The Retail Rundown: 2024 Annual Power of Meat Study Recap

The 2024 Power of Meat Study was revealed at the Annual Meat Conference in Nashville, Tennessee this week. Anne-Marie Roerink, Principal at 210 Analytics, presented the findings and identified the trends currently shaping the retail meat sector.

This year’s report found that the number of Americans who describe themselves as meat eaters (80%) and the number of households that purchase meat (98%) were unchanged from 2023. Circana data indicates that overall household penetration across all incomes, ethnicities, household sizes, and ages, averages above 97%...

Meat Institute Unveils New Logo and Brand Identity

Celebrating nearly 120 years of leadership on behalf of North America’s meat companies, the Meat Institute (formerly the “North American Meat Institute”) today unveiled a new logo and brand identity reflecting its dynamic, forward-looking approach to ensuring meat remains at the heart of nourishing the present and sustaining the future.

The new logo evokes the shape of a plate, with the open frame indicating transparency and inclusiveness. The varying thickness of the plate’s border brings a sense of movement, signaling constant evolution and pursuit of continuous improvement...

CMC, COMECARNE & Meat Institute Sign Joint Statement of Coordination

To deepen meat industry coordination and government collaboration in Canada, Mexico and the United States, the Canadian Meat Council (CMC), Consejo Mexicano de la Carne (COMECARNE), and the Meat Institute signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that formalizes the three associations’ ongoing work to improve trade, reduce regulatory barriers and enhance information exchange within North America. The organizations also finalized a Joint Statement of Coordination that emphasizes their collective commitment to addressing foreign animal diseases, sustainability and non-tariff trade barriers.

The MOU and Joint Statement were shared during COMECARNE’s...

Training for 100 Meat Companies to Measure Emissions and Set Climate Targets

Up to 100 of America’s leading meat companies will have the opportunity to complete climate training programs offered by Supplier Leadership on Climate Transition (Supplier LOCT), following a $65,000 investment by the Meat Institute to kickstart the partnership and enable members to participate in training focused on setting science-based targets for reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.

Supplier LOCT is a collaborative program launched in 2021 to accelerate climate progress across supply chains. The Meat Institute’s investment supports its target for 100% of members to set...

California Proposition 12 Audit Trail Guidance

The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) published a new guidance document regarding the audit trail requirements (guidance) of Proposition 12 (Prop12), which can be accessed here.

The audit trail requirements of Prop 12 have previously been interpreted to require distributors to produce records going all the way back to the certified producer (i.e. sow farm). This interpretation resulted in packer/processors receiving numerous requests from customers for traceability records back to the producer to enable the customer to become a certified Prop 12 distributor. A federally inspected establishment is not...

Meat Institute’s Dr. KatieRose McCullough Appointed to USDA Food Safety Advisory Committee

The Meat Institute today announced Dr. KatieRose McCullough was appointed to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Advisory Committee on Microbiological Criteria for Foods (NACMCF) bringing her scientific expertise and industry knowledge to federal food safety agencies.

“Dr. McCullough has her finger on the pulse of industry food safety best practices, scientific research and rulemaking,” said Meat Institute President and CEO Julie Anna Potts. “Her collaborative and passionate work in the scientific community to help meat companies ensure their products are safe is going to be an...

New Data Highlight Continuous Improvement, Sustainability Across Meat Sector

In the second year of the meat sector’s pioneering data collection and reporting on five key focus areas for continuous improvement, the number of companies submitting data grew by nearly 60% and now covering more than half of all establishments operated by Meat Institute members.

With 93% of the Meat Institute’s largest member companies (more than 2000 employees) submitting data, the report reflects commitments and actions covering an estimated 90% of meat sold in the United States. The Meat Institute's metrics and goals align closely with on-farm efforts in beef...

Landmark Tool Supports Meat Sector Greenhouse Gas Reduction Targets

A new tool released jointly today by the North American Meat Institute (Meat Institute) and the United Nations Global Compact Network USA (the U.S. chapter of the United Nations Global Compact) will aid meat companies of all sizes in measuring greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions – advancing the Meat Institute’s aim for 100% of its members to set science-based GHG reduction targets in line with the Paris Climate Agreement.

The tool was developed through Meat Institute member participation in the UN Global Compact Network USA’s Climate Ambition Accelerator program, a...

Massachusetts Question 3 Enforcment Date Set and Stay Extended Regarding Transshipped Product

In August 2022, the Massachusetts Restaurant Association, along with additional plaintiffs, filed an Emergency Motion for Preliminary Injunction of Massachusetts’ Question 3 (Q3) in the United States District Court for District of Massachusetts, which resulted in a stay of enforcement of Q3 until after the Supreme Court of the United States ruled in a case involving California’s Proposition 12. The judge in the Massachusetts case signed a subsequent order extending the previously agreed upon stay until August 23, 2023. The judge has signed another order ending the stay...

Massachusetts Question 3 Stay Extended to August 23

Massachusetts

In August 2022, the Massachusetts Restaurant Association, along with additional plaintiffs, filed an Emergency Motion for Preliminary Injunction of Massachusetts’ Question 3 (Q3) in the United States District Court for District of Massachusetts, which resulted in a stay of enforcement of Q3 until after the Supreme Court of the United States ruled in a case involving California’s Proposition 12. The judge in the Massachusetts case signed a subsequent order extending the previously agreed upon stay until August 23, 2023. Massachusetts has agreed to not enforce Question 3 as it relates to...

North American Meat Instutute: Update on California Proposition 12

Yesterday, the judge in the Superior Court of California for Sacramento County presiding over litigation regarding enforcement of Proposition 12 amended a previous order and effectively extended the enforcement date until December 31, 2023, for “noncompliant” whole pork meat in inventory as of July 1, 2023.[1] Meat from noncompliant hogs slaughtered before July 1 can be sold into California and designated as “compliant.” Companies should maintain documentation showing products are from hogs slaughtered prior to July 1. Importantly, unless one of the exemptions applies, this extension does not allow sales...

NAMI Hosts Prop 12 Webinar With California Department of Food and Agriculture

On Monday, the North American Meat Institute (NAMI) along with the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) hosted a webinar exploring enforcement, documentation, and transition ahead of Proposition 12, which is set to go into effect July 1.

Speakers included Dr. Elizabeth Cox, who currently leads the Animal Care Program for the California Department of Food and Agriculture, and Dr. Anette Jones, Director of the Animal Health and Food Safety Services at CDFA.

Proposition 12 is a California law first approved by California voters...

Protein PACT Academic Advisory Council Launched 

The North American Meat Institute today announced the launch of the Protein PACT Academic Advisory Council, formed to advise on research priorities and the latest evidence related to meat production and consumption.

The seven members of the advisory council are renowned independent researchers from the United States’ top universities, with expertise encompassing environmental sustainability, human nutrition and development, combating hunger, and more.

Advisory Council members are:

• Dr. Adegbola Adesogan, University of Florida . Dr. Adesogan’s research focuses on sustainably increasing animal-source food production and consumption, particularly with a focus on the role of animal...