- Author: John M Harper
In all the news about recalls in the food industry, have you ever wondered how USDA tracks a meat item back to the plant where it was produced? Do your consumer friends want to know where the meat you sell them was harvested and or cut and wrapped? The answer is quite simple although you’ll need to know about the USDA Establishment (EST) Number on food packaging and have access to the USDA web site pdf file that lists all of the harvest and processing plants.
All containers of meat, poultry, and egg products must be labeled with a
USDA mark of inspection and establishment (EST) number, which is assigned to the plant where the product was produced. The pictures above show a typical meat product “EST” number, a poultry product “EST” number and an egg products “EST” number, respectively.
The “EST” number may appear on the package within the USDA mark of inspection like the pictures shown, but it may also appear elsewhere on the exterior of the package container or package labeling (for example on the lid of a can) if shown in a prominent and legible manner. It must also be in a size that is large enough to insure easy visibility and recognition.
Once you find the “EST” number you can go to the USDA web site at http://www.fsis.usda.gov/regulations_&_Policies/Meat_Poultry_Egg_Inspection_Directory/index.asp where both an alphabetical and numerical directory pdf files are located. Since the “EST” number is usually the only information on the package, you’ll want to pull up the numerical directory. Using Adobe Acrobat’s Find in document command you can type in the “EST” number. (Note: I wouldn’t attempt to print out the entire directory as it is several reams of paper.) The direct link to the numerical pdf is: http://www.fsis.usda.gov/PDF/MPI_Directory_by_Est_No_Pgs_1_200.pdf. It is also handy to know the legend for EST numbers.
- G = Egg Product (Example: G1632 or 01632 G)
- I = Import (Example: I271 or 00271 I_
- M = Meat (Example: 19924 or 19924 M – notice that the first example has no letter)
- P = Poultry (Example: P9002 or 09002 P)
- Multiple numbers: Some establishments have more than one “EST” number because they may process more than one type of meat or product. (Example: 13375 M and 13375 P)
Once in the directory you’ll learn not only that several companies do business under several names but you’ll be able to tell what kind of operations they do. For example:
- Slaughter
- Processing
- Import
- ID warehouse.
So now you know how USDA can track that meat back to the plant where it was produced and you also know how to tell how “local” at least in terms of harvest and processing your meat is.
- Author: John M Harper
The following is reprinted from the Meating Place and is a good example of the Beef Checkoff dollars at work. Producers who sell direct to the consumer will find the web site described below useful for educating the public.
In an effort to help shoppers learn more about beef cuts, the Beef Checkoff has launched the Interactive Meat Case, a new online tool available on BeefItsWhatsForDinner.com.
The tool features sections including steaks, roasts and ribs, ground beef and prepared cuts, or visitors can search by cut. It highlights cut descriptions, recipes, cooking tips and more.
The checkoff, in conjunction with the market research team, conducted beta testing with foodies, moms, dads, bloggers, media representatives and others to get their feedback before launching the Interactive Meat Case.
“We wanted to help consumers with their cooking and meal-planning process,” said Meredith Stevens, manager of digital media for the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association. “We know that consumers, more and more, are looking for the best value for their dollar; they’re looking for meals for their family and friends; and they want something that has easy recipes to follow that doesn’t take a lot of time. So we wanted to make sure that this was a tool that they could see complementing their existing cooking and meal-planning process.”
By Ann Bagel Storck on 7/12/2010
- Author: John M Harper
As a service to our hay, pasture, new cereal grain and custom farming providers, we are creating a directory so those seeking to buy hay, cereal grains, rent pasture, custom graze or get custom tillage or harvesting done will know where to make contacts. This is similar to our sheep, goat and cattle directories and like those will be posted to our web site.
To get listed you'll need to fill out the brief questionnaire located at:
http://ucce.ucdavis.edu/survey/survey.cfm?surveynumber=5129 It should only take about 10 minutes to do this and yet it will be a great advertising and services resource. If you know others that should be listed pass this on or have them contact me. Thanks in advance!
- Author: John M Harper
To see an overview of Dashboard in pdf, click on this link: http://www.ams.usda.gov/AMSv1.0/getfile?dDocName=STELPRDC5085698.
To go directly to Dashboard and start using it click on this link: http://mpr.datamart.ams.usda.gov/amsdashboard/.
- Author: John M Harper
The 2002 Farm Bill included a provision mandating that retailers provide country-of-origin information (in the form of a label or placard) at the point of purchase for specific fresh food items. Whole muscle and ground cuts of beef, pork, and lamb; seafood; peanuts; and fruits and vegetables sold through retailers were all included in the mandatory COOL provision.
The 2002 COOL Act was scheduled to become mandatory in September of 2004. However, due to industry concerns about a mandatory COOL program, in January 2004, legislation was signed postponing implementation of a mandatory COOL program for all food products except wild and farm-raised fish and shellfish. There continues to be a debate regarding whether or not a mandatory COOL should be implemented.
A discussion of several of the issues surrounding the COOL debate can be found in the fourth quarter 2004 issue of Choices Magazine (online at http://www.choicesmagazine.org/2004-4/index.htm).
It finally became a mandatory measure and was implemented March 16, 2009, by USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service. In the case of imported products, the food label indicates where it started, was grown/raised and processed. For example, a meat label for pork might read, “From hogs born in Canada, raised and slaughtered in the United States.”
The law establishes four general meat product categories: (1) Product of the United States in which the animal was born, raised and slaughtered in the United States; (2) Multiple countries of origin. The animal was born and/or raised in another country and then slaughtered in the United States; (3) Animals imported for immediate slaughter; and (4) Imported finished products to be sold at retail. These products are labeled as products of the given originating country.
There are exemptions to the rule. Food operations such as restaurants, cafeterias, food stands, butcher shops and fish markets do not have to label their foods. Grocery stores that sell less than $230,000 a year also do not need to provide this labeling. To read more about COOL go to: http://www.ams.usda.gov/AMSv1.0/cool.
So there is geographical labeling from a country standpoint but not a "local" as the interesting question was posed. Given that the wine industry seeks out and receives appellation labels, it might be worth pursuing their path with regard to geographical labeling or certification of meat products.
