NCC Submits Comments on the Labeling of Cell-Cultured Meat, Poultry Products

The National Chicken Council (NCC) believes cell-cultured products must be marketed in an appropriate manner that clearly conveys their basic nature to consumers and avoids confusion between cell-cultured protein products and traditional animal protein products.

“This approach ensures a neutral playing field wherein consumers are provided truthful information about cell-cultured products so that they may make choices as they deem most appropriate,” said NCC SVP of Scientific and Regulatory Affairs, Ashley Peterson, Ph.D., in comments submitted to USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) on...

Crave Launches Food Truck And Restaurants In Raleigh, N.C.

Crave Hot Dogs and BBQ is one of the fastest growing Hot Dog and BBQ restaurants in the United States. Their award-winning all beef hot dogs, hot and mild sausages, and brats, along with the pulled pork, pulled chicken and smoked brisket, it's a classic family friendly favorite with something for everyone! An array of toppings and sides are available to accompany the meal as well as desserts to include pineapple upside down cakes and toffee sticky cakes. Self-pour beer walls that use local craft beers, wines and...

Jennie-O Partners with YouTube Star and Philanthropist MrBeast to Give Away 10,000 Turkeys

Jennie-O Turkey Store, one of the largest and most beloved turkey brands in the world, teamed up with MrBeast, one of YouTube’s biggest stars, and his 501c3 organization, Beast Philanthropy, to make this Thanksgiving holiday a little brighter for those in need.

While the event officially started at noon, miles of cars filled with families from the Greenville, N.C., community were already lined up at dawn to ensure they received one of 10,000 free Jennie-O® turkeys. With a value of $266,000...

Global Animal Protein Outlook 2022: Capitalizing on Ongoing Market Disruptions

Global summary
Higher input costs for animal protein supply chains, including animal feed, labor, energy and freight, will be top-of-mind change drivers. These will be accompanied by ongoing change, driven by the transition to more sustainable animal protein, biosecurity challenges and Covid-19.

Against this backdrop, animal protein prices should remain firm in 2022 (with some exceptions), supported by ongoing supply constraints and general strength in demand. “We expect leaders of progressive animal protein companies to focus on the opportunities created by the ongoing market disruptions, rather than...

Survey Says Americans Want Chicken on their Friendsgiving Plates

Please pass the…chicken! As Americans kick-off the holiday season, many are also gearing up for Friendsgiving – a moment to appreciate our friends that matter most. And this year, friends are choosing chicken as their Friendsgiving centerpiece.

A recent survey of more than 1,000 people across America revealed 65% of people who celebrate Friendsgiving want chicken during the holidays and 77% want to create new traditions, which may include anything from who is at the table to decorations to games played. More than two thirds want...

Processed Meat Market to Reach $497.1 Bn, Globally, by 2030 at 4.8% CAGR: Allied Market Research

Allied Market Research published a report, titled, "Processed Meat Market by Meat Type (Poultry, Beef, Pork, and Others), Product Type (Frozen, Chilled, and Canned), Application (Commercial and Residential), and Distribution Channel (HoReCa, Supermarkets/Hypermarkets, Convenience Stores, Independent Retailers, and Others): Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast 2021-2030." According to the report, the global processed meat industry was estimated at $319.6 billion in 2020, and is anticipated to hit $497.1 billion by 2030, registering a CAGR of 4.8% from...

NAMI: COVID Protections Kept Case Rates 98% Lower Than in General Population

The North American Meat Institute (Meat Institute) today released updated analysis of publicly available data on COVID-19 transmission, showing that comprehensive protections instituted since the spring of 2020 successfully lowered transmission among meatpacking workers and held case rates today to more than 98% lower than case rates in the general U.S. population. Responding to a hearing of the U.S. House of Representatives Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Crisis, Meat Institute President and CEO Julie Anna Potts commented:

“Frontline meat and poultry workers were among the first impacted..." 

Wayne Farms Completes Divestiture of Laurel Poultry Production Complex to Amick Farms

Wayne Farms LLC, a subsidiary of Continental Grain Company, announced today that on October 17, 2021, it completed the sale of its Fresh Processing Complex in Laurel, Mississippi, to Amick Farms. The complex includes live production, hatchery, feed mill, manufacturing and production facilities. The divestiture is a key milestone towards completing the previously announced transaction which will combine Wayne Farms and Sanderson Farms, Inc. under the joint ownership and control of Cargill and Continental Grain.

