Manufacturers of enhanced meat products should specify levels of potassium and phosphates the meat carries, according to a report published in the Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology.
Overconsumption of potassium may cause irregular heartbeats or even heart attacks in dialysis patients while phosphorus could interfere with calcium absorption and heart function, the report said.
These findings were published after researchers analyzed the potassium and phosphate content present in 36 uncooked meat and poultry products — both enhanced and natural — bought from different retailers.
Eight out of 25 enhanced products reportedly did not list the additives on the food label. Enhanced meat has been a growing source of these minerals since a 1982 ruling regarding the additives from the Food Safety Inspection Service, according to the researchers.
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
WTO to investigate US/China poultry import ban
The World Trade Organization will establish an expert panel to look into whether a U.S. ban on the import of Chinese poultry violates international trade laws, as alleged by China, farmfutures.com reported.
The decision follows a meeting of the WTO's dispute settlement body after China filed a request the second time.
U.S. meat companies support lifting the ban as they fear China might retaliate by banning U.S. imports. Trade groups said Chinese importers had already begun blocking shipments of U.S. chicken.
A statement posted on the Internet by the office of the U.S. Trade Representative's says: "We do not agree with China's assertions that the issue amounts to a discriminatory or protectionist measure.
"As we have stated, nothing in the measure identified by China prevents the relevant U.S. authorities from continuing to work together to reach an objective, science-based response to China's request for a declaration of equivalence with respect to poultry products."
The decision follows a meeting of the WTO's dispute settlement body after China filed a request the second time.
U.S. meat companies support lifting the ban as they fear China might retaliate by banning U.S. imports. Trade groups said Chinese importers had already begun blocking shipments of U.S. chicken.
A statement posted on the Internet by the office of the U.S. Trade Representative's says: "We do not agree with China's assertions that the issue amounts to a discriminatory or protectionist measure.
"As we have stated, nothing in the measure identified by China prevents the relevant U.S. authorities from continuing to work together to reach an objective, science-based response to China's request for a declaration of equivalence with respect to poultry products."
Employees sue Columbia Farms for donning/doffing pay
Ten former employees of the Columbia Farms plant in Greenville, S.C. have filed a lawsuit against the company for refusing to pay overtime, according to a Myfox8.com report.
The workers accused Columbia Farms of not paying them for donning and doffing time, which added 60-75 minutes to their shifts.
The chicken processing plant, a House of Raeford, North Carolina, subsidiary, said it did not believe workers needed to be paid for donning and doffing.
The workers accused Columbia Farms of not paying them for donning and doffing time, which added 60-75 minutes to their shifts.
The chicken processing plant, a House of Raeford, North Carolina, subsidiary, said it did not believe workers needed to be paid for donning and doffing.
Tray-less packaging reduces carbon footprint
Petaluma Poultry has introduced tray-less packaging that reduces volume by 73% and waste by 62% over conventional chicken packaging. According to the company, the new packaging allows 25% more items to fit into a shipping container.
John Bogert, the CMO of Coleman Natural Foods, the parent company of Petaluma Poultry, said reduction in the amount of cardboard used, and the corresponding savings in fuel for transport, result in a smaller carbon footprint. "It makes sense for our customers, retailers and the environment," he said.
John Bogert, the CMO of Coleman Natural Foods, the parent company of Petaluma Poultry, said reduction in the amount of cardboard used, and the corresponding savings in fuel for transport, result in a smaller carbon footprint. "It makes sense for our customers, retailers and the environment," he said.
Monday, August 3, 2009
Georgia farmers to benefit from bioreactor
American Technologies Inc. Petroleum, a Vietnam-based firm, will introduce a newly patented aerobic bioreactor technology on poultry farms in Georgia, according to a news report.
The technology helps decompose waste to generate methane, which can be used to produce electricity. The bioreactor is capable of running on wood chips, manure and carcasses from the poultry farms.
It can decompose 504 metric tons of chicken manure, 1,500 metric tons of wood chips and 54 metric tons of defeathered chicken carcasses per cycle.
