where's upton sinclair when you need him

[Guest guest]

Primary sources exposed and explained.

The Spoiled-Meat Trick

hot document

entries

123from: Bonnie Goldstein

 

Posted Wednesday, July 18, 2007, at 12:33 PM ET Shoppers often choose

meat out of the grocery case based on how fresh it looks, but

meatpackers have started packaging fresh meat in a " modified

atmosphere " that masks telltale discoloration and decomposition of

days-old meat. The process involves pumping oxygen out of and carbon

monoxide into an airtight container. The deception has occasioned

numerous protests from consumer groups.

 

A U.S. Food and Drug Administration regulation specifically bans using

carbon monoxide for packaging fresh meat. But meatpacking companies

won exemptions from the rule when they petitioned the FDA in 2001,

2004, and 2005 to declare the gas itself " generally recognized as

safe, " and the practice continues to spread. Democratic members of

Congress pressed FDA Commissioner Dr. Andrew von Eschenbach last year

to establish whether masking " the degradation of meat " is a " danger

to

public health, " but the agency stonewalled. When committee leadership

shifted parties this year, the House energy and commerce oversight

subcommittee began looking into frequent outbreaks of food-borne

illnesses linked to lax FDA enforcement. John Dingell and Bart Stupak,

the committee and subcommittee chairman, asked the meatpackers

directly for answers. To show they were serious, the legislators also

queried a major supermarket chain, Safeway. " We have questions

regarding the company's decision ... to sell prepackaged fresh meats

that have been ... deceptively colored, " the four-page letter to

Chairman and CEO Steven A. Burd began. " It is our understanding that

Safeway ... regularly sells its customers fresh meat that is packaged ...

to make it appear fresh and wholesome indefinitely. "

 

The committee gave Safeway three weeks to document Safeway's

" temperature control " precautions, in-store labeling policies, and

spoilage losses. On July 16 it received a faxed response from one

Michael McGinnis, senior vice president for meat and seafood (see

below and on the following page). " We have selected to discontinue the

sale of fresh meat packaged under CO ... conditions, " he wrote. The

company is " phasing out any inventory in our retail stores " and

expects to have no carbon-monoxide-packaged meat for sale in its

stores as of July 27. The committee chairmen thanked McGinnis the next

day for his cooperation (Page 3).

 

Got a Hot Document? Send it to documents Please indicate

whether you wish to remain anonymous.

 

 

" NOTICE: Due to Presidential Executive Orders, the National Security Agency may

have read this email without warning, warrant, or notice. They may do this

without any judicial or legislative oversight. You have no recourse nor

protection save to call for the impeachment of the current President. "

[Guest guest]



I've heard that they also dye the meat so it has that bloody red look. Don't know how prevalent the practice, or if it continues.

 

What is the vegan network, fraggle?

 

The notice at the bottom of the message is a good reminder.

 

Marcy

 

 

-

fraggle

vegan chat ; vegan-network

Thursday, July 19, 2007 9:46 AM

where's upton sinclair when you need him

 

 

Primary sources exposed and explained.The Spoiled-Meat Trickhot documententries123from: Bonnie GoldsteinPosted Wednesday, July 18, 2007, at 12:33 PM ET Shoppers often choosemeat out of the grocery case based on how fresh it looks, butmeatpackers have started packaging fresh meat in a "modifiedatmosphere" that masks telltale discoloration and decomposition ofdays-old meat. The process involves pumping oxygen out of and carbonmonoxide into an airtight container. The deception has occasionednumerous protests from consumer groups.A U.S. Food and Drug Administration regulation specifically bans usingcarbon monoxide for packaging fresh meat. But meatpacking companieswon exemptions from the rule when they petitioned the FDA in 2001,2004, and 2005 to declare the gas itself "generally recognized assafe," and the practice continues to spread. Democratic members ofCongress pressed FDA Commissioner Dr. Andrew von Eschenbach last yearto establish whether masking "the degradation of meat" is a "dangertopublic health," but the agency stonewalled. When committee leadershipshifted parties this year, the House energy and commerce oversightsubcommittee began looking into frequent outbreaks of food-borneillnesses linked to lax FDA enforcement. John Dingell and Bart Stupak,the committee and subcommittee chairman, asked the meatpackersdirectly for answers. To show they were serious, the legislators alsoqueried a major supermarket chain, Safeway. "We have questionsregarding the company's decision ... to sell prepackaged fresh meatsthat have been ... deceptively colored," the four-page letter toChairman and CEO Steven A. Burd began. "It is our understanding thatSafeway ... regularly sells its customers fresh meat that is packaged ...to make it appear fresh and wholesome indefinitely."The committee gave Safeway three weeks to document Safeway's"temperature control" precautions, in-store labeling policies, andspoilage losses. On July 16 it received a faxed response from oneMichael McGinnis, senior vice president for meat and seafood (seebelow and on the following page). "We have selected to discontinue thesale of fresh meat packaged under CO ... conditions," he wrote. Thecompany is "phasing out any inventory in our retail stores" andexpects to have no carbon-monoxide-packaged meat for sale in itsstores as of July 27. The committee chairmen thanked McGinnis the nextday for his cooperation (Page 3).Got a Hot Document? Send it to documents (AT) slate (DOT) com Please indicatewhether you wish to remain anonymous."NOTICE: Due to Presidential Executive Orders, the National Security Agency may have read this email without warning, warrant, or notice. They may do this without any judicial or legislative oversight. You have no recourse nor protection save to call for the impeachment of the current President."