Ranchers Beef - the Plot Thickens. Or Sould that be Sickens?

[Neil Waugh]

The Ranchers Beef train wreck just gets worse.


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Statement of Dr. Richard Raymond Regarding Increased Testing and Re-inspection of Imported Meat and Poultry Products from Canada



Congressional and Public Affairs
(202) 720-9113
Amanda Eamich


"The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has instituted additional import requirements for meat and poultry products from Canada. Effective next week, FSIS will increase testing for Salmonella, Listeria Monocytogenes and E. coli O157:H7 and will require that shipments be held until testing is complete and products are confirmed negative for these pathogens. In addition, Canadian meat and poultry products will receive increased levels of re-inspection by FSIS to confirm they are eligible to enter commerce when presented at the U.S. border.

"FSIS will also immediately begin an audit of the Canadian food safety system that will focus on Ranchers Beef, Ltd. and will include other similar establishments that export beef to the U.S. Based on information provided by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA), FSIS had previously identified this Canadian plant, which has ceased operations, as a likely source of the multi-state outbreak of E. coli O157:H7 infections linked to the Topps Meat Company. As the result of that recall investigation, FSIS delisted Ranchers Beef, Ltd., Canadian establishment number 630, on October 20, 2007. No product from that firm has been eligible to enter into the U.S. since that date.

["The audit and stepped up actions at the border are being conducted because of concerns about testing practices at Ranchers Beef, Ltd. that were discovered as part of the ongoing investigation.

"FSIS will review the preliminary findings of this audit to determine whether there is need to continue these additional interim requirements. The FSIS team for this audit will include top officials from the Office of International Affairs and the Office of Program Evaluation, Enforcement and Review.

"These measures are being taken to further ensure the equivalency of the system already in place. We continue to work together with our food safety partners both domestically and internationally to ensure imported meat and poultry products are produced under systems at least equivalent to those in the United States.

"Yesterday FSIS Administrator Alfred Almanza and an additional senior FSIS food safety official met with their counterparts at the CFIA to inform them of increased testing and re-inspection requirements."


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Last Modified: November 3, 2007

What do you bet this wakes up R-Calf.

It's almost like the old BSE Bingo days. Without the billion buck bailout. At least not yet.

I wonder when Alberta Ag Minister George What's-His-Name is going to figure out this is an issue.

 

[rkaiser]

Sounds like an opportunity to me Neil. Not only beef tested for ecoli but tested for BSE as well. Canada will lead the world with the healthiest and safest product on the market as soon as we can kick Cargill and Tyson out of our country and replace them with processors who see the merit in setting the standard higher than the USA. Why would the pirates support something as drastic as this when they can keep the captive Canadian supply of cattle right where they want them. And supply generic product from the USA or Brasil with less stringent testing regulations.

Always nice to see a news writer screw up on his spelling. Just when I thought I sould have paid more attention in school...........

 

[Sandhusker]

Sounds like an opportunity to me Neil. Not only beef tested for ecoli but tested for BSE as well. Canada will lead the world with the healthiest and safest product on the market as soon as we can kick Cargill and Tyson out of our country and replace them with processors who see the merit in setting the standard higher than the USA. Why would the pirates support something as drastic as this when they can keep the captive Canadian supply of cattle right where they want them. And supply generic product from the USA or Brasil with less stringent testing regulations.

Always nice to see a news writer screw up on his spelling. Just when I thought I sould have paid more attention in school...........

This is part of the "efficiencies" of the big packers that the packer lackey's like to bring up.

Go get 'em, Kaiser.

 

[Tex]

I would like to point out that this is a processing problem, not a producer's problem. Unfortunately, producers will have to help pay the price for a lax regulatory system in Canada.

 

[Mrs.Greg]

I would like to point out that this is a processing problem, not a producer's problem. Unfortunately, producers will have to help pay the price for a lax regulatory system in Canada.

Who pays the price for the US's lax regulatory system?

 

[Sandhusker]

This is just another example of when trade is prioritized over safety. BOTH governments are responsible; Canada's for letting contaminated meat leave Balzac and the US for allowing it in. The USDA then dropped the ball again by not having enough inspectors at the processing plants and emasculating those inspectors of the powers they should have - while putting a "USDA Inspected" stamp on product that wasn't USDA Inspected.