Clint Rivers, President and CEO of Wayne Farms LLC, said...

NCC Statement on New USDA Plans to Address Salmonella Illnesses

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) today announced plans to undertake a new effort to reduce Salmonella illnesses associated with poultry products. The agency said it would be initiating several key activities to gather the data and information necessary to support future action and move closer to the national target of a 25% reduction in Salmonella illnesses.

USDA said it intends to seek stakeholder feedback on specific Salmonella control and measurement strategies, including pilot projects, in poultry slaughter and processing establishments.

In response to today’s...

NAMI: Meat and Poultry Industry to Assist USDA in Reducing Salmonella Infections

The North American Meat Institute (Meat Institute) today welcomed the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) new national goal of reducing Salmonella illnesses by 25 percent and committed to continue working with USDA and other groups to achieve the shared goal of reducing Salmonella infections.

“As an industry, our goal is to produce safe products without exception,” said Julie Anna Potts, President and CEO of the Meat Institute. “The industry has significantly improved efforts to reduce incidence of Salmonella, and we will continue to work with..."

Cargill Launches Poultry Feed with Essential Oils for Healthy Flocks and Maximized Egg Production

Backyard poultry owners want natural, wholesome feeds that help their birds thrive, keep their eggs strong and keep coops fresh. Cargill is delivering on this demand by adding essential oils to its Nutrena® Naturewise® poultry feeds. The natural* essential oils contribute to the promotion of egg weight, size and production, enhanced palatability and a fresh aroma direct from the bag.

"We listened to what poultry owners and soon-to-become owners want most and expect from their poultry feed," said Stephanie Poupart, poultry strategic...

Blue Apron Brings Back Thanksgiving Offering in Time for Holiday Planning

Blue Apron is bringing back its popular Thanksgiving menu available to order starting on October 11, just in time for the holiday season. The offering includes a wide variety of options for customers to build a dinner experience that fits their holiday plans and dietary needs, whether it’s a cozy dinner for two or a friendsgiving for up to eight, all with the ease and convenience that comes from cooking with Blue Apron.

“Thanksgiving is a holiday that can be filled with great traditions and delicious meals..."

Sanderson Farms Releases 2020 Corporate Responsibility Report

Sanderson Farms, Inc. has released its 2020 Corporate Responsibility Report detailing the company’s commitment to social and environmental responsibility. In this report, the company was able to estimate the percentage of feed grains sourced from regions under high or extremely high water stress during fiscal year 2020, which is a metric under the Sustainability Accounting Standards Board’s reporting standards that the company was unable to estimate in prior years. Additionally, this report includes the Human Rights Statement adopted by the company’s Board of Directors in October 2020, and incorporates the most recently...

PERDUE® THANKSNUGGETS™ Are Back – and Now Available in Select Retail Stores Nationwide

Perdue is bringing back by popular demand its limited time only, PERDUE® THANKSNUGGETS™ just in time for the holiday. Last year it sold out online in record time, in less than three minutes. Now for the first time ever, the white breast meat with sweet potato-seasoned breading turkey nuggets will be available in retail grocery stores nationwide so everyone can get their hands on them this holiday season.

The limited-edition nuggets pair the No Antibiotics Ever turkey consumers love with sweet potato... 

North American Meat Institute to Secretary Vilsack: Scapegoating Industry Does Not Help Consumer

The North American Meat Institute (Meat Institute) today said the Secretary of Agriculture’s transparent attempts to scapegoat the meat and poultry industry to shift blame for inflationary prices will not help consumers.

“The Administration cannot ignore the fundamental principles of supply and demand,” said Meat Institute President and CEO Julie Anna Potts. “Americans are experiencing firsthand what the Secretary refuses to acknowledge, the effects of COVID and lack of labor are hurting consumers, and nothing proposed by the Secretary of Agriculture on the structure of the..." 

USDA Seeks Comments on the Labeling of Meat and Poultry Products Derived from Animal Cells

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) published today an advance notice of proposed rulemaking (ANPR) to solicit comments and information regarding the labeling of meat and poultry products made using cultured cells derived from animals under FSIS jurisdiction. FSIS will use these comments to inform future regulatory requirements for the labeling of such food products.

