Thursday, December 11, 2008
Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome, Philippines
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
Responses to Irish pork fears
The complete withdrawal of all Irish pork products must be seen as an emergency precautionary measure to reassure the public. This action was taken to ensure consumer confidence in the safety of Irish-produced products, according to IFA President Padraig Walshe.
Walshe said over 90% of Irish production was completely free of any connection to the single source of the contaminated feed. Over the week-end the IFA has co-operated fully with the Department of Agriculture, FSAI and public health agencies to isolate the problem.
Walshe said he was greatly heartened and highly appreciative of the many calls of support he had received from the public and consumers.
Christmas supply
The IFA President said “there are over 400 farms ready to supply prime produce as soon as the logistics of the recall was completed.” He said he hoped the industry would be fully operational by Tuesday under the supervision of the Department of Agriculture, with all the necessary testing and controls in place.
Walshe said there is no reason why the Irish industry cannot supply the traditional Christmas ham requirements of consumers. “Once Irish consumers are sure of the safety and high quality of the product, they will support a traditional sector that has always played an important role in Irish farming.”
Economic effect
Bloomberg is reporting that Irish pork producers are facing a 100 million-euro ($128 million) bill to recall all pork products made from pigs slaughtered in the country following the dioxin scare.
Around 10 percent of Ireland’s estimated 1.47 million pigs may have been exposed to feed containing dioxins, associated with cancer. Ireland exports about 1 million euros of pig meat a day and authorities in the UK are advising consumers not to eat any pork from Ireland. Meanwhile other countries are being quick to reassure consumers that they do not receive imports from Ireland.
Meanwhile the BBC is reporting that almost 1,400 pork processing workers in the Republic of Ireland have been laid off following the contamination scare.
Walshe said over 90% of Irish production was completely free of any connection to the single source of the contaminated feed. Over the week-end the IFA has co-operated fully with the Department of Agriculture, FSAI and public health agencies to isolate the problem.
Walshe said he was greatly heartened and highly appreciative of the many calls of support he had received from the public and consumers.
Christmas supply
The IFA President said “there are over 400 farms ready to supply prime produce as soon as the logistics of the recall was completed.” He said he hoped the industry would be fully operational by Tuesday under the supervision of the Department of Agriculture, with all the necessary testing and controls in place.
Walshe said there is no reason why the Irish industry cannot supply the traditional Christmas ham requirements of consumers. “Once Irish consumers are sure of the safety and high quality of the product, they will support a traditional sector that has always played an important role in Irish farming.”
Economic effect
Bloomberg is reporting that Irish pork producers are facing a 100 million-euro ($128 million) bill to recall all pork products made from pigs slaughtered in the country following the dioxin scare.
Around 10 percent of Ireland’s estimated 1.47 million pigs may have been exposed to feed containing dioxins, associated with cancer. Ireland exports about 1 million euros of pig meat a day and authorities in the UK are advising consumers not to eat any pork from Ireland. Meanwhile other countries are being quick to reassure consumers that they do not receive imports from Ireland.
Meanwhile the BBC is reporting that almost 1,400 pork processing workers in the Republic of Ireland have been laid off following the contamination scare.
Tuesday, December 9, 2008
Countries ban Irish pork in toxin scare
gence France-Presse
First Posted 06:25:00 12/09/2008
PARIS -- Authorities across Europe and Asia rushed to pull Irish pork from store shelves or ban imports Monday as the European Commission said a score of countries could be affected by a dioxin scare.
Ireland on Saturday said it was recalling all pork products made in the country after the discovery of dioxins, which may cause cancer, in slaughtered pigs.
The chemicals were thought to have contaminated feed.
Ireland is a major exporter of pork, with Britain by far the biggest market, followed by Germany, France, Russia and Japan, according to official figures.
But several countries said their imports were small and they did not expect problems, but were taking action to reassure consumers.
"We are currently suspending imports as a precaution," said Mitsue Kondo, a food safety official at Japan's health ministry.
Japanese authorities are also checking with Irish officials about the contaminated meat and may recall Irish pork products, she added.
"Along with the ban on imports, retailers were told to stop the sale of Irish pork products," a South Korean agriculture ministry spokesman told AFP.
China's General Administration of Quality Inspection and Quarantine said, "In accordance with a China-Ireland bilateral agreement, we have provisionally stopped the direct and indirect import of Irish pork products and livestock feed."
"Secondly we have recalled and returned Irish pork products that were produced after September 1," it added in a notice on its website.