USDA seems to want safe food on the cheap, and that's not going to happen. They're letting industry cut too many corners and the result is predictable.

 

[Mrs.Greg]

This is just another example of when trade is prioritized over safety. BOTH governments are responsible; Canada's for letting contaminated meat leave Balzac and the US for allowing it in. The USDA then dropped the ball again by not having enough inspectors at the processing plants and emasculating those inspectors of the powers they should have - while putting a "USDA Inspected" stamp on product that wasn't USDA Inspected.

USDA seems to want safe food on the cheap, and that's not going to happen. They're letting industry cut too many corners and the result is predictable.

:shock: I agree with you :!: Both countries are at fault.It seems funny to me that theres new threads being started about the Canadian regulations for food safety being post here,I WANT new regulations,we're lucky enough to know where our beef supply comes from but alot of family and friends don't.I want everyone I know{and don't know} to be safe in the food they are eating :!: :!:

Unfortunatly its not just the USDA that wants cheap food its the costumers,they're happier paying cheap prices for poor quality of meat

 

[Tex]

I would like to point out that this is a processing problem, not a producer's problem. Unfortunately, producers will have to help pay the price for a lax regulatory system in Canada.

Who pays the price for the US's lax regulatory system?

Now you are catching on there.

Cargill just recalled over a million lbs.

PRODUCERS pay for recalls when it decreases demand.

This lax regulatory system was U.S., Canadian, and ultimately an American company, Cargill!

...and yes, I was saying that Canadian producers will have to pay the price, but so do U.S. producers.

You have more in common with producers than processors.

 

[Ben Roberts]

This message is for all of you, NCBA and multi-national packer ( one-in -the-same) supporters.

Now that Ranchers Beef is out of the way, who will be the next, when the next E-coli contamination surfaces. Will it be one of the Big Four, and will the outcome be the same as it will be for Ranchers Beef.

Best Regards
Ben Roberts

 

[hillsdown]

Tex wrote:

You have more in common with producers than processors.

Well by reading what some producers spew on here it seems we have nothing in common at all.

It's a shame that some can't figure out that in the long run the North American cattle industry could be a thing of the past.

 

[Sandhusker]

Tex wrote:

You have more in common with producers than processors.

Well by reading what some producers spew on here it seems we have nothing in common at all.

It's a shame that some can't figure out that in the long run the North American cattle industry could be a thing of the past.

The North American cattle industry needs to be a thing of the past. It's a packer concept that plays us against you and makes Canadian producers dependent on the US.

 

[Mrs.Greg]

Tex wrote:

You have more in common with producers than processors.

Well by reading what some producers spew on here it seems we have nothing in common at all.

It's a shame that some can't figure out that in the long run the North American cattle industry could be a thing of the past.

The North American cattle industry needs to be a thing of the past. It's a packer concept that plays us against you and makes Canadian producers dependent on the US.

I guess when your country can supply enough food for its citizens and non-legal citizens then the US producers won't be dependent on the Canadian producers.


Yup Hillsdown your getting it,theres a bunch of real jerks on here.But theres also a whole bunch more American producers on here that are great people and are smarter then you and I and stay out of here.

 

[Sandhusker]

MrsGreg, "I guess when your country can supply enough food for its citizens and non-legal citizens then the US producers won't be dependent on the Canadian producers.'

Who got hurt when the border closed? Do you think it is wise for your cattle industry to always be operating with the possibility of that happening again at any given time? It's that "North American" herd Kool-aid that set you up. Learn from your mistakes.

 

[Mrs.Greg]

If you want the border close close it completly.....no more boxed meat,that never stopped did it.You guys are the pots calling the Kettles black :roll: :roll: :roll:

I take it all your cattle go farm to mouth,no packers in the centre HUH :wink:

 

[Kato]

Just a thought. Would this new and more stringent testing and blaming be slapped on Canadian beef if the problem had been at the Cargill plant? :???:

...and no it's not wise for the Canadian cattle industry to always be operating with the possibility of that happening again at any given time. This whole fiasco is yet another bad outcome of what happens when we try and change that. We tried it in Manitoba, but our plant didn't even get started. They tried it in Saskatchewan, and they're killing horses to keep the plant running. They tried it in Alberta, sunk a lot of money into setting up for BSE tested beef, and this happened. Seems this is not as easy as armchair quarterbacks would like to think.

