Europe facing egg shortage ahead of Easter holiday

Europe's egg industry is facing decreased production and consumers are facing increased prices ahead of the Easter holiday due to challenges resulting from the European Union's new cage requirements for laying hens, according to reports.
EU-wide production of eggs since January 1 has dropped by 10 percent to 15 percent, about 200 million eggs per week, according to the European Egg Processors Association, and prices on some international markets have as much as tripled in March, peaking at over €2 (US$2.60) per kilogram. Overall, the price for table eggs in early March was 55 percent higher compared to 2011 numbers.
Price hikes are spread out by country, however. While half a dozen premium eggs at a Warsaw, Poland, market cost €1.6 (US$2.12), they stood at €2.71 (US$3.62) in a Brussels, Belgium, supermarket. The Polish poultry chamber said that in the second week of March, prices were 63 percent higher than in the last week of January and over double 2011 numbers.

Moark donates 1 million eggs to US food banks

Land O'Lakes subsidiary Moark LLC has donated more than 1 million eggs to nine food banks across the U.S. to do its part in the fight against hunger.
The company donated the eggs in conjunction with Feeding America's network of food banks and as part of Land O'Lakes' First Run program, which is part of the company's larger Feeding Our Communities initiative. Moark's contribution marks the second egg donation in the third year of the First Run program. As part of the program, Land O'Lakes and its subsidiaries have committed to donating truckloads of fresh product to food banks quarterly to help alleviate hunger nationwide.
In 2012, the donated eggs are being distributed among the following food banks:

• Los Angeles Regional Food Bank; 260,000 eggs
• Second Harvest Food Bank, San Bernardino; 43,200 eggs
• Greater Boston Food Bank; 288,000 eggs
• St. Louis Area Food Bank; 288,000 eggs
• Ozarks Food Harvest, Springfield, Mo.; 54,000 eggs
• Connecticut Food Bank; 96,000 eggs
• Connecticut Foodshare; 96,000 eggs
• Gemma E. Moran United Way/Labor Food Center, New London, Conn.; 96,000 eggs
• Good Shepherd Food Bank, Auburn, Maine; 288,000 eggs 

US calls for lifting of Taiwan ractopamine ban

The U.S., Canada and Brazil have called for Taiwan to lift its ban on meat imports containing residue of the leanness enhancer ractopamine, asking instead for Taiwan to adopt the minimum residue level it had initially planned to introduce in 2007, according to reports. Representatives for the countries spoke at a meeting of the Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures Committee of the World Trade Organization in Geneva.
The U.S., Canada and Brazil said that scientific evidence shows ractopamine to be safe, and presented findings from the Joint Export Committee on Food Additives under the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization and the World Health Organization. The administration of former Taiwan President Chen Shui-bian had planned to set a minimum residue level of 10 parts per billion for ractopamine in pork and beef, but the government later decided to delay the decision. The country currently has a zero-tolerance policy for the enhancer.

Pig meat most consumed red meat in UK

Pig meat, including pork, bacon, sausages and ham, is the most consumed red meat in the UK out-of-home market with 68.7 percent of all red meat servings, according to new figures from NPD Group/Crest.
Pig meat also experienced the greatest increase in servings in 2011 compared with 2010 numbers, according to the data. The figures show total pig meat servings increased by 8.1. In the main this growth was driven by bacon, which saw servings grow by 29.5 percent, and sausages, which grew by 21.3 percent. Ham has also moved up the charts, by 11.7 percent, and pork saw an increase of 4.6 percent.
“Quality-assured bacon is a fantastic ingredient for all types of menus," said British Pig Exchange foodservice trade manager Tony Goodger. "It’s hugely versatile and delivers a punch of flavor to dishes. Sausages made from quality-assured pork also continue to be one of the most popular foods eaten out of home, appealing to both adults and children alike. Both are relatively low-cost proteins and, in the current climate when every penny counts, chefs are clearly recognizing their profit potential."
The industry is starting to see more chefs buying whole pig carcasses and experimenting with a wider range of cuts due to the meat's cost-effectiveness, according to Goodger.

US pig meat production up 6 percent in February

U.S. pig meat production totaled 1.88 billion pounds, up 6 percent from 2011 numbers, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's latest report. The number was down from January, which came in at 1.99 billion pounds.
Hog slaughter totaled 9.04 million head, up 6 percent from February 2011, and the average live weight was up 1 pound, at 278 pounds. So far, Iowa has slaughtered the largest number of hogs, at 2.37 million head. North Carolina (942,900 head), Minnesota (878,000 head), Illinois (858,400 head) and Indiana (686,200 head) round out the top five producers.  
Overall, commercial meat production (which includes pig meat, beef, veal, lamb and mutton) came in at 3.91 billion pounds for February, up from February 2011's 3.81 billion pounds but down from January's 4.12 billion pounds. Nebraska, Iowa and Kansas make up the top three producing states, at 572.4 million pounds, 532.1 million pounds and 398.1 million pounds, respectively. 

Cagle's seeks to sell assets at bankruptcy auction

Poultry producer Cagle's Inc. is seeking court permission to sell nearly all its assets at a bankruptcy auction after accepting a bid of $72.3 million from JCG Foods LLC, an affiliate of Koch Foods Inc.
Cagle’s wants to hold an auction on May 10 followed by a May 11 hearing to seek approval of the sale. Rival bidders would have until May 4 to submit offers under the proposed timetable. “It’s a nice strategic fit,” said Joe Grendys, owner of Koch Foods, and JCG Foods. The deal would give Grendys a broader customer base and more supply, he said. Cagle’s assets include two processing plants, a feed mill and a hatchery.
JCG Foods agreed to pay $37 million plus the value of inventory and accounts receivables, which stood at about $43 million as of January 28, and minus post-bankruptcy payables and accrued expenses that totaled about $7.7 million, according to court documents. About $55 million would be paid in cash and the remainder would be paid with a promissory note guaranteed by Grendys.

US pig meat production up 6 percent in February

U.S. pig meat production totaled 1.88 billion pounds, up 6 percent from 2011 numbers, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's latest report. The number was down from January, which came in at 1.99 billion pounds.
Hog slaughter totaled 9.04 million head, up 6 percent from February 2011, and the average live weight was up 1 pound, at 278 pounds. So far, Iowa has slaughtered the largest number of hogs, at 2.37 million head. North Carolina (942,900 head), Minnesota (878,000 head), Illinois (858,400 head) and Indiana (686,200 head) round out the top five producers.  
Overall, commercial meat production (which includes pig meat, beef, veal, lamb and mutton) came in at 3.91 billion pounds for February, up from February 2011's 3.81 billion pounds but down from January's 4.12 billion pounds. Nebraska, Iowa and Kansas make up the top three producing states, at 572.4 million pounds, 532.1 million pounds and 398.1 million pounds, respectively.