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...

Familiarity is Key in the Meat Case During Inflationary Environment

Inflation continues to influence how and what consumers purchase at the meat case as shoppers look for ways to stretch the dollar. The latest CPI report for February showed inflation up 6% on the year. While inflation is slowing and has posted year-over-year declines for eight straight months, it remains well above the Federal Reserve's target rate of 2%.

Through February, the index for food-at-home index rose 10.2% over the last 12 months. Meanwhile, the food away from home rose 8.4% over the last year. Economists are awaiting the March 2023 CPI report, scheduled for release Wednesday morning at 8:30 Eastern time...

Sales of Plant-Based Meat Alternatives Increasingly Fizzling Out at Retail

The retail craze for plant-based meat alternatives appears to be behind us.

Data from COMTELL along with Information Resources, Inc. (IRI), which together with The NPD Group (NPD) have formed Circana, demonstrates a consistent decline in retail sales volume of plant-based alternatives within the latest two years and counting.

Through the information from IRI, COMTELL now features a vastly larger database of retail items and related statistics on its overhauled retail dashboard. 

In the latest week, sales of meat alternatives ranked tenth...

Industry Reacts to USDA’s Proposed "Product of USA" Requirements

The U.S. Department of Agriculture released a proposed rule featuring new regulatory requirements for the “Product of USA” label claim.

The rule would allow for the “Product of USA” or “Made in the USA” label to be used on meat, poultry and egg products only when they are derived from animals born, raised, slaughtered and processed in the United States.

The North American Meat Institute (NAMI) said the USDA’s latest proposal would “result in trade retaliation from Canada and Mexico costing American consumers and businesses billions of dollars...

The Retail Rundown: Key Findings From the 18th Annual Power of Meat Study

The 2023 Power of Meat Study was presented this week at the Annual Meat Conference in Dallas, Texas by 210 Analytics’ Anne-Marie Roerink. 

For this week’s retail rundown, we highlight the compelling findings from this annual report, which identified key trends from a retail meat perspective. 

Despite upward pricing pressure due to inflation, the study found that meat purchases are surpassing pre-pandemic levels. Meat had a 98% household penetration last year, making it the largest player within the fresh departments. Overall meat sales in 2022...

18th Power of Meat Report: Meat Purchases Rise Above Pre-Pandemic Levels, Consumers Look for Value

Americans are buying more fresh meat than before the COVID-19 pandemic and are seeking value in terms of price, convenience and better-for attributes in meat purchases, according to the 18th annual Power of Meat report released today bythe Meat Institute and FMI—The Food Industry Association.

Self-described “meat eaters” comprise 78% of Americans, compared to just 7% who describe themselves as vegan or vegetarian. Shoppers spend more than $15 in the meat department per trip and...

Meat Institute Congratulates Rep. Thompson for Being Elected Chairman of House Ag Committee

The North American Meat Institute (Meat Institute) today released the following statement from Meat Institute President and CEO Julie Anna Potts regarding the House Republican Conference’s election of U.S. Representative Glenn “GT” Thompson (R-PA-15) to serve as Chairman of the House Agriculture Committee for the 118^th Congress.

“Chairman Thompson has been an outspoken supporter of the meat and poultry industry and we congratulate him on his selection by his colleagues to serve as Chairman of the House Agriculture Committee,” says Meat Institute President and CEO...