reduced-sodium options.

Cleaver: All-in-one software built for independent meat processors

Wed, 24 Jun 2026 11:55:34 -0400

Software platform, designed exclusively for butcher shops and meat processors, follows an animal from drop-off through cutting, packaging and pickup.

Smart Weigh Packaging Machinery connects weighing, filling and packing into a single workflow

Wed, 24 Jun 2026 10:39:45 -0400

Smart Weigh Packaging Machinery aims to brings automation upstream in ready meal production.

Indiana meat association receives one-year extension for USDA-funded loan program

Tue, 23 Jun 2026 08:15:58 -0400

Indiana loan funds support processing expansion, equipment upgrades, infrastructure improvements and other operational needs to enhance processing capacity and efficiency.

Record fed cattle weights help offset slaughter shortfall, but high prices to persist

Tue, 23 Jun 2026 05:54:40 -0400

Against this backdrop of deep packer losses, the industry has seen significant capacity reductions.

Chicken gains as consumers feel financial strain

Mon, 22 Jun 2026 22:41:57 -0400

Processed meat prices also rose, but at a considerably slower rate of 1.7%.

Mobile app streamlines producer access to Remote Grading Program for Beef

Mon, 22 Jun 2026 07:05:26 -0400

USDA launches mobile app to offer cattle producers and processors easier, secure access to official grading services.

Meat Institute hosts webinar on EPR laws for meat and poultry processors

Mon, 22 Jun 2026 07:00:26 -0400

Webinar offers practical guidance on Extended Producer Responsibility laws for meat and poultry processors.

Eighteen Wisconsin meat processors receive grants through state program

Fri, 19 Jun 2026 09:00:50 -0400

Grants aim to help local meat processors modernize and grow their businesses, produce new products or expand their markets, while improving profitability and sustaining the long-term viability of Wisconsin’s meat processing facilities.

Pilgrim’s invests $75M to expand, modernize Georgia poultry facility

Fri, 19 Jun 2026 07:10:32 -0400

Investment increases harvesting and portioning capacity in Ellijay, Ga., and enables the facility to produce a broader mix of higher-value, boneless chicken products.

Processors large and small embrace co-packing opportunities

wilkinsonf@bnpmedia.com (Fred Wilkinson) — Thu, 18 Jun 2026 15:00:00 -0400

Co‑branded products enable retailers to offer differentiated value, reinforce quality perception and keep the protein category engaging in a highly competitive perimeter environment.

Understanding the full scope of shelf life in meat and poultry

Thu, 18 Jun 2026 10:16:08 -0400

By pairing natural antioxidant solutions with naturally derived preservation solutions, processors can address shelf life from multiple angles.