USDA re-opens Canadian border

[Tex]

I'm proud of the way our country is looking into the future of the cattle industry,we're trying,it maybe a slow process but its looking up and ahead.And no not just in the interests of personal cattlemen ,in the interest of family and friend ingesting our meats.It looks to me like both countries are having food safety issues we have to address.It scares the daylights out of me my grandson will eat something like tainted spinach,and succomb to the illness.Don't ever believe this is just about a business its about life and we do not take that lightly.

Well, Rep. Bart Stupak had the CEO of Cargill in on an oversight committee hearing. It seems that Hormel and Cargill have been using carbon monoxide to color their meat and not telling anyone. It might be others as well.

The problem with carbon monoxide is that the meat stays a pretty red color even when it starts spoiling. You can't tell that it wasn't fresh. They had meat on the table that was 1yr old, 2 yrs old, fresh and other ages. You couldn't tell by looking at them the difference between any of the meats.

We have to have limitations on our meat processors to keep the good beef you produce safe and nutritious. We need good regulations to keep these people honest so your dream will be a reality.

Mr. Page, I believe it was, said they only had 48 calls since they started with the product line. Stupak asked if anyone was told of the deception. No one was told.

The meat packers had the USDA by pass a rule making decision so there would be no public comment on the method. The consumer groups could not get any freedom of information from the USDA on the process and so could have no input.

When the consumer group did a survey, they found that color was a prime determinate on whether or not meat was fresh. They worried about someone buying meat, and somewhere down the line it wasn't kept refrigerated and then someone cooking it thinking that it still looked good. It could be a real health hazard.

I just bought some strip steak from Sam's. It was a little pricey, but hey, sometimes you get what you pay for. I called Sam's to ask if the meat was treated with carbon monoxide and they said NO. I asked them if they had a lot of calls on their meat. The lady said they had A LOT of calls on it because of the hearings. This is just one little Sam's store in a city. I put a little piece on the counter to see if will turn color as it ages. If it doesn't, the problem will be much larger than I thought. We don't need dishonesty in our product.

We have to make sure our food policy delivers a safe and healthy product to all our customers. It can't be done by making short cuts. It is a good product that is worth every penny. We should be willing to prove its safety and merit to anyone who asks.

Econ, why would you go and buy your steak. Most of us ranchers eat what we produce. :roll: On second thought, I think I know the answer.

I do too when I am at home.

 

[cowzilla]

So if American consumers won't take the time to read the expiration Date on meat products and use proper handling of product how is the Country Of Origin going to work ?

 

[Tex]

So if American consumers won't take the time to read the expiration Date on meat products and use proper handling of product how is the Country Of Origin going to work ?

It is just going to tell people what country their meat came from, nothing more.

 

[QUESTION]

The point is currently consumers don't read labels even for warnings on ground meat. why would they read about what country it comes from, after a few months and determining US product is no better than beef from any other part of the world it won't matter, will the labeling continue?

 

[Anonymous]

The point is currently consumers don't read labels even for warnings on ground meat. why would they read about what country it comes from, after a few months and determining US product is no better than beef from any other part of the world it won't matter, will the labeling continue?

The Packer/Retailers have to have rules/laws governing the label size and readability- on all the labels and warnings....In the Congressional hearings- testimony was put forth that those companies that were putting a packaging date- and/or info that the package contained additives were doing it in such small print and/or in such obscure fashion that in many cases consumers were either unable to find it- or to read it....And most were, unless required by law, labeling nothing as to additives-- just a "buyer beware"- or "buyer be damned" attitude.....

The consumer groups- and several Congressmen came right out and said that this was purposely being done to deceive and defraud consumers-- the same as the Packers are doing currently by passing off cheaper foreign product as US beef.....

 

[Tex]

The point is currently consumers don't read labels even for warnings on ground meat. why would they read about what country it comes from, after a few months and determining US product is no better than beef from any other part of the world it won't matter, will the labeling continue?

The Packer/Retailers have to have rules/laws governing the label size and readability- on all the labels and warnings....In the Congressional hearings- testimony was put forth that those companies that were putting a packaging date- and/or info that the package contained additives were doing it in such small print and/or in such obscure fashion that in many cases consumers were either unable to find it- or to read it....And most were, unless required by law, labeling nothing as to additives-- just a "buyer beware"- or "buyer be damned" attitude.....

The consumer groups- and several Congressmen came right out and said that this was purposely being done to deceive and defraud consumers-- the same as the Packers are doing currently by passing off cheaper foreign product as US beef.....

Not only that, but it was plain to see by watching the hearings that Cargill used the USDA to protect themselves from deceptive practices. The USDA showed itself to be the incompetent packer arm of the government it has become.

I say they need an enema to clean out that agency.