Singapore's government said it had suspended the import and sale of all pork and related products from Ireland.
Importers and retailers have been instructed to recall the products from the market with immediate effect, the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority said in a statement on its website.
The Straits Times newspaper said Singapore imported about 516 tonnes (567.6 tons) of pork products from Ireland in the last three months.
In Europe, Bulgarian veterinary inspectors banned the sale of 60 tonnes of pork imported from Ireland earlier this month.
The ministry of farming and food said that the shipments of Irish meat were found in storehouses in the capital Sofia and the central city of Plovdiv.
It added that veterinary inspectors will check a further 112 cold stores across the country, conduct lab analyses and destroy any meat or meat products if found to contain dioxins.
In Berlin, the government said Germany had only imported minimal amounts of Irish pork and sees no public health threat, although it ordered all Irish pork pulled from the shelves Sunday.
Germany has imported only 2,000 tonnes of pork from Ireland since September 1, the period specified by Dublin in its warning, the agriculture and consumer affairs ministry said.
The head of Poland's veterinary services, Krzysztof Jazdzewski, said his department was checking 667 tonnes of Irish pork imported by three companies.
Russia also announced it was suspending imports of Irish pork products as well as the sale of such products until Moscow can determine how many tonnes of Irish pork have reached Russia and during what period, Russian news agencies reported.
European Agriculture Commissioner Androulla Vassiliou said earlier that the EU's 27 member states should remove pork products from Ireland from sale and carry out tests.
She said in Brussels that potentially contaminated meat may have been sent to Belgium, Britain, Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal and Sweden within the EU.
Tainted meat may also have been sent to non-EU members Canada, China, Hong Kong, Japan, Russia, Singapore, South Korea, Switzerland and the United States.
In France, Agriculture Minister Michel Barnier played down the threat in an interview published Monday, while adding that traders had been ordered to check the provenance of their products and withdraw relevant Irish pork.
"It is not a major alert for France," he told the daily Le Parisien.
"Ninety-five percent of fresh pork consumed in France is produced in this country."
First Posted 06:25:00 12/09/2008
PARIS -- Authorities across Europe and Asia rushed to pull Irish pork from store shelves or ban imports Monday as the European Commission said a score of countries could be affected by a dioxin scare.
Ireland on Saturday said it was recalling all pork products made in the country after the discovery of dioxins, which may cause cancer, in slaughtered pigs.
The chemicals were thought to have contaminated feed.
Ireland is a major exporter of pork, with Britain by far the biggest market, followed by Germany, France, Russia and Japan, according to official figures.
But several countries said their imports were small and they did not expect problems, but were taking action to reassure consumers.
"We are currently suspending imports as a precaution," said Mitsue Kondo, a food safety official at Japan's health ministry.
Japanese authorities are also checking with Irish officials about the contaminated meat and may recall Irish pork products, she added.
"Along with the ban on imports, retailers were told to stop the sale of Irish pork products," a South Korean agriculture ministry spokesman told AFP.
China's General Administration of Quality Inspection and Quarantine said, "In accordance with a China-Ireland bilateral agreement, we have provisionally stopped the direct and indirect import of Irish pork products and livestock feed."
"Secondly we have recalled and returned Irish pork products that were produced after September 1," it added in a notice on its website.
Singapore's government said it had suspended the import and sale of all pork and related products from Ireland.
Importers and retailers have been instructed to recall the products from the market with immediate effect, the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority said in a statement on its website.
The Straits Times newspaper said Singapore imported about 516 tonnes (567.6 tons) of pork products from Ireland in the last three months.
In Europe, Bulgarian veterinary inspectors banned the sale of 60 tonnes of pork imported from Ireland earlier this month.
The ministry of farming and food said that the shipments of Irish meat were found in storehouses in the capital Sofia and the central city of Plovdiv.
It added that veterinary inspectors will check a further 112 cold stores across the country, conduct lab analyses and destroy any meat or meat products if found to contain dioxins.
In Berlin, the government said Germany had only imported minimal amounts of Irish pork and sees no public health threat, although it ordered all Irish pork pulled from the shelves Sunday.
Germany has imported only 2,000 tonnes of pork from Ireland since September 1, the period specified by Dublin in its warning, the agriculture and consumer affairs ministry said.
The head of Poland's veterinary services, Krzysztof Jazdzewski, said his department was checking 667 tonnes of Irish pork imported by three companies.
