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Tag: USDA

  • Senators Want High-Speed Internet Threshold Quadrupled

    Senators Want High-Speed Internet Threshold Quadrupled

    In a letter to several government agencies, a bipartisan group of senators is calling for the definition of “high-speed” internet to be quadrupled.

    Under former Chairman Ajit Pai, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) established 25 Mbps download and 3 Mbps upload as the definition of high-speed internet. To matters worse, the Department of Agriculture (USDA) defines high-speed access as 10 Mbps download and 1 Mbps uploading.

    In comparison, the top five countries in the world, in terms of internet speed, range from an average of 226.6 to 175.22 Mbps. The FCC and USDA’s definition seems glacial when placed against that backdrop.

    Sens. Michael Bennet (D-CO), Joe Manchin (D-WV), Angus King (I-ME) and Rob Portman (R-OH) are calling on the FCC, USDA, Department of Commerce and National Economic Council to take action. As the senators point out in their letter, the global pandemic has exacerbated the situation, forcing record numbers of individuals to work and learn from home. The abysmal upload speeds, in particular, are a major bottleneck for videoconferencing and other necessary services.

    Ask any senior who connects with their physician via telemedicine, any farmer hoping to unlock the benefits of precision agriculture, any student who receives livestreamed instruction, or any family where both parents telework and multiple children are remote learning, and they will tell you that many networks fail to come close to “high-speed” in the year 2021. For any of these functions, upload speeds far greater than 3 Mbps are particularly critical.

    The senators make the case that government agencies should agreed to a common definition and — since federal funding is being used to improve the nation’s broadband — to significantly increase that definition to a usable threshold.

    Going forward, we should make every effort to spend limited federal dollars on broadband networks capable of providing sufficient download and upload speeds and quality, including low latency, high reliability, and low network jitter, for modern and emerging uses, like two-way videoconferencing, telehealth, remote learning, health IoT, and smart grid applications. Our goal for new deployment should be symmetrical speeds of 100 megabits per second (Mbps), allowing for limited variation when dictated by geography, topography, or unreasonable cost.

  • Organic Turkey: Is It Worth the Extra Cost?

    Organic turkey is a hot topic in these days before Thanksgiving, with many folks wondering if they’re worth the extra cost.

    According to Consumer Reports, the answer is yes.

    One of the best reasons to buy an organic turkey doesn’t come from what the bird offers, but in what it doesn’t. Organic turkeys are raised without antibiotics. Those antibiotics are known for causing a wealth of health problems.

    So how do consumers know their turkey is truly organic? Start by reading the labels on the turkeys you’re considering very carefully. One of the best guarantees that your turkey wasn’t raised with antibiotics is the “USDA Organic/No Antibiotic” label. Another is “USDA Process Verified.” The third label that ensures you’re getting an organic turkey free of antibiotics reads, “Animal Welfare Approved.”

    Some marketers will try to fool you, so beware. If you want to buy an organic turkey but see labels reading “antibiotic free,” “no antibiotic residue,” or “no antibiotic growth promotants,” steer clear. These claims are all as yet unapproved.

    Of course the best way to ensure you are buying an organic turkey is to have a great relationship with your local grocer or butcher, and to simply trust that they will steer you clear of all else.

    When that’s not the case, rely on the aforementioned labels.

    Will you be buying an organic turkey for Thanksgiving dinner this year?

  • Ground Beef Recall: Children at Risk

    According to the USDA, children, the elderly and those with weakened immune systems are most at risk from the recall of 1.8 million pounds of ground beef.

    “The very young, the very old, and those with immune systems that have been weakened by cancer, kidney disease, and other illnesses are most at risk and vulnerable to illnesses associated with contaminated food. The symptoms of foodborne illness — such as diarrhea or vomiting, which can cause dehydration — can be very serious. Safe food handling practices at home or anywhere food is served is especially important for those in the “at-risk” group,” said the food safety and inspection service on its website.

    The recall, announced Monday, affects tainted ground beef items processed in a Detroit, Michigan-based factory between March 31 and April 18.

    The recall was initiated after FDA officials suspected the ground beef sold for use in restaurants may be contaminated by the E. coli bacteria.