 

[QUESTION]

So why not just wrap meat in an american flag coloured shrink wrap. And see in a test market how well it will out sell all other meat? Just a reminder this buy american thing has been tried before and has failed miserably. So you better be able to producer a product better than from anywhere else consistantly and noticeably cheaper too. IMHO won't get done.

 

[Tex]

So why not just wrap meat in an american flag coloured shrink wrap. And see in a test market how well it will out sell all other meat? Just a reminder this buy american thing has been tried before and has failed miserably. So you better be able to producer a product better than from anywhere else consistantly and noticeably cheaper too. IMHO won't get done.

If it doesn't matter so much, why does it bother you? Take rkaser's advice and make lemonade. If you have a good product, you should have no problem with success.

 

[QUESTION]

If it was done fairly it wouldn't bother me but, we both know that won't happen. If i have a good product :roll:. All i am saying is that studies show a small percent of consumers read labels, and of those who do the number one factor is quality not where something comers from. Second is price. So the point i was tring to make was that the only thing COOL will do is increase the cost to packers for canadian beef,so they will pay less for animals i highly doubt they will pass on the savings to the consumer. So canadian producers are going to bare the cost of a US program they do not think is necessary ,yeah they are not going to like it. We are getting off topic of this thread.

 

[Tex]

If it was done fairly it wouldn't bother me but, we both know that won't happen. If i have a good product :roll:. All i am saying is that studies show a small percent of consumers read labels, and of those who do the number one factor is quality not where something comers from. Second is price. So the point i was tring to make was that the only thing COOL will do is increase the cost to packers for canadian beef,so they will pay less for animals i highly doubt they will pass on the savings to the consumer. So canadian producers are going to bare the cost of a US program they do not think is necessary ,yeah they are not going to like it. We are getting off topic of this thread.

I would submit to you that the cost of labeling is miniscule. It is a red herring.

How much do you say it would cost to put that label on? Is it more than a 1 cent difference in the exchange rate?

What does it now cost to put the COOL label on USA produced in Canada?

 

[HAY MAKER]

If it was done fairly it wouldn't bother me but, we both know that won't happen. If i have a good product :roll:. All i am saying is that studies show a small percent of consumers read labels, and of those who do the number one factor is quality not where something comers from. Second is price. So the point i was tring to make was that the only thing COOL will do is increase the cost to packers for canadian beef,so they will pay less for animals i highly doubt they will pass on the savings to the consumer. So canadian producers are going to bare the cost of a US program they do not think is necessary ,yeah they are not going to like it. We are getting off topic of this thread.

Post a copy of this so called study,and who funded it,I can guarantee labels are looked at closely in the United states.
If it aint made/born/ raised in the United states it dont come on this ranch.............unless there are no options. I do believe there are a few around like you that will buy the cheapest product sold,but you are in the minority,the USA has had too many bad experiences with cheap imported products.
good luck

 

[Tex]

Here is the real data, Question:

http://www.ers.usda.gov/Data/MeatTrade/

Annual and Cumulative Year-to-Date U.S. Livestock and Meat Trade

You can see what has happened to trade by clicking and reading.

You will also see that this blows holes in the allegation that the U.S. can't produce all the beef that they "need" and that it requires imports.

If this dollar keeps falling, positive net exports to Canada from the U.S. may just become a reality.

What are you going to say then, that Canada can't produce all the beef they need so the U.S. producers have to send beef to Canada?

Are you going to blame it on rcalf and their push for a COOL law?

 

[mrj]

That Zogby poll some of the COOL promoters were touting a few months back because it seemed to say consumers wanted labeling, actually, in the parts not highlighted, revealed them to say that very few of them pay much attention to labels.

Haymaker, your "guarantee" isn't worth a hoot! US consumers are notorious for failing to read labels. It may be better when there are scares and recalls, but not for long.

OT, those Congressmen, and certainly lawyers for consumer groups, would have brought charges if they could verify or prove in any valid way that companies are deliberately making the labels un-readable.

The way rule makers work, it is ridiculous to think the size of the print and everything else about labels is not mandated by government rules and regulations.

mrj

 

[Tex]

That Zogby poll some of the COOL promoters were touting a few months back because it seemed to say consumers wanted labeling, actually, in the parts not highlighted, revealed them to say that very few of them pay much attention to labels.

Haymaker, your "guarantee" isn't worth a hoot! US consumers are notorious for failing to read labels. It may be better when there are scares and recalls, but not for long.

OT, those Congressmen, and certainly lawyers for consumer groups, would have brought charges if they could verify or prove in any valid way that companies are deliberately making the labels un-readable.

The way rule makers work, it is ridiculous to think the size of the print and everything else about labels is not mandated by government rules and regulations.

mrj

That position definitely shows carbon monoxide use is a deceptive practice, mrj.