Russia also announced it was suspending imports of Irish pork products as well as the sale of such products until Moscow can determine how many tonnes of Irish pork have reached Russia and during what period, Russian news agencies reported.
European Agriculture Commissioner Androulla Vassiliou said earlier that the EU's 27 member states should remove pork products from Ireland from sale and carry out tests.
She said in Brussels that potentially contaminated meat may have been sent to Belgium, Britain, Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal and Sweden within the EU.
Tainted meat may also have been sent to non-EU members Canada, China, Hong Kong, Japan, Russia, Singapore, South Korea, Switzerland and the United States.
In France, Agriculture Minister Michel Barnier played down the threat in an interview published Monday, while adding that traders had been ordered to check the provenance of their products and withdraw relevant Irish pork.
"It is not a major alert for France," he told the daily Le Parisien.
"Ninety-five percent of fresh pork consumed in France is produced in this country."
US poultry processor posts loss for 4th quarter
US poultry processor Sanderson Farms reported a loss for its 4th quarter and fiscal year ending 31 October, reportedly due to challenging market conditions and a decline in demand for chicken products.
Sanderson reported a net loss of $51.9 mln for the 4th quarter of 2008. This compares with a net income of $24.1 mln for the same period in 2007. The poultry processor also reported a net loss for fiscal year 2008 of $43.1 mln, compared to a net income of $78.8 mln for 2007.
Sales
Net sales for the 4th quarter rose to $460.2 mln from $426.9 mln in the 4th quarter of 2007. Net sales for fiscal 2008 were up 17% at $1.724 bln.
"Sales increased over the same quarter last year reflecting the company's production growth, and our annual sales were a record high for Sanderson Farms," said chairman and CEO of the company Joe F. Sanderson, Jr. "However, like others in our industry, our business was affected by a decline in demand for chicken products from foodservice and casual dining customers."
Feed costs
The chicken processor stated that it paid $235 mln more for feed grain in 2008, but expects to pay $142.5 mln less for feed in 2009. This is based on recent drops in feed prices.
The poultry company said it will save 5.5 - 6 cents per chicken in costs, but added that even with those savings chicken prices need to rise.
Exports
Sanderson said it exported more poultry this year, including an 8% increase in exports to Russia, a 15.2% increase to China and a 20% increase to Mexico.
Sanderson reported a net loss of $51.9 mln for the 4th quarter of 2008. This compares with a net income of $24.1 mln for the same period in 2007. The poultry processor also reported a net loss for fiscal year 2008 of $43.1 mln, compared to a net income of $78.8 mln for 2007.
Sales
Net sales for the 4th quarter rose to $460.2 mln from $426.9 mln in the 4th quarter of 2007. Net sales for fiscal 2008 were up 17% at $1.724 bln.
"Sales increased over the same quarter last year reflecting the company's production growth, and our annual sales were a record high for Sanderson Farms," said chairman and CEO of the company Joe F. Sanderson, Jr. "However, like others in our industry, our business was affected by a decline in demand for chicken products from foodservice and casual dining customers."
Feed costs
The chicken processor stated that it paid $235 mln more for feed grain in 2008, but expects to pay $142.5 mln less for feed in 2009. This is based on recent drops in feed prices.
The poultry company said it will save 5.5 - 6 cents per chicken in costs, but added that even with those savings chicken prices need to rise.
Exports
Sanderson said it exported more poultry this year, including an 8% increase in exports to Russia, a 15.2% increase to China and a 20% increase to Mexico.
Chicken sales increase over 2008
Chicken sales increased 6.7% in 2008, according to "The Fresh Meat Market in the U.S.: Beef, Chicken, Pork, Turkey and Lamb in Retail and Foodservice", from Packaged Facts.
Chicken increased 6.3% at retail level in 2008. "The healthfulness of white meat has been hardwired into the American consumer psyche, and now natural and organic claims give chicken a leg up among consumers looking for prime cuts," said Packaged Facts publisher Tatjana Meerman.
"Natural" label on meat
Of retail meat, 31% was labelled "natural" in 2008, up 7% from 2007. Meerman stated that natural and organic claims – including free-range or cage-free chicken, grass-fed beef, humanely raised veal, and crate-free pork – are being met favourably by consumers, who are increasingly concerned about food quality, food contamination and the environmental and ethical implications of their food choices.
It is estimated that 50% of retail meat was supplier-branded in 2008, up 4% from 2007. It is believed that branding helps establish confidence in consumers. "Branding will become super-important going forward," said Meerman, adding that consumers are more concerned about food safety so generic meat in the refrigerator case will no longer be as compelling as branded meat from a trusted manufacturer."