    In addition to being sent throughout Michigan, the ground beef from the Wolverine Packing Company also reached Ohio, Missouri, and Massachusetts. But, officials warn the beef may have been distributed nationwide.

    The ground beef recalled have an establishment number that reads as “EST.2574B” and a production date code that says “Packing Nos.:” with numbers ranging from “03 31 14″ to “04 18 14,” which correspond to the date range connected with the recall.

    The recall was ordered after a Massachusetts resident, along with five from Michigan, four from Ohio and one from Missouri became ill with E. coli. Though several strains of E. coli are harmless to humans, this case involves the dangerous strain o157:H7.

    “E. coli O157:H7 is a potentially deadly bacterium that can cause dehydration, bloody diarrhea and abdominal cramps 2?8 days (3-4 days, on average) after exposure the organism,” said the USDA. “While most people recover within a week, some develop a type of kidney failure called hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS). This condition can occur among persons of any age but is most common in children under 5-years old and older adults. It is marked by easy bruising, pallor, and decreased urine output. Persons who experience these symptoms should seek emergency medical care immediately.”

    According to the USDA, ground beef should be cooked to 160 degrees to kill any harmful bacteria.

    The USDA released a list of recalled Wolverine products.

    Image via YouTube

  • Beef Recall Investigation Reveals Company Deception

    It’s a case that previously had been known for the sheer volume of the recall—millions of pounds of bad meat, retrieved from thousands of stores across the country. But CNN is now reporting that the case has a far more sinister tone.

    According to an article by CNN, federal investigators began surveillance on the slaughterhouse owned by Rancho Feeding Corp. and located in Northern California, after receiving a tip from a former employee. In January, federal marshals raided the Petaluma plant and seized the company records. Days later, the first recall went out, a recall that eventually amount to 9 million pounds of bad meat.

    The recall involved thousands of retail chains, including Kroger, Food 4 Less, and Walmart. It led to the voluntary recall by Nestle of its Philly Steak and Cheese flavored Hot Pockets after the company learned it had bought beef from Rancho Feeding Corp.

    But according to documents obtained by CNN, supplemented by interviews with federal officials, that was just the beginning of a long investigation into the practices of Rancho Feeding Corp., an investigation that now has investigators believing that Rancho Feeding Corp. was not just shipping off meat that was “unfit for human consumption,” but that they were deliberately doing so with full knowledge and covering up the evidence to boot.

    Investigators believe that Rancho Feeding Corp. was buying diseased dairy cows and processing them when government inspectors were not there. After the cows were killed, employees would hide signs of cancer by trimming off the diseased parts, using a fake stamp of approval or even replacing the heads of sick cows with heads from healthy ones.

    And if that wasn’t enough, one of the government inspectors who is responsible for protecting the public from practices such as these was having a romantic relationship with the plant foreman, according to a USDA email obtained by CNN.

    The inspector, Lynette Thompson, declined to be interviewed by CNN but an email with pictures of text messages from the assistant plant manager to the USDA show that the plant foreman admitted to seeing Thompson and that he had gone to her trailer three times, where they became intimate.

    Thompson seemed worried about their relationship being exposed. “Play dumb please 4 my kids delete every thing k [sic].”

    She had good reason to be worried. The USDA’s ethics manual states that employees should not be assigned to an establishment where they have a personal relationship with an establishment employee.

    Since the recall, Rancho Feeding Corp. has been sold. The USDA has declined comment, pending an ongoing investigation.

    Image via Wikimedia Commons

  • Beef Recall: USDA Inspector Had Relationship With Foreman

    More details have arisen concerning the beef recall that includes a year’s worth of meat. The recall began in February and since then information has been spilling out on what exactly transpired. The beef was shipped out January 1st, 2013 through January 7th, 2014 and mostly consisted of beef carcasses, oxtail, liver, cheeks, tripe, tongue and veal bones. 35 states and 8.7 million pounds of beef have been affected by the recall.

    The Rancho Feeding Corporation, based in Petaluma, California, is to blame is to blame since they “processed diseased and unsound animals and carried out these activities without the benefit or full benefit of federal inspection”, according to the USDA.

    The processing company hid evidence of cows “affected with epithelioma of the eye (eye cancer)”, by using a fake USDA stamp and trimming off diseased parts. But more than that, CNN reported that e-mails show USDA inspector Lynnette Thompson had a personal relationship with a plant foreman:

    “He said he went to her trailer three different times and they were intimate,” according to the email. “She also sent him a picture of her naked back side in a tanning salon to his cellphone.”

    The assistant manager attached texts to the email he said were from Thompson to the foreman.

    “I need a kiss later,” Thompson wrote.

    “Me to (sic),” he responded.

    In another text, Thompson seems worried about the relationship being exposed. “Play dumb please 4 my kids delete every thing k (sic).”

    Consumers should watch out for contamination in all kinds of beef products. The San Francisco Gate reported that included in the recall is Krave Jerky’s Garlic Chili Pepper Beef Jerky. The 3.25-ounce meat may be a small part of the millions of pounds of beef affected by the recall, but it’s still dangerous enough to be included.

    So be careful when buying meat, especially when details like these are just starting to make headlines.

    Image via USDA, Facebook.

  • USDA Banning All Junk Food In Schools On July 1

    Dear lovers of freedom,

    Say goodbye to your Sour Warheads, your gummy bears, your Wonder Balls, your Big League Chew, and putting Bugles on the end of your fingertips – they’re gone. Well, at least in your public school system.

    The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is tightening the belt of school systems nationwide with their Smart Snacks in School rules which will take effect on July 1, 2014. In essence, all “junk food” in school vending machines, cafeterias, stores, even fundraisers and bake sales is off the table. Regulations on nutritional values like calories, fat, sodium, and sugar will also take effect. Schools that break the rules end up with big fines and the possibility of loss of federal funding. State agencies will do routine inspections.

    According to the regulation’s flyer, drinks like water, milk, and 100 percent fruit and vegetable juice are allowed. If you’re in high school, you get the privilege of sipping your adolescent monkey lips on caffeine and low calorie carbonated soft drinks.

    “I think that’s great!” said Betsy Hunsucker, a Brownsburg, Indiana mother who also stated the following either out of sheer irony or naiveté: “I think kids would love fruits and vegetables.”

    “I’m afraid that parents have spoiled their children so much with the choices that they allow them to make at home that the kids will turn up their noses to the nutrition.”

    Katie Shevren, the director of food services for Brownsburg Schools, has expressed her excitement about unveiling their master plan of putting a “garden bar” in all of their schools next year. Sadly, there will be no beer.

    Some parents think the whole bureaucratic slapping of their greasy children’s hands in the cookie jar is a big no-no.

    Vicki Masters, a mother, said: “They are in Plainfield and they have a lot of choice. They have things that they actually will eat so they do get food in them to go through their day. There are things they just won’t eat. They’d rather not eat than eat something they don’t like.”

    The USDA pamphlet on the rules is 54 pages long, so here’s the gist:

    Allowed Foods:

    1. Fruits
    2. Vegetables
    3. Dairy Products
    4. Protein-rich food (meat, beans, poultry, seafood, eggs, nuts, seeds)
    5. Whole-grain rich food (the first ingredient must be a whole grain or the item must be 50 per cent whole grains by weight)
    6. Combo foods that have at least ¼ cup fruit or vegetable.

    Exception until July 1, 2016: If a food contains the minimum of 10% of the Daily Value of potassium, Vitamin D, calcium, or fiber – it is allowed.

    Nutritional Standards:

    1. Calories
    • Max 200 calories for snacks and sides
    • Max 350 calories for entrees (outside the school lunch program)
    1. Sugar
    • Max 35% sugar by weight (some fruit exceptions)
    1. Sodium
    • Max 230mg for snacks (After July 1, 2016: 200mg)
    1. Fat
    • Fat: Max 35% calories from fat (as packaged or served with some exceptions regarding reduced fat cheese and nuts)
    • Saturated Fat: Max 10% calories from fat (as packaged or served with some exceptions regarding reduced fat cheese and nuts)
    • No Trans Fat.

    Beverage Rules

    a. Allowed Drinks: Water, carbonated water, unflavored low-fat milk, flavored or unflavored fat-free milk and soy alternatives, 100% fruit or vegetable juice.

    Size limits:

    Elementary schools: 8 oz.

