Consumerist

meat

E.Coli Kills Topps Meat Company

By cwalters 10.5.07

Seventeen days after Topps launched the second largest meat recall in U.S. history, the 67-year-old company announced that it’s going out of business. Topp’s COO told American Agriculturist:

“In one week we have gone from the largest U.S. manufacturer of frozen hamburgers to a company that cannot overcome the economic reality of a recall this large… We want to thank our loyal employees and customers who have supported us throughout the 67 years in which Topps Meat has been in business,” D’Urso said. “Topps has always prided itself on providing the utmost quality and safety and never had a recall in our history until now. This has been a shocking and sobering experience for everyone.”

fda

Meat Industry Showing Signs Of Larger Problems

By cwalters 10.2.07

This summer, almost 6 million pounds of beef were recalled due to E. coli contamination. Last week, almost 22 million pounds of frozen hamburger meat were recalled after reports surfaced of E. coli infections. It was the biggest meat recall in 10 years, and “the American Meat Institute (AMI) says it noticed a slight rise in positive E. coli tests by the government this summer,” says a USA Today article. In fact, 2007 is the first time in 3 years that the rate of positive USDA sample-tests have gone up. At the same time, the Chicago Tribune reports that in July, a congressman from Minnesota slipped a special measure into the 2007 farm bill that would reduce the need for federal inspections for small meat producers.

food

Should Artificially Colored Meat Have A Warning Label?

By cwalters 10.2.07

Over a year and a half ago, we alerted readers to the sneaky practice of using carbon monoxide to indefinitely preserve raw meat’s red color—several stores admitted to the practice, and while the small amount of gas used does not pose a health risk, the perma-red meat can make it harder to detect spoilage. Now, in the wake of so many food and product safety scandals, the government has proposed a new mandatory warning label as part of the Food and Drug Import Safety Act of 2007. It would read:

Carbon monoxide has been used to preserve the color of this product. Do not rely on color or the ‘use or freeze by’ date alone to judge the freshness or safety of the product. Discard any product with an unpleasant odor, slime, or a bulging package.

safety

Food Labels Lack Country Of Origin Info Despite 5 Year Old Law

By Meg Marco 7.2.07

Unlike seafood, the meat, produce and nuts you buy don’t have a country of origin label, despite a 5 year old law that says they should, according to the New York Times. Lobbyists and congresspeople have managed to hold off enforcement of the law since it was passed in 2002, but now proponents of country of origin labels (COOL) think they may have enough momentum from the Chinese Poison Train to finally make the label a reality. From the NYT:

“No. 1, there’s a basic consumer right to know,” said Michael Hansen, senior scientist at Consumers Union, an advocacy group that publishes Consumer Reports magazine and supports the labeling law. “People are more and more concerned about the food they eat.”

netflix

Fast Food Nation Movie Review: Read The Book

By consumerist.com 6.13.07

Catching up on our Netflix pile, we watched Fast Food Nation last night. This is our movie review: read the book.

frozen

Year-Old Frozen Hamburger Recalled Due To E. Coli

By Meg Marco 4.23.07

Yes, even freezing meat for 1 year will not dampen the power of e. coli. From the LA Times:

The meat was produced by Richwood Meat Co. on April 28, 2006, dated either “4-28-06” or “118-6,” for the 118th day of the year, said Mike Wood, the company’s president. Although the product was manufactured a year ago, the patties still may be present in freezers at home or in stores, officials said.

food

FBI: Kmart Worker Poisoned Meat

By Meg Marco 4.16.07

Earlier this week, a judge released Wyndham on bond. She currently is under house arrest.

We question the thought process that resulted in this course of action. —MEGHANN MARCO

dean

Dean, US's #1 Milk Company, Says "No" To Milk From Cloned Cows

By Meg Marco 2.23.07

From Forbes:

Milk from cloned cows is no longer welcome at the nation’s biggest milk company.

shoplifting

Why People Shoplift Meat

By Meg Marco 1.22.07

The Purloined Sirloin [Slate]

beef

All About Steak

By Meg Marco 1.8.07

The Slate writer held a taste test and decided on grass-fed beef at $21.50 per lbs, not the most expensive variety tested. “Never have I witnessed a piece of meat so move grown men (and women).” Check it out.

shopping

Shoplifting in Supermarkets: People Steal Meat and Analgesics

By Meg Marco 1.3.07

The Freakonomics Blog had an interesting piece the other day about shoplifting in supermarkets. Theft of “Health and Beauty” items (usually the most stolen category) is down this year. The category has been surpassed by “meat and analgesics.” When we’re broke we want to eat a steak and get numb, right? That’s the American dream, right there.

cloning

Cloned Meat Info Roundup

By Meg Marco 12.29.06

You guys have been asking for information on cloned meat, so here you go:

safety

FDA Even Closer To Allowing Cloned Meat With No Special Labels

By Meg Marco 12.29.06

We reported Tuesday that the FDA was expected to find in favor of allowing cloned meat and milk from cloned animals to enter the food supply without special labeling. On Thursday the FDA issued the expected statement in favor of cloned meat.

vacuum tumbling

Don’t Buy Pre-Marinated Meats

By consumerist.com 12.26.06

To this end, we’ve uploaded a series of instructional videos produced by the “Ontario Pork Producers Marketing Board” on “value-added cutting.”

safety

FDA Expected to OK Cloned Meat

By Meg Marco 12.26.06

Is cloned meat safe? The government seems to think so. According to the Seattle Times, “A long-awaited study by federal scientists concludes meat and milk from cloned animals and their offspring are safe to eat and should be allowed to enter the food supply without special labeling.”

beef

“Grass-Fed Beef” No Longer Means “Grass-Fed”; Still Means “Beef”

By consumerist.com 9.18.06

Savvy and sensitive supermarket shoppers love informative labels that also make them feel good about their meat purchases. Phrases like “free-range” or “grass-fed.” Makes you feel all warm and fuzzy inside, knowing the animal lived a naturalistic, humane life in the great outdoors before meeting its fate on the kill floor. Viva cognitive dissonance!

meat