The manure can generate about 30,240 cubic meters of methane, which can be used to produce about 317,000kw/h of energy, the wood chips can produce about 15,120 cubic meters of methane, converted to about 159,000kw/h of energy.
A by-product of the process is nutrient-rich organic fertilizer, which is odor free and safe to handle. The technology helps reduce sludge and also eliminates the problem of groundwater contamination and waste storage, thereby helping farmers save cost on removal and tipping fees.
The technology helps decompose waste to generate methane, which can be used to produce electricity. The bioreactor is capable of running on wood chips, manure and carcasses from the poultry farms.
It can decompose 504 metric tons of chicken manure, 1,500 metric tons of wood chips and 54 metric tons of defeathered chicken carcasses per cycle.
The manure can generate about 30,240 cubic meters of methane, which can be used to produce about 317,000kw/h of energy, the wood chips can produce about 15,120 cubic meters of methane, converted to about 159,000kw/h of energy.
A by-product of the process is nutrient-rich organic fertilizer, which is odor free and safe to handle. The technology helps reduce sludge and also eliminates the problem of groundwater contamination and waste storage, thereby helping farmers save cost on removal and tipping fees.
Turnaround for Pilgrim's Pride
According to a Monday, August 3 MarketWatch news report, Pilgrim's Pride reported posted a profit of $53.2 million, or 72 cents/share, for the quarter that ended June 27.
Pilgrim's Pride, which filed for bankruptcy in December 2008 and is reorganizing under Chapter 11 bankruptcy law, lost $52.7 million, or 75 cents/share, in the year-earlier quarter. Sales fell to $1.77 billion from $2.2 billion. Over the past nine months, Pilgrim's Pride has closed seven processing complexes, two distribution centers, and cut production.
Pilgrim's Pride is one of the largest U.S. chicken producers, along with Tyson Foods and Sanderson Farms.
Pilgrim's Pride, which filed for bankruptcy in December 2008 and is reorganizing under Chapter 11 bankruptcy law, lost $52.7 million, or 75 cents/share, in the year-earlier quarter. Sales fell to $1.77 billion from $2.2 billion. Over the past nine months, Pilgrim's Pride has closed seven processing complexes, two distribution centers, and cut production.
Pilgrim's Pride is one of the largest U.S. chicken producers, along with Tyson Foods and Sanderson Farms.
Tyson turns a profit
Tyson Foods surprised investors on Monday, August 3, by announcing quarterly results far ahead of Wall Street's expectations, returning to profitability even as American consumers continue to trim their food-buying habits, according to a report by the Financial Times.
Tyson did caution, however, that U.S. demand for meat had not bounced back, and warned that the next three months were likely to be more difficult.
The results were welcomed by the company which has experienced a challenging year. Before the economic downturn started to affect shoppers' behavior, Tyson faced high grain prices, which dragged its chicken unit - and the whole group - into the red. Its derivatives trading unit made bad investments that resulted in losses of hundreds of millions of dollars.
Tyson made net profits of $127 million or 33 cents/share, excluding extraordinary items, in its fiscal third quarter to June 28 – up from a loss of $43 million or 1 cent/share in the same period last year and well ahead of analysts' average forecasts of about 20 cents/share. Its revenues were $6.7 billion, in line with expectations.
Tyson did caution, however, that U.S. demand for meat had not bounced back, and warned that the next three months were likely to be more difficult.
The results were welcomed by the company which has experienced a challenging year. Before the economic downturn started to affect shoppers' behavior, Tyson faced high grain prices, which dragged its chicken unit - and the whole group - into the red. Its derivatives trading unit made bad investments that resulted in losses of hundreds of millions of dollars.
Tyson made net profits of $127 million or 33 cents/share, excluding extraordinary items, in its fiscal third quarter to June 28 – up from a loss of $43 million or 1 cent/share in the same period last year and well ahead of analysts' average forecasts of about 20 cents/share. Its revenues were $6.7 billion, in line with expectations.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