“This ANPR is an important step forward in ensuring the appropriate labeling of meat and poultry products made using animal cell culture technology,” said...

Maple Leaf Foods Completes Purchase of Ontario Poultry Plant and Associated Supply

Maple Leaf Foods completed its previously announced purchase of a poultry processing plant located near Schomberg, Ontario, together with the associated poultry supply.

The purchase was completed in accordance with the exercise of a put option by the vendors, Certm Inc. and certain related companies, which was part of a 2018 purchase and...

Meat and Poultry Supply Chain Remains Resilient

In response to U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack’s request for comments on efforts to improve supply chains for the production of agricultural commodities and food products, The North American Meat Institute (Meat Institute) said the meat and poultry food supply chain remains resilient despite extraordinary circumstances.

“The pandemic that began in 2020 and continues today may be the ultimate black swan event,” said Meat Institute Senior Vice President for Regulatory and Scientific Affairs Mark Dopp. “But its occurrence does not...

NAMI and NPPC Urge the USDA and Congress to Address Port Challenges

With delays and congestion at U.S. ports hurting U.S. agriculture exports like meat and poultry products, the North American Meat Institute (NAMI) and the National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) are urging U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack and Congress to confront the crisis.

The issue at hand is the continued behavior of ocean carriers to decline to carry U.S. agriculture commodity exports and instead return empty containers to Asian markets to fill them with more lucrative consumer goods to export back to the United States. Also, NAMI claims that ocean carriers and marine terminal operators are...

USDA to Begin Work to Strengthen Enforcement of the Packers and Stockyards Act

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will begin work on three proposed rules to support enforcement of the Packers and Stockyards (P&S) Act, the 100-year old law that was originally designed to protect poultry and hog farmers and cattle ranchers from unfair, deceptive, and anti-competitive practices in the meat markets. USDA’s pending action was noted in the Unified Agenda of Regulatory and Deregulatory Actions released by the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB).

USDA intends to take three actions related to rulemaking in the months ahead. First, USDA intends to propose a new rule that will provide greater clarity to strengthen enforcement of unfair and deceptive practices, undue preferences, and unjust prejudices. Second, USDA will propose a new...

JBS USA Confirms Equivalent of $11 Million Ransom Payment to Hackers

In a press release Wednesday, JBS USA confirmed it paid the equivalent of $11 million in ransom in response to the cyberattack last week which affected its North American and Australian IT systems. 

JBS USA was forced to temporarily close its beef and pork processing plants on June 1 following the Memorial Day weekend. Altogether, the company's facilities account for nearly a quarter of the total U.S. daily cattle and hog processing capacity. JBS's U.S. facilities resumed full operations by Friday and are maintaining normal operations so far this week. Week-to-date cattle slaughter is 154,000 head above the week prior. Week-to-date hog slaughter is up...

JBS Informs White House that Cyberattack is Likely from Russia

JBS informed the White House that the cyberattack on the company that impacted its cattle and hog plants in the United States yesterday likely originated from Russia. 

White House spokeswoman Karine Jean-Pierre said the FBI is investigating the attack and has contacted Russia’s government. Jean-Pierre explained, "the White House has offered assistance to JBS and our team at the Department of Agriculture have spoken to...

Major Cyber Attack Impacts JBS' Global Operations

On Sunday, May 30, JBS USA announced that it was the target of a cyberattack. According to a media statement, “the company took immediate action, suspending all affected systems, notifying authorities and activating the company's global network of IT professionals and third-party experts to resolve the situation. The company’s backup servers were not affected, and it is actively working with an Incident Response firm to restore its systems as soon as possible.”

JBS media contact Nikki Richardson explained that a solution will take time and that transactions with customers and suppliers could be delayed. 

JBS Foods is the world’s largest beef and poultry producer and the second-largest global pork producer. The company has locations in the United States, Australia, Canada, United Kingdom, Mexico, Europe, and New Zealand...

Sanderson Farms Reports Results for Second Quarter of Fiscal 2021

Sanderson Farms reported results for its second fiscal quarter and six months ended April 30, 2021.

Net sales for the second quarter of fiscal 2021 were $1,133.9 million compared with $844.7 million for the same period a year ago. For the quarter, the Company reported net income of $96.9 million, or $4.34 per share, compared with net income of $6.1 million, or $0.28 per share, for the second quarter of fiscal 2020.