Got any suggestions as to what we should try next???? Something more constructive than criticism and finger pointing???

 

[PORKER]

Quite selling Commodity BEEF, Commodity markets are markets where raw or primary products are exchanged. These raw commodities are traded on regulated commodities exchanges, in which they are bought and sold in standardized contracts.

You need to sell traceability right down to the package from that one barley or grassfed animal from that one farm or ranch that was traced all the way to the FORK or table. Thousands of customers are waiting ! www.ScoringAg.com runs this technology.

Start SELLING SOME VALUE !!!!

 

[Sandhusker]

Kato, "Just a thought. Would this new and more stringent testing and blaming be slapped on Canadian beef if the problem had been at the Cargill plant?"

I don't see how Canadians can really complain how they've been treated by the USDA. The USDA completely changed BSE policy exclusively for you, tried to break their own rules to reopen, created the class of "minimal risk" just for you, declined to get the OIE class we qualify for so we could be the same as Canada, lied about the effective date of your ban, etc.....


Kato, "Got any suggestions as to what we should try next???? Something more constructive than criticism and finger pointing???"

First of all, when something about destroys you, do something different! This North American herd BS caused all sorts of hell up there, and people are still falling out. You've got to wean yourself off the US and have the nads to tell the USDA to piss off. Establish markets other than the US, forget about those horse crap trade agreements that make you victims to "trade barriers" and all that crap. Give consumers what they want, not what Cargill and Tyson want to sell.

The good Rev. Roberts won't agree, but this is going to take a change of priorities from your government. They've got to decide Canadians are more important than "trade". They're going to have to open things up so you can get out of the commodity beef business and into the Canadian beef business. That's going to take a commitment of real dollars and time. .

 

[PORKER]

New change of priorities from your government. They've got to decide if Canadians are more important than "trade". They're going to have to open things up so you can get out of the commodity beef business and into the Canadian beef business. That's going to take a commitment of real dollars and time.

Sandhusker, You got it TOO, commitment.

 

[Ben Roberts]

Got any suggestions as to what we should try next???? Something more constructive than criticism and finger pointing???

Kato, since the global demand in the developing world, will double by 2020 from 1995 for protein meats.
poultry....up 85%
beef........up 80%
pork........up 45%

And with our (beef cow) numbers world wide at 224 million head, with China having 29%, Brazil at 23% and the United States at 15% of that total. It would only put the producers in the United States and Canada in a stronger marketing position if we could combine our cattle numbers.

With producer organizations in both countries with their heads in the sand and a protectionist attitude, fighting over border issues, instead of working together on issues that would save our industry, in both countries for us, and future generations. I don't see, the United States or Canada, playing a part in that growing demand.

So, I would say to you and other Canadian cattle producers, call Randy Kaiser. Work together, in developing a small niche market away from commodity beef, and build your own future for yourself, and for future generations.


Best Regards
Ben Roberts

 

[Soapweed]

Got any suggestions as to what we should try next???? Something more constructive than criticism and finger pointing???

Kato, since the global demand in the developing world, will double by 2020 from 1995 for protein meats.
poultry....up 85%
beef........up 80%
pork........up 45%

And with our (beef cow) numbers world wide at 224 million head, with China having 29%, Brazil at 23% and the United States at 15% of that total. It would only put the producers in the United States and Canada in a stronger marketing position if we could combine our cattle numbers.

With producer organizations in both countries with their heads in the sand and a protectionist attitude, fighting over border issues, instead of working together on issues that would save our industry, in both countries for us, and future generations. I don't see, the United States or Canada, playing a part in that growing demand.

So, I would say to you and other Canadian cattle producers, call Randy Kaiser. Work together, in developing a small niche market away from commodity beef, and build your own future for yourself, and for future generations.


Best Regards
Ben Roberts

Good points, Ben. As you say, the USA and Canada need to work together instead of each trying to float their own boat. Both countries have top-of-the-line cattle with superior genetics. In reality, these countries are like Siamese twins or "conjoined" from head to foot. They should start acting like friendly brothers instead of fighting brothers. So much more could be accomplished in the general scheme of things.

Whether we like it or not, globalism is here to stay. We had just as well get used to it, and operate accordingly.