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...

Recognizing Animal Protein’s Critical Role Ahead of UN Climate Summit Agriculture Day

The Interamerican Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) convened its first-ever "Sustainable Agriculture in the Americas" pavilion at the UN Climate Summit (COP27) and partnered with the Protein PACT and other stakeholders to convene a total of 9 events focused on animal agriculture's key role in sustainability solutions.

The Protein PACT events included a November 9 panel on sustainable livestock across regions and production systems, National Pork Board Assistant Vice President Ashley McDonald shared U.S. pork's commitments to ethical principles, best practices, and documenting proof...

U.S. Meat Sector Releases First-Ever Data Report on Environment, Other Key Indicators

A major new report released in advance of the United Nations Climate Summit next week in Sharm el Sheikh, Egypt, reveals that about 81% of facilities reporting data are covered by Meat Institute members’ commitments to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.

With 100% of the Meat Institute’s large U.S. members (more than 2000 employees) submitting data, the report covers an estimated 90% of meat sold in the United States (by volume) and sets the first ever baselines for measuring progress toward ambitious targets for environmental sustainability...

NAMI and FMI: New Look for the Annual Meat Conference

The North American Meat Institute and FMI – The Food Industry Association today unveiled a new look for the Annual Meat Conference (AMC) while promising a renewed, high-impact forum to encourage strategic trading partner experiences and to better deliver on the demands from the meat customer.

“Our pulse on the shopper has never wavered, but we recently made some new discoveries about our organizations, the businesses we represent and how we deliver an event experience to support our members’ goals for innovation and growth,” said the organizations...

North American Meat Institute Selects Class of 2023 Emerging Leaders

The North American Meat Institute (Meat Institute) selected 12 participants for its 2023 Emerging Leaders Program, which will apply the vision of the Meat Institute's Protein PACT to future industry executives who proved themselves ready to take the next step in their leadership journey.

This unique program – sponsored by Food Safety Net Services, A Certified Group Company and Sealed Air– will prepare the winners with the knowledge and understanding, at both the industry level and operational level, they need to champion continuous improvement outlined in the Protein PACT within their...

NAMI Board of Directors Elects New Officers for 2023

The North American Meat Institute (Meat Institute) Board of Directors today elected its slate of officers for 2023, with Steve Van Lannen, President and COO of American Foods Group, elected to serve as the incoming Chairman in January of 2023.

“This is both an exciting and a challenging time for the meat and poultry industry,” said incoming Chairman Steve Van Lannen. “We will continue to build on the leadership of our past Chairman, Brad McDowell, to ensure the Meat Institute continues to provide exemplary service to its members and, through the...'

NAMI Calls for Swift Senate Approval of Esteban, Taylor and McKalip Nominations

The North American Meat Institute (NAMI or the Meat Institute) called for swift consideration of three nominations critical to the meat and poultry industry pending before the full Senate: Jose Emilio Esteban to be Undersecretary of Agriculture for Food Safety, Alexis Taylor to be Undersecretary of Agriculture for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs and Doug McKalip, nominated to be Chief Agricultural Trade Negotiator at the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR).

“The meat and poultry industry supports...

America’s Meat Companies Fill the “Protein Gap” to Help End Hunger in the United States

Aligned with the Biden administration's goal of ending hunger in the United States and with the White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health, the North American Meat Institute and America’s leading meat companies are advancing industry-wide best practices and increasing access to nutrient-dense meat for families in need.

The Meat Institute shared today with White House Conference organizers its commitment, made through the Protein PACT for the People, Animals and Climate of Tomorrow, to help measure and fill this “protein gap”...

U.S. Chamber Agrees: Proposed Legislation Would Micromanage Beef Markets, Harm Consumers

In Case You Missed It: The U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the world’s largest business organization, agreed with the North American Meat Institute and concluded beef market legislation before the House and Senate would “dramatically expand the federal government’s role and ultimately harm consumers,” in a post shared to their blog.

The blog post was written by the U.S. Chamber’s Sean Heather, Senior Vice President, International Regulatory Affairs & Antitrust, and was published July 12, 2022.

The following is complete text:

In the 1930s, in response to the Great Depression...

Industry Leaders Strengthen Collaboration on Food Security

The North American Meat Institute’s (NAMI or the Meat Institute) Executive Board voted unanimously late Friday to designate food security a non-competitive issue, strengthening industry-wide efforts to end hunger and ensure families in need have access to nutrient-dense meat.

“Meat is one of the most needed products for families in need, and the Meat Institute’s members give generously nationally and locally to meet this need,” commented Julie Anna Potts, President and CEO of the Meat Institute. “Ending hunger requires even greater collaboration. Declaring food security a non-competitive issue..."

NAMI: Prices for Cattle at Record Highs; Grassley-Fischer & Special Investigator Bills Costly

With the U.S. House and Senate considering legislation to intervene in beef and cattle markets, prices for cattle are at or near record highs calling into question the need for heavy-handed government interference.

“Just last week one cattle marketing analyst described the high prices as ‘stratospheric,’” said Julie Anna Potts, President and CEO of the North American Meat Institute. “As many industry economists have said, the beef and cattle markets are continuing to behave predictably given supply and demand and do not need government mandates and...

NAMI to SCOTUS: Prop 12 Unconstitutional

In an Amicus Brief filed with the U.S. Supreme Court, The North American Meat Institute (Meat Institute) has urged the Court to reverse a lower court's judgement upholding California's Proposition 12 (Prop 12 or the law).

"A fundamental premise of our federal system is that each State is a sovereign laboratory of democracy, but only within its own borders," the Meat Institute said in its brief. "As a result, the Constitution denies California the authority to dictate the conditions under which farm animals must be housed outside California's borders...

NAMI: Special Investigator to Cost Taxpayer $9 Million; is Redundant

The North American Meat Institute (Meat Institute) today released the following statement after the U.S. House of Representatives approved H.R. 7606, the Lower Food and Fuel Cost Act, a bill that establishes a special investigator for meat and poultry at the U.S. Department of Agriculture:

"We are disappointed the House voted to waste $9 million in taxpayer dollars on a redundant special investigator when that money would be much better spent helping Americans seeking assistance from record inflation," said Julie Anna Potts, President and CEO of the Meat...