Net sales for the first six months of fiscal 2021 were $2,043.2 million compared with $1,667.8 million for the same period of fiscal 2020. Net income for the first half of the fiscal year totaled...

Save the Date for Urner Barry's Global Protein Summit 

After a year without in-person networking and educational events, we are excited to announce the return of Urner Barry's Global Protein Summit live in Chicago!

Once again you can create new business connections, gain valuable perspectives on the protein markets, and learn from some of the top minds in the industry.

The Global Protein Summit will take place November 1st-3rd at The Drake Hotel in Chicago, Illinois...

Maple Leaf Foods Reports First Quarter 2021 Financial Results

Maple Leaf Foods reported its financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2021.

"Maple Leaf remains committed to delivering shared value, and to building an enduring company, with a vision to be the most sustainable protein company on earth," said Michael H. McCain, President and CEO. "We continue to deliver on our commitments. As we cross the one-year mark of the COVID-19 pandemic, I continue to be inspired by our dedicated front-line team members who come into work each day to produce the food we all need to stay healthy. Our number one priority is to keep our people healthy during this global crisis, and beyond. At the same time, we are delivering on our financial commitments, including both significant revenue growth and margin expansion in...

Tyson Foods Invests $425 Million in New Tennessee Poultry Complex

Tyson Foods along with local, state and federal officials met Thursday to officially open the company’s new poultry complex in Humboldt, Tennessee. The $425 million project, which includes a processing plant, feed mill and hatchery, represents Tyson’s biggest investment in Tennessee and the single largest corporate investment ever in Gibson County.

“We’re pleased to add to the growth in Gibson County with the opening of our new 370,000 square foot processing facility,” said Dean Banks, President and CEO, Tyson Foods. “We appreciate the support of all those who played a role in making this facility possible—the local community, county, state and...

Beyond Meat Opens Manufacturing Facility in China 

Beyond Meat announced the grand opening of its new state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in the Jiaxing Economic & Technological Development Zone (JXEDZ) near Shanghai. As Beyond Meat’s first end-to-end manufacturing facility outside the U.S., the cutting-edge plant in Jiaxing is expected to significantly increase the speed and scale in which the company can produce and distribute its products within the region while also improving Beyond Meat’s cost structure and sustainability of operations.

Designed to serve China’s growing plant-based meat market, the facility will produce Beyond Meat’s innovative range of plant-based pork, beef and poultry products, including Beyond Pork™, the company’s first innovation created specifically for the Chinese market. By producing closer to the consumer and...

Poultry Quarterly Q2 2021: The Bumpy Road to Recovery

The outlook for the global poultry industry is gradually improving, but big differences remain between countries, and global poultry trade is still very competitive. The industry is facing major challenges due to Covid-19-related market disruption, very high and volatile feed prices, avian influenza (AI) in the northern hemisphere, and volatility coming from a bumpy recovery in countries affected by African swine fever (ASF). Key for producers will be to have a very disciplined supply growth, a focus on cost reduction via procurement, production efficiency, and feed formulation, as well as being prepared for big swings in demand driven by Covid-19-related government decisions.

As countries reopen foodservice, and while their control of Covid-19 improves, the poultry industry will start to recover. On average, 35% of global poultry consumption is via foodservice. “In countries where several of these disruptive factors come together, broiler prices have risen to high levels. Some governments have started to...

Meat Purchases and Confidence at Record Highs

Americans are buying more beef, pork, poultry, and lamb than ever as increased time at home during the pandemic sent meat grocery sales soaring by 20% (IRI) from 2019 to 2020.

The national analysis released shows that three out of every four Americans agree meat belongs in healthy, balanced diets (up by nearly 20% since 2020), and 94% say they buy meat because it provides high-quality protein.

Meat Institute President and CEO Julie Anna Potts commented...

Regulatory and Policy Update: What the Change in Administration Could Mean for the Meat Industry

With the change in administration, participants in the meat industry are closely eyeing what new leadership at USDA and other regulatory bodies could mean for areas including food safety, worker safety, and animal welfare. 

In the virtual 2021 Annual Meat Conference, a panel of leading experts in regulatory and policy issues discussed updates on these factors and what industry participants at all levels might need to be prepared for in 2021. 

