Protein News covers the production, processing, and distribution of protein-rich foods derived from animals, including meat, poultry, seafood, eggs, and dairy. This section explores the entire supply chain, from farming practices and animal nutrition to processing methods and market trends. It also delves into sustainability, animal welfare, and innovations in protein sources, including alternative options like plant-based, insect, and lab-grown proteins. The Protein category is essential for understanding the role of all protein types in global nutrition, economic impacts, and evolving consumer preferences.
France planning campaigns for bluetongue and epizootic haemorrhagic disease as well
20 August 2024
2 minute read
France will launch a second vaccination campaign against avian influenza among farm ducks in October after a successful inaugural programme last year, Reuters reported, citing Agriculture Minister Marc Fesneau on Tuesday.
The disease, commonly called bird flu, was detected on a poultry farm in France last week for the first time since January, ahead of the expected seasonal peak during autumn and winter.
Bird flu can be deadly for poultry and has ravaged farm flocks worldwide in recent years. There has also been evidence of transmission beyond birds, including among dairy cows and farm workers in the United States.
“We are going to relaunch a major vaccination campaign because this has proved its effectiveness,” Fesneau told France Info radio.
The authorities have ordered nearly 68 million vaccine shots from French firm Ceva Sante Animale and Germany’s Boehringer Ingelheim for the upcoming campaign, after vaccinating around 50 million ducks in the past year, the agriculture ministry added in a statement.
The cost of the second vaccination programme will be similar to the approximately 100 million euros invested last year and would be 70% financed by the government, Fesneau said.
That is less than the 85% government contribution last year and reflects the aim of gradually shifting the cost towards the poultry sector, he said.
France is also planning vaccination campaigns to contain two other livestock viruses – bluetongue and epizootic haemorrhagic disease, or EHD.
The authorities are providing millions of doses of bluetongue vaccines free of charge for sheep and cattle farms after a new variant of the disease, which can be deadly for ruminants, spread from northern Europe.
As of Aug. 14, 41 outbreaks of bluetongue had been detected in northeast France, the ministry said. The vaccination campaign began last week.
For EHD, a factor behind protests by French farmers earlier this year, a vaccine will be made available soon, Fesneau said.
The disease is continuing to spread among cattle in southwest France, where thousands of cases have been detected.
We R Food Safety is bringing on Daniel Robert to its team as a consultant.
Daniel grew up in a family-owned meat processing business founded in 1918 by his great grandfather A.B. Robert. Daniel attended Louisiana State University and University of Missouri in food/meat science. Daniel accepted a position with USDA FSIS in Los Angeles, transferring back to Louisiana after his training. He later accepted a position with a USDA meat grading and certification branch.
Daniel has 25 years of federal service. After retiring from federal service, he worked in multiple meat facilities, helping them develop innovative products. Daniel’s tenure has taken him to over 700 federal and state meat plants across the nation.
Daniel is active in FFA and 4-H, judging country ham shows and carcass evaluation. Daniel has been an active member of the American Association of Meat Processors and has won several state and national awards for excellence in cured meat and sausage.
His has a great depth of knowledge in new product development, processing, and how to make money in the meat and poultry industry. He brings a wealth of knowledge to We R Food Safety’s clients and is available to consult on every aspect of the meat and poultry industry.
Australia is one of the world’s biggest agricultural exporters
22 August 2024
2 minute read
A rising number of Australian farmers are disgruntled with the government’s climate and agricultural policies, a survey showed on Wednesday, as measures to protect the environment draw farmers’ ire in Europe and some other places, reported Reuters.
Australia is one of the world’s biggest agricultural exporters, shipping nearly $50 billion worth of products as varied as beef, wheat and wine in the 2022-23 financial year.
Since coming to power in 2022, the country’s Labor government has passed legislation that will ban exports of live sheep and restrict the use of water for farming in some areas.
It has also sought to raise more money from farmers for biosecurity and pushed ahead with renewable energy projects in rural areas, causing anger in the farming sector.
Seventy-three percent of 1,026 farmers surveyed across the country said government policies were harming the industry, up from 54% a year ago, the poll by the National Farmers’ Federation (NFF) and communications agency Seftons found.
Eighty percent said the government did not understand or listen to farmers, up from 41% last year, with only 10% saying the government had a positive plan to grow the farm sector.