Would you like to start talking out of both sides of your mouth now to defend packers?

I am waiting.

 

[HAY MAKER]

That Zogby poll some of the COOL promoters were touting a few months back because it seemed to say consumers wanted labeling, actually, in the parts not highlighted, revealed them to say that very few of them pay much attention to labels.

Haymaker, your "guarantee" isn't worth a hoot! US consumers are notorious for failing to read labels. It may be better when there are scares and recalls, but not for long.

OT, those Congressmen, and certainly lawyers for consumer groups, would have brought charges if they could verify or prove in any valid way that companies are deliberately making the labels un-readable.

The way rule makers work, it is ridiculous to think the size of the print and everything else about labels is not mandated by government rules and regulations.

mrj

Well post the poll results and the maker,as I dont know anyone that does not read labels,sadly our options for buying home grown products are being limited by folks like you.
Went to the general store last week to buy me a pair of Red wing boots,been wearing only Red wing many years as they were quality made and made in Red Wing minnesota,got em home,and read a made in china sticker in them ...........so they go back on the next trip to town.
good luck

PS how would you like it if Gin was only availible,Imported from Mexico ?

 

[Anonymous]

That Zogby poll some of the COOL promoters were touting a few months back because it seemed to say consumers wanted labeling, actually, in the parts not highlighted, revealed them to say that very few of them pay much attention to labels.

Haymaker, your "guarantee" isn't worth a hoot! US consumers are notorious for failing to read labels. It may be better when there are scares and recalls, but not for long.

OT, those Congressmen, and certainly lawyers for consumer groups, would have brought charges if they could verify or prove in any valid way that companies are deliberately making the labels un-readable.

The way rule makers work, it is ridiculous to think the size of the print and everything else about labels is not mandated by government rules and regulations.

mrj

Well post the poll results and the maker,as I dont know anyone that does not read labels,sadly our options for buying home grown products are being limited by folks like you.
Went to the general store last week to buy me a pair of Red wing boots,been wearing only Red wing many years as they were quality made and made in Red Wing minnesota,got em home,and read a made in china sticker in them ...........so they go back on the next trip to town.
good luck

PS how would you like it if Gin was only availible,Imported from Mexico ?

Haymaker-- try some Chippewa's...They still have many models that are made in the US with US leather and ingredients only...

I have a couple pair of handmade Bowmans Wilson Boots-- handmade in Livingston Mt.--but they are a little more pricey than the Chippewas..... :roll:

 

[QUESTION]

Hi OT it is good to see your are not on the road with all those OTM's on the convoys of trucks blocking highways from Canada to US packing plants. :roll: How much has cattle prices fallen in the US today? :cry2: :sure: :lol2: :cowboy:

 

[Sandhusker]

If it was done fairly it wouldn't bother me but, we both know that won't happen. If i have a good product :roll:. All i am saying is that studies show a small percent of consumers read labels, and of those who do the number one factor is quality not where something comers from. Second is price. So the point i was tring to make was that the only thing COOL will do is increase the cost to packers for canadian beef,so they will pay less for animals i highly doubt they will pass on the savings to the consumer. So canadian producers are going to bare the cost of a US program they do not think is necessary ,yeah they are not going to like it. We are getting off topic of this thread.

If you have a superior product, doesn't it stand to reason that you should be able to get more for it by segregating it from the inferior?

 

[QUESTION]

For better or worse barley and corn fed beef just taste and look different. If you like knowing you are eating young premium beef with snow white fat. If you want to gamble you try some meat with yellow fat it could be corn fed or and old cow? As for segregation here we go again r-calf helping the multinational packers make more money on canadian cattlemen while driving their own market down are you guys ever going to learn? :roll: Well the border opened today i was suprized with all the r-calf forecasts traffic problems from the flood of OTM's to US plants there was no reports of traffic jams. How much did live feeder and slaughter cattle prices drop in the US today? :secret: :cowboy: :clap: Did the sky fall like predicted? :lol2: :roll:

 

[Sandhusker]

For better or worse barley and corn fed beef just taste and look different. If you like knowing you are eating young premium beef with snow white fat. If you want to gamble you try some meat with yellow fat it could be corn fed or and old cow? As for segregation here we go again r-calf helping the multinational packers make more money on canadian cattlemen while driving their own market down are you guys ever going to learn? :roll: Well the border opened today i was suprized with all the r-calf forecasts traffic problems from the flood of OTM's to US plants there was no reports of traffic jams. How much did live feeder and slaughter cattle prices drop in the US today? :secret: :cowboy: :clap: Did the sky fall like predicted? :lol2: :roll:

You said it was going to cost the packers more money to buy Canadian and now you say they are going to make more money. How can they make more money if costs are higher?