Panelists included Casey Gallimore, Director and Scientific Affairs, North American Meat Institue; and Andrew Harig, Vice President, Tax, Trade, Sustainability & Policy Development, FMI.  

Harig kicked off the panel by noting how Washington in March 2021 is drastically different from Washington in March 2020...

COVID-19 Disruptions Create New Areas of Opportunity and Risk for the Poultry Industry 

Covid-19 is disrupting the business in ways the global poultry market had never planned for, creating new areas of opportunity and risk. The impacts of Covid-19 are spread very unevenly between regions and between companies.

“Company leaders and investors need to constantly review market conditions and adjust company positioning to optimize growth and returns. There will be bigger differences between winners and losers, which will lead to a process of accelerated capital investments, consolidation, and internationalization in the coming years,” according to Nan-Dirk Mulder, Senior Analyst – Animal Protein.

Rabobank has identified three stages of Covid-19’s impact on the global poultry industry...

AllCart, a New Grocery Savings App Launches to Help Consumers Save on Groceries

AllCart, announced the launch of the AllCart app, a free app that helps shoppers find the best local deals. AllCart is available on iTunes, Google Play and directly on AllCart's website. In today's market, American consumers committed to the best deals and spending less time in-short due to the pandemic, do not have many choices as popular services charge both shoppers and merchants exorbitant fees. AllCart addresses all these challenges in a seamless way that benefits all parties.

The proprietary data and algorithms powering AllCart's 90,000 stores' sales flyer analysis, provides app users with a simple way to identify the best grocery deals. This has helped consumers to save as much as...

Tyson Foods and Malayan Flour Mills Berhad Announce Partnership

Tyson Foods and Malayan Flour Mills Berhad announced a partnership in which Tyson Foods will invest in the Malaysia-based company’s vertically integrated poultry business, which will add more supply flexibility for both companies. The transaction is subject to approval by the shareholders of Malayan Flour Mills Berhad (MFM), amongst others.

“Once completed, the poultry deal will optimize our existing Malaysia business and expand MFM’s poultry business,” said Chris Langholz, International President of Tyson Foods. “This partnership will add...

Meat and Poultry Industry Reacts to COVID-19 Stimulus Package 

The COVID-19 stimulus bill agreed upon by Congress contains language that would authorize the USDA to provide up to $1 billion in assistance to contract chicken growers for revenue losses sustained because of the pandemic. According to the bill, the fund is specifically for contract growers of livestock and poultry to cover up to 80% of revenue losses.

Mike Brown, President of the National Chicken Council, said, "On behalf of the chicken industry and our farm families across the country, I want to personally thank Senator Chris Coons (D-DE) for his leadership and his support in helping to secure this vital funding...

Poultry Quarterly Q1 2021: A Perfect Storm in 1H, Initial Recovery in 2H 2021

After the big disruption caused by Covid-19 in 2020, the poultry industry will face additional challenges in 2021, especially in 1H. Covid-19 will place ongoing pressure on foodservice and trade, and the consequent slow economic growth will lead to more price-driven market conditions. As market fundamentals appear challenging for 2021, the poultry industry should prepare for a tough year.

“Looking forward, we see four main challenges for the global poultry industry: ongoing Covid-19 impacts on markets, high and volatile feed prices, China’s African swine fever recovery, and...

Understanding Price Risk Management: an Interview with Stable

Urner Barry sat down with Richard Counsell to understand more about Stable’s business and the help they are providing the industry with their risk management tools. Growing up with a farming background in the southern UK, Richard spent his early career managing both commodity and technology focused businesses in London, Chicago and Melbourne. As the CEO of Stable, Richard currently divides his time between London, Minneapolis and Bermuda, expanding Stable's global platform to match complex commodity risks with simple financial solutions.

1. For the readers who have not yet heard of Stable, can you give a quick summary of your business?

Stable offers customizable price risk management tools across untraded, non-futures based agricultural markets. Our aim is to...

Barchart and Urner Barry Partner on Distribution for Benchmark Protein Prices

Barchart, a leading provider of market data and technology services to the financial, media and commodity industries; and Urner Barry, the leading publisher of market news and prices for the food industry, jointly announce a data and price distribution partnership for the global food and beverage market.

Under the terms of the agreement, Urner Barry will join Barchart’s cmdty Pricing Network (CPN), where their benchmark poultry, egg, meat, and seafood prices will be made available to...