Half of respondents thought Australia’s food and fibre production would increase over the next decade, down from 56% a year ago.
“The results are unsurprising. Critical issues like the live sheep export ban, biosecurity tax and water buybacks have weighed heavily on farmers,” said NFF President David Jochinke.
“Farmers are frustrated,” he said. “They feel they aren’t being heard and they are being steamrolled by harmful policies – that appear to be driven by activist groups or politicians, not farmers.”
Earlier this year, farmers in numerous European countries staged protests over a range of issues including excessive environmental rules.
Plant-based pet food brand Wild Earth has announced the launch of its first nutritionally complete vegan cat food.
Called Unicorn Pate, the wet food exceeds the requirements of AAFCO, an independent organization that sets standards for pet food safety and regulation. It contains ingredients such as lentils, peas, sweet potatoes, and marine microalgae, with added vitamins and minerals.
Unlike dogs, which are omnivorous, cats are considered to be obligate carnivores since they require nutrients not naturally found in plants. This includes taurine, an essential amino acid that cats cannot produce themselves and must get from their food. However, Unicorn Pate has been formulated to contain all the nutrients cats require without animal ingredients.
The launch comes after a study published last year found good outcomes for cats fed a nutritionally complete vegan diet, including a 14.9% reduction in medication use, a 54.7% reduction in progression onto therapeutic diets, a 22.8% reduction in more severe illness, and a 7.3% reduction in veterinary visits.
“The pooled evidence to date from our study, and from others in this field, indicates that cats fed nutritionally sound vegan diets are healthier overall than those fed meat-based diets,” said study author Professor Andrew Knight.
Wild Earth’s plant-based food could also provide an option for cats with allergies to animal proteins such as chicken. These cats are often prescribed a plant-based diet, and the company hopes to “make plant-based options the first vs. the last choice” for clean, healthy pet food.
Wild Earth was founded in 2017 with the aim of aligning pets’ well-being with sustainability and cruelty-free practices. The company appeared on Shark Tank in 2019, securing an investment from Mark Cuban.
Initially, Wild Earth focused on dog food, launching a koji-based dry kibble at Walmart in 2022. The brand then debuted a new core collection of plant and fungi-based dog kibble, available in several flavors, last year. A few months later, Wild Earth announced a partnership with Zeigler’s Distributor to expand its products across the US Mid-Atlantic region.
“Our team is incredibly proud to launch a new category leader that we hope will catalyze change in the entire pet food industry,” said Ryan Bethencourt, CEO of Wild Earth. “Nutritionally complete vegan cat food has been a long time coming, and we’re very thankful to be able to launch a whole new category of products which we think will transform cat nutrition and help make space for a kinder world for all animals.”
He added, “We expect aggressive resistance from the meat industry on the launch of this industry-pioneering vegan cat food, but we know there are A LOT of cat parents looking for healthier plant-based and more sustainable options and we want to be the leader in providing them with that choice.”
Unicorn Pate is now available from the Wild Earth website.
WASHINGTON — The Department of Justice (DOJ) proposed a settlement that would resolve claims that George’s Inc. and George’s Foods LLC conspired with other poultry processors to suppress workers’ wages.
The consent decree stipulates that George’s pay $5.8 million in restitution to its workers affected by the alleged conspiracy.
According to the DOJ, George’s provided significant and voluntary cooperation to the investigation. George’s would be restricted from retaliating against employees or third parties who disclosed information to the government if the decree is finalized. The settlement would also prohibit George’s from sharing any competitive information about workers’ compensation going forward.
The company’s cooperation would be held accountable by a court-appointed compliance monitor for the next seven years. The compliance monitor would submit regular reports on George’s. Additionally, the DOJ’s antitrust division would be granted access to inspect George’s facilities and interview employees to ensure the company’s compliance.
This proposed consent decree and competitive impact statement will be published in the Federal Register. Any person can submit a written statement concerning the decree during a 60-day comment period.
The company needs to raise $133 mln from top investors
20 August 2024
2 minute read
New Zealand-based dairy producer Synlait Milk on Tuesday warned it might slide into insolvency if it fails to raise NZ$217.8 million ($133.34 million) from its top two investors, reported Reuters.