    Middle and high schools: 12 oz.

    Caffeine only permitted in high schools

    Want the video summary? Watch enthusiastic hands McGee here:

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7p9AhZlSpeU#t=33

    Bon appétit

    Image via Wikimedia Commons

  • Bacon Prices Rise as Virus Kills Newborn Pigs

    Bacon prices are rising as a virus sweeps though the Unites States, killing baby pigs. The Associated Press reported that the Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea Virus, which has never been seen in the United States, has already killed millions of pigs in twenty seven states. The price of bacon has risen nearly thirteen percent over the past year. Farmers are desperately attempting to take measures to curtail the epidemic, ranging from basic hygiene to euthanasia of livestock.

    The first case of the virus was reported in May of last year. The cold winter this year did not help matters, as scientist reported the virus thrives in cold weather. Pork is at its highest price its ever. In February the average price of sliced bacon was $5.46, compared to $4.83 in 2013, and $3.62 in 2009. CEO of Tyson Foods Donnie Smith told CNBC that “you should expect to see very high prices for your ground beef, your other meat cuts, all the pork cuts will be higher this year.”

    The National Pork Board released a statement stating that the virus is not a risk to humans or other animals. The statement seemed to emphasize the fact that the virus had been known since 1971 when it was first spotted in England. They maintained that in addition to their team of veterinarians, the USDA and the American Association of Swine Veterinarians were actively monitoring the progress of the outbreak.

    Bacon is not the only breakfast item which is rising in price. The American Farm Bureau released a report stating prices for eggs, bread, milk, and cereal all rose last year.

    “We’re all used to: ‘We’ve got plenty of food, it’s cheap. We’ll eat what we want to,’” Economist Steve Meyer told the Associated Press. “We Americans are very spoiled by that, but this is one of those times that we’re going to find out that when one of these things hits, it costs us a lot of money.”

    Image via Wikimedia Commons

  • Hot Pockets Recall: Nestlé USA Recalls Philly Steak and Cheese Hot Pockets

    The recent Hot Pockets recall has prompted the removal of various flavors of the product as part of a massive meat recall.

    On Feb. 18, Nestlé USA issued a press release with details about the voluntary product recall. The multinational food and beverage company stated that the recall was issued for an unspecified number of “Philly Steak” and its “Croissant Crust Philly Steak and Cheese” Hot Pockets in various sizes.

    “Our teams at Nestlé have reviewed our vendor records and have determined that one Nestlé brand has been impacted by the Rancho meat recall.”

    The executive order comes after a massive meat recall was announced by Rancho Feeding Corp., which may have affected the frozen Hot Pocket sandwich products. The Petaluma, CA-based food distribution company has recalled more than an estimated 8.7 million pounds of beef after regulators discovered that diseased and unhealthy animals were used to process the meat used to make the Hot Pockets.

    (image)

    “While Nestlé did not purchase meat directly from Rancho, our procurement teams worked with our supply chain to understand whether any company in this chain may have purchased meat from Rancho Feeding at any time during 2013, the period of time covered by the Rancho Feeding recall,” the press release stated.

    “From this review, we have confirmed that a small quantity of meat from Rancho was used at Nestlé’s Chatsworth, California production operation, a facility devoted entirely to HOT POCKETS® brand sandwiches.  The affected batches of the two varieties in our range of HOT POCKETS® brand sandwiches are being removed from the marketplace.”

    It has also been stated that the animals in question were not thoroughly inspected prior to processing. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service reportedly shut down all operations at the processing plant after it was determined that the meat products were unsuitable for human consumption.

    Although no illnesses have been reported, the USDA recommends that consumers return the recalled products to the retailer where they were purchased. Consumers can also contact Nestlé Customer Service at (800) 392-4057.

    Image via Hot Pockets, Facebook
    Image via Hot Pockets, Facebook

  • Jerky Recall: Utah Company Products Contain Unspecified Allergen

    Well, it appears that 2014 is starting off pretty rough for beef.

    Just when this meat recall epidemic could not get any worst, another company has asked distributors to take their products off of store shelves.

    This time, however, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is targeting misbranded beef jerky snack products.

    Utah’s Prime Snax Inc., located in Salt Lake City, voluntarily recalled 90,000 pounds of beef jerky. Various flavors include the Chipper Snax Brand, the Nature Snack Organic, and Arizona Jacks.

    As stated on their website, “We love developing, producing and marketing meat snacks products.”

    Although the company claims to have 100 years of management expertise, Tuesday’s recall stems from an allergen.

    According to FSIS, beef jerky products marked with EST. 18951 “contained a known allergen, soy lecithin, that was not declared on the label.”

    Soy lecithin is a chemical used in the cleaning process of the company’s meat products.

    The ingredient became a concern when an inspector from FSIS ran across an issue during a label review.

    Prime Snax’s CEO Kevin Howard told the Associated Press that the unspecified ingredient was a “technical labeling mistake,” and the company did not know it was necessary to mention soy lecithin.

    All jerky products produced before February 2 will go on recall. However, the USDA also labeled packages with dates earlier than Aug. 11, 2015 as contaminated.

    Fortunately, no one has complained about the product. Federal inspectors are unaware of the health risks involved but are certain that they are minor.

    The latest recall comes at a time when California’s Rancho Feeding Corporation had 8.7 million pounds of beef returned to their processing center. The recall was due to improper animal inspections.

    Prime Snax’s recall will affect the following beef jerky brands: Arizona Jacks, Desert Star, Southwest Trail, Terrell, and Kettle Creek.

    Review the detailed list via the USDA website.

    Image via Wikimedia Commons

  • Meat Recall Amounts To a Year’s Worth of Product

    Northern California meat producer, Rancho Feeding Corp., is recalling 8.7 million pounds, or what amounts to about a year’s worth, of meat. The affected meat was processed from Jan. 1, 2013, through Jan. 7, 2014, according to the AP.

    Rancho Feeding Corp. has been under the magnifying glass of the USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service, which determined that the company processed diseased and unhealthy animals. That resulted in the recall of more than 40,000 pounds of meat products produced last month on Jan. 13th, according to CNN.

    The USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service said that Rancho Feeding Corp. “processed diseased and unsound animals and carried out these activities without the benefit or full benefit of federal inspection. Thus, the products are adulterated, because they are unsound, unwholesome or otherwise are unfit for human food and must be removed from commerce.”

    The recall notice also noted that there was a “reasonable probability” that eating the affected meat could result in “serious, adverse health consequences or death.”

    The products that are named in the most recent recall are some of the less-popular items like beef carcasses, oxtail, liver, cheeks, tripe, tongue and veal bones. The affected meat products were produced and shipped between January 1, 2013, through January 7, 2014, and all have “EST. 527” in the USDA mark of inspection. They also all have a case code number which will end with a 3 or 4.

    As of yet, there are not any reported illnesses tied to Rancho Feeding Corp. These products did go to distribution centers and retail stores in California, Florida, Illinois and Texas, so please check the labels on any of these kinds of products that you buy.

    Unsurprisingly, phone calls made to Rancho Feeding Corp. for comment over the weekend went unanswered.

    Image via youtube

  • Foster Farms Linked to Salmonella Outbreak

    A public health alert was issued on October 7, 2013 by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) after nearly 300 cases of salmonella were reported in 18 states across the U.S.

    The products that are noted in the health alert are marked with the USDA inspection numbers P6137, P6137A and P7632, and are produced by Foster Farms. The products were mostly distributed in California, Oregon and Washington. Currently none of the products are being recalled.

    Foster Farms released a statement saying: “We are committed to ensuring the safety of our products, and our family-owned company has maintained an excellent food safety record during its near 80-year history. We deeply regret any foodborne illness that may be associated with any of our products. Food safety is at the very heart of our business. It is a continuous process of improvement.”

    Dr. Robert O’Connor, Foster Farm’s food safety chief and head veterinarian informed the public on the importance of food safety and also stated that the FSIS investigation would not be affected by the government being shut down.

    “Salmonella is naturally occurring in poultry and can be fully eradicated if raw product is properly handled and fully cooked,” he said. “All poultry producers strive to reduce bacterial presence, including Salmonella. We take food safety very seriously. When the incidence of illnesses linked to Salmonella increased, we wanted to know why and we have worked quickly to identify and implement additional controls. It is also important to reassure the public that the FSIS process has not been affected by the recent government shutdown.”

    The Center for Disease Control discovered that the salmonella outbreak included several antibiotic-resistant strains of the disease.

    What does this mean? Well, because the strains will not respond to the antibiotics, more people are being hospitalized with more severe reactions. Currently, 42 percent of people affected have been put into the hospital.

    CDC spokeswoman, Barbara Reynolds says: “That’s a high percentage. You would expect about 20% hospitalizations with salmonella Heidelberg.”

    So far, no deaths have been linked to this outbreak.

    Image via Wikimedia Commons

  • Horse Slaughterhouse: USDA Opens Path for Horsemeat

    Horse—It’s What’s for Dinner.

    Is this the new trendy food item? Despite the fact that the UK was recently up in arms after it was discovered that some varieties of microwavable meals contained horsemeat, other countries are comfortable with the idea. Chefs in Paris have been putting it back on the menu in recent years.

    And horse-meat could be on its way to American tables.

    The USDA has just given approval for a New Mexico plant owned by Valley Meat Co. to slaughter horses for meat (the plant still has to undergo on-site inspection before it can sell the product). Similar applications have been made by plants in Missouri and Iowa.

    Congress banned the domestic slaughter of horses in 2006, but the product is now again available to export. At present, approximately 130,000 horses per year are shipped abroad for slaughter (primarily to Mexico and Canada). The 2006 law currently at odds with the New Mexico plant’s “grant of inspection” (which had pulled funding for USDA inspections of horse plants, but had not outright forbidden horse slaughter) expired in 2011. If Valley Meat, and the companies following suit, are granted the right to slaughter domestically, export-for-slaughter could be expected to decline.

    Since horses are not raised as food animals in the US, they are often given drugs that are banned for other livestock, making their food use (for humans or animals) questionable. Even so, this has not prevented export of horse meat in the past. Horse meat is sold for human consumption in many countries, including Mexico, China, and Russia. The world’s top three horse meat producing countries are China (1,700,000 metric tons), Mexico (626,000 metric tons), and Kazakhstan (340,000 metric tons). Mongolia, Argentina, Italy, Brazil, and Kyrgyzstan round out the top eight.

    Currently, horse meat costs less than 25% of what beef costs.

    And, just for cocktail party conversation: Western biases against the consumption of horse meat might stem from Pope Gregory III’s fight against the ritual consumption of horse in pagan practice in the early eighth century.

  • Beef Recall: National Beef Could Contain E. Coli

    The National Beef Packing company this week recalled almost 23,000 pounds of ground beef over fears it could be contaminated with E. coli. The Missouri company issued the recall after the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Food Safety and Inspection Service tested a ground beef sample positive for the bacteria. As of Wednesday, there have been no reported illnesses related to the beef.

    The recall is regional, affecting 22,737 pounds of ground beef produced on May 25 2013. The products are all 10-pound packs of National Beef-branded beef and chuck. Packages of 80/20 Coarse Ground Chuck, 81/19 Coarse Ground Beef, 80/20 Fine Ground Chuck with sell by dates of June 14, 2013 are all included in the recall. The package codes for these products are 0481, 0421, and 0484. The products were shipped in 70-pound boxes to distributors and military commissaries in the Kansas City area.

    The products are no longer available to consumers, though there are still concerns that some packages could still be found in consumers’ freezers. National Beef has stated that it is cooperating with authorities to investigate the meat and is in the process of contacting customers who purchased it.

    E. coli can cause severe diarrhea, abdominal cramps, dehydration, and, in rare cases, death. The USDA recommends using a food thermometer to ensure that ground beef is cooked to 160 degrees Fahrenheit.

  • Higher Food Prices Could Take a Chunk Out of Your Budget by The End of the Year

    “Higher food prices” isn’t the sort of headline most people want to read at the moment. Although some areas have noticed an increase in jobs, 8.2% of the population is still unemployed. Not surprisingly, the last thing these individuals want to hear about is the price of food going up. However, with a widespread drought wreaking havoc on crops all across the nation, officials are warning folks that a trip to the local supermarket may cost them more by the end of the year.

    Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack stated on Wednesday that over two-thirds of corn and soybean crops have been affected by the current drought. Livestock producers are having a particularly hard time dealing with the situation, which could, in theory, result in consumers paying more at the check-out counter. As if your budget wasn’t stretched thin enough already.

    Vilsack explained the price of beef, poultry, and pork may drop a bit, though he anticipated that they will rise over time, as will the cost of processed food. In order to combat such a scenario, Vilsack is pushing Congress to renew a disaster relief program that expired in 2011. His overall goal, he explained, is to help producers and farmers weather these extreme conditions.

    “We’re obviously going to need some help working with Congress to revive the disaster programs that were allowed to expire last year,” Vilsack explained.

    If he can’t get these programs back in working order, Vilsack hopes other steps will be taken as soon as possible. Pardon me while I step aside to perform my rain dance.

  • USDA to Improve Regulations For Internet Pet Sales

    The USDA is proposing changes to current laws that bring internet puppy sellers into the Animal Welfare Act. Before now, dog breeders who sell their animals online were able to get around the 1966 law, which stipulates that a retail establishments selling animals are exempt from inspections. The law, which was made before the internet’s existence, was going on the assumption that the condition of animals sold to the public could be seen just by visiting the store.

    With the internet came the ability to have a storefront without the actual physical item being present. In the case of pet sales, animals can be sold without any indication of their health or well-being. Currently, large-scale puppy mills are selling wholesale animals over the phone or internet, and escaping any oversight or inspection.

    The new law subjects anyone who breeds more than four females and makes their sales electronically (over the phone or internet) to regular inspections under the Animal Welfare Act. Sellers must open their doors to the public or obtain a license and be subject to inspections from the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.

    “This is a very significant proposed federal action, since thousands of large-scale breeders take advantage of a loophole that allows them to escape any federal inspections,” said Wayne Pacelle, president of The Humane Society of the United States, to The AP. “Dogs in puppy mills often live in small, overcrowded cages, living in filth and denied veterinary care. We need more eyes on these operations, and this rule will help.”

    The law is likely to be changed, as the only opponents would be the puppy mills themselves. Cruelty to animals is widely hated amongst most American, especially for puppy mills, who put many animals’ well-being at risk to make a quick buck. Hopefully the USDA’s crackdown on internet sales will make a difference in shutting them down.

    If you want your voice to be known, they will be taking comments on the rule change for 60 days. Let us no what you think in the comments below. Will the revised law help eliminate puppy mills? Or is this just bureaucratic posturing, with no real effort being made?

    [Source: AP via SFGate]

  • Neologism Pink Slime In Ground Beef Is Bad!!

    Thousands of people have begun to take notice of a pink slimy goo on ground hamburger beef. There has been a lot of media buzz about exactly what it is and if it’s harmful or not. Many food advocates want it off our shelves and off the menu whatever it is. Hopefully this story will shed a little insight on what the pink slime is.

    Dr. Marion Nestle, professor of nutrition, food studies, and public health at New York University comments on the goo:

    “It sounds disgusting, a lot of people have been writing about it. Therefore, more people know about it, therefore more people are queasy about it, particularly when you start thinking about how this stuff turns up in school lunches,”

    According to the professor, it is a fine layer of fatty beef trimmings which come from not-so appetizing parts of the cow. It is cooked, processed, and sprayed with ammonia hydroxide to kill any bacteria that live in the mixture. It is then cut into solid blocks which can be mixed with the ground beef to give it more substance; in other words, it’s a filler.

    According to a 2012 ABC News Investigation, the United States Agricultural Department (USDA) knows about the pink slime, commonly called boneless lean beef trimmings, but doesn’t require processors and manufacturers to label it with the other ingredients. The report also revealed that pink slime exists in as much as 70% of America’s ground beef.

    Sound pretty appetizing, doesn’t it? It isn’t to me either. I think adding extra ammonia and fat to our bodies that isn’t disclosed on the label of ground beef products is bad, right? Who knows, but I don’t want it and I have a list of places that promise they don’t use the pink filler in their beef products including several fast food chains and a few select grocers.

    Pink slime free ground beef locations:

    1). Publix
    2). Costco
    3). HEB
    4). Whole Foods
    5). Kroger
    6). McDonalds
    7). Burger King
    8). Taco Bell

    Apparently many school systems are taking efforts to ban it from their cafeterias as well. There really hasn’t been any reports of negative health benefits as a result of eating pink slime, but again, why are we being sold an ingredient that isn’t listed on the packaging and consists of fat and chemicals? Not good!

    Fillers are bad and a blatant misrepresentation of what a product is. Be especially weary of anything called ‘hamburger’ rather than ground beef. Organic, of course is the best choice as the regulations don’t allow for any added fillers or chemicals. Be on the look out for pink slime.

  • BestCigarPrices.com Rallying Cigar Enthusiasts To Oppose New Restrictions On Cigars

    After one branch of the U.S. government nearly declared pizza sauce a vegetable, another branch is issuing new tobacco regulations that are vexing the cigar industry.

    Not that tobacco- and pizza-related issues should be even slightly similar but the comparison does elucidate the caprice of the government when it comes to regulation of substances people like to put inside their body. Regarding the former substance, a bill being considered by the USDA has the potential to enact a series of new regulations on the cigar industry and has understandably gotten cigar connoisseurs up in arms. BestCigarPrices.com, a leading cigar distributor, issued a statement today detailing some of the ways in which the new USDA regulation can aversely affect the cigar industry:

  • Ban on mail order cigar sales
  • Ban on walk-in humidors
  • Ban on cigar events where free cigars would be available to legal-age adults
  • Limits on special release and small-batch cigars due to mandates that cigar blends be submitted to the FDA for pre-approval
  • Limits on nicotine levels in cigars to near zero, severely impacting the flavor of cigars
  • New “user fees” [taxes] on cigars to finance regulations
  • Ban on all cigar merchandise

    • Cigar Rights of America, who have created a petition in order to garner support from cigar enthusiasts, also fear that the new regulation would “deface ornate, decorative cigar boxes,” which, if you’ve ever seen one, are pretty aesthetically pleasing. They also work as great storage boxes and, by the sheer mystique of using a cigar box to store something, seems to automatically increase the value of the mementos you store in them.

    At any rate. To legislatively combat this impending regulation, Cigar Rights of America partnered with legislators to draft a bill that would exempt premium cigars from the USDA’s regulation. The provision, which aims to exempt premium cigars from the new regulation would aim to protect jobs and small business owners involved in the cigar industry. In order to keep the cigar industry from being affected, the statement said, the act must garner support from at least 20 U.S. Senators and 150 House Representatives.

    Given that cigars are enjoyed by a special group, it’s not like there’s a deluge of advertising campaigns trying to entice children to start smoking sweet watermelon-flavored cigars or anything devious like that. If there is, the campaign has been stealthy and brilliant because I’ve never seen it, but I’m going to assume that such a covert ad blitz is non-existent and cigars are enjoyed by a select niche of people. And while these concerns of Cigar Rights of Americas are hypothetical – it’s not even guaranteed that the USDA would micromanage cigar sales with the new regulations – I think anybody that’s paid attention to the Internet lately can understand the fear involved in “hypothetical” applications of new laws.

  • U.S. Invests $1.2 Billion For Rural Broadband

    U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack has announced funding of 126 Recovery Act broadband infrastructure projects aimed at creating jobs and providing rural residents in 38 states and Native American tribal areas improved service.

    Tom-Vilsack "The broadband projects announced today will give rural Americans access to the tools they need to attract new businesses, jobs, health care and educational opportunities," Vilsack said.

    "The Obama Administration understands that bringing broadband to rural America provides a gateway for businesses and key anchor institutions – such as libraries, schools, public safety and community centers – to provide services to thousands of Americans. These projects will create jobs building these networks, and the completed systems will provide a platform for rural economic growth for years to come."

    A total of $1.2 billion will be invested in the 126 broadband infrastructure projects through funding from the Recovery Act. An additional $117 million in private investment will bring the total to $1.3 billion.

    By leveraging Recovery Act funding authorized by Congress, USDA has been able to provide loans and grants of $2.65 billion to construct 231 broadband projects in 45 states and one territory. The remaining authorized funds will allow an additional $1 billion in loans and grants by September 30, 2010. The Recovery Act provided USDA with a total of $2.5 billion to invest in expanding broadband access to rural America.