Chicken increased 6.3% at retail level in 2008. "The healthfulness of white meat has been hardwired into the American consumer psyche, and now natural and organic claims give chicken a leg up among consumers looking for prime cuts," said Packaged Facts publisher Tatjana Meerman.
"Natural" label on meat
Of retail meat, 31% was labelled "natural" in 2008, up 7% from 2007. Meerman stated that natural and organic claims – including free-range or cage-free chicken, grass-fed beef, humanely raised veal, and crate-free pork – are being met favourably by consumers, who are increasingly concerned about food quality, food contamination and the environmental and ethical implications of their food choices.
It is estimated that 50% of retail meat was supplier-branded in 2008, up 4% from 2007. It is believed that branding helps establish confidence in consumers. "Branding will become super-important going forward," said Meerman, adding that consumers are more concerned about food safety so generic meat in the refrigerator case will no longer be as compelling as branded meat from a trusted manufacturer."
Thursday, December 4, 2008
Russia suspends imports from six U.S. pork plants
Russia has suspended imports of pork products from six U.S. pork facilities, claiming the products did not meet Russian requirements, USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service said.
Effective Dec. 15, the following facilities will not be authorized to ship pork to Russia:
Sioux Preme Pork Products, Sioux City, Iowa
Smithfield Packing Co., Smithfield, Va.
Chicago Meat Authority, Chicago, Ill.
Farmington Foods, Forest Park, Ill.
Amity Packing Co., Chicago, Ill.
Abilene TX Foods, Jeffersontown, Ky.
Russian authorities have not explained their rationale for taking this latest action.
"They stated in a letter that the plants did not meet Russian requirements, but did not provide additional details," FSIS spokeswoman Amanda Eamich told Meatingplace.com.
Effective Dec. 15, the following facilities will not be authorized to ship pork to Russia:
Sioux Preme Pork Products, Sioux City, Iowa
Smithfield Packing Co., Smithfield, Va.
Chicago Meat Authority, Chicago, Ill.
Farmington Foods, Forest Park, Ill.
Amity Packing Co., Chicago, Ill.
Abilene TX Foods, Jeffersontown, Ky.
Russian authorities have not explained their rationale for taking this latest action.
"They stated in a letter that the plants did not meet Russian requirements, but did not provide additional details," FSIS spokeswoman Amanda Eamich told Meatingplace.com.
Pilgrim's Pride files for bankruptcy
One of the leading poultry producers in the US, Pilgrim's Pride, has filed for Chapter 11 voluntary Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.
Company president and CEO Clint Rivers stated that over the past year, Pilgrim’s Pride has faced a number of significant challenges, including high feed-ingredient costs, an oversupply of chicken, weak market pricing and softening demand.
"After careful consideration of all available alternatives, the company’s board of directors determined that a Chapter 11 filing was a necessary and prudent step and the best way to obtain the financing necessary to maintain regular operations and allow for successful restructuring. We expect to emerge from this restructuring a stronger, more competitive company that is well positioned for growth and enhanced profitability."
The processor is also seeking approval to receive debtor-in-possession financing amounting to $450 mln in order to continue the daily operations of its business, including the payment of wages.
The company said operations are expected to continue as normal during the bankruptcy process, and operations in Mexico and certain operations in the United States were not included in the filing.
Over the past 3 months, Pilgrim's Pride has worked out 3 separate deals with its lenders to extend its credit lines and avoid filing for bankruptcy.
Company president and CEO Clint Rivers stated that over the past year, Pilgrim’s Pride has faced a number of significant challenges, including high feed-ingredient costs, an oversupply of chicken, weak market pricing and softening demand.
"After careful consideration of all available alternatives, the company’s board of directors determined that a Chapter 11 filing was a necessary and prudent step and the best way to obtain the financing necessary to maintain regular operations and allow for successful restructuring. We expect to emerge from this restructuring a stronger, more competitive company that is well positioned for growth and enhanced profitability."
The processor is also seeking approval to receive debtor-in-possession financing amounting to $450 mln in order to continue the daily operations of its business, including the payment of wages.
The company said operations are expected to continue as normal during the bankruptcy process, and operations in Mexico and certain operations in the United States were not included in the filing.
Over the past 3 months, Pilgrim's Pride has worked out 3 separate deals with its lenders to extend its credit lines and avoid filing for bankruptcy.
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