The firm, which seeks to refinance its existing bank facilities, is over-leveraged and its recent earnings have been weak.
Synlait plans to issue shares worth NZ$185 million to China’s Bright Dairy and shares worth NZ$32.8 million to peer a2 Milk.
Bright Dairy is Synlait’s largest shareholder with a 39% stake while a2 Milk holds a near 20% stake in the company.
Synlait will hold a special shareholders meeting on Sept. 18 for investors to vote on the equity raising proposals.
“If the resolutions are not passed, it’s likely Synlait would need to cease trading and initiate a formal insolvency process,” said Synlait chair George Adams.
If it does not stop trading, banks might launch a formal insolvency process, Synlait said.
All tranches of existing bank facilities are due to mature on Oct. 1 and the company must repay all those outstanding amounts by then or refinance its facilities, it said.
Last month, Synlait received investors’ nod to go ahead with a NZ$130 million loan from Bright Dairy.
Bright Dairy and a2 Milk will not be able to vote on resolutions relating to their own placements but have expressed their intent to back each other’s placements.
Clemens Food Group is unveiling Hatfield’s new sausage portfolio. Designed to meet the rigorous criteria of Gold Standard Animal Care, these thoughtfully raised sausage products aim to revolutionize breakfast offerings for operators. The Gold Standard Animal Care initiative ensures higher welfare standards for farm animals, promoting more humane treatment and addressing growing consumer demand for responsibly sourced food.
Sausage-stuffed waffle. Courtesy of Clemens Food Group
Hatfield’s new sausage portfolio introduces a range of products tailored to current culinary trends, including shakshuka, breakfast poutines and breakfast sandwiches. Among these offerings are a variety of Hatfield All Natural Skinless Sausage Links and Sausage Patties, which are both frozen and fully cooked, including a new savory and aromatic sage flavor. These products ensure consistent quality and ease of preparation, making them ideal for busy foodservice operations across various settings such as family dining, midscale restaurants, fast-casual chains, health care cafes, colleges, universities and lodging facilities.
“We are having much success with the Clemens precooked sausage patty, especially in our larger high-volume units,” said Sam Lazarro, executive chef from the Carilion Group. “The patty has great biscuit/plate coverage with almost no shrinkage when reheated, and the sage flavor profile has been very pleasing to our customers. The quick cook time is a plus for our back-of-the-house staff, which has led to consistent-looking and tasting products for our kitchens, which is the biggest plus for me as an executive chef striving for uniform kitchen results in 10 locations.”
Sage sausage patties and links. Courtesy of Clemens Food Group
“As a chef, I’m always looking for products that not only meet the highest standards of quality but also inspire creativity in the kitchen. Hatfield’s new sage-infused sausages do just that. They’re versatile, flavorful, and crafted with care, making them a perfect addition to any menu. Our commitment to ethical sourcing and sustainability ensures that we’re providing the best possible product to our customers,” said Jen Moyer Murphy, corporate executive chef at Clemens Food Group.
Robert Young, chief executive officer of Miami Beef, brings passion and excitement to his position, giving him the drive to make moves for the company to better its position in the meat marketplace.
In February, Young and the meat company acquired Syracuse, NY-based Hofmann Sausage Co., a longtime staple of the hot dog scene in the Northeast.
“I think it’s the best hot dog out there,” Young said of Hofmann “I mean, they have a formula they haven’t changed for 100 years. We met with their team. You know they had all the right things in place. They have a great product. They have a great brand.”
Another appealing attribute that Miami Beef identified was the culture and leadership team at Hofmann. Young said maintaining that culture will be a key to a successful ownership.
“They’ve got guys that have been there for 20 years, and they love the product, and the brand is strong up there,” Young said. “It goes all up and down the East Coast where we ship.”
Having a brand with an established heritage in New York was a major factor in Miami Beef acquiring the processor.
“We wouldn’t change the formula of what they do, because that’s what their customers love and they have for generations,” Young said. “What we want to do is add products to what they’re doing.”
Young and the Miami Beef team want to find the right people, location and products. The South Florida meat company was already producing burger patties and other grill products. It now wants to add the hot dog lines from Hofmann to its increasingly diverse offerings.
Other items Miami Beef has produced in the past include chicken and turkey patties, ground meats, steaks and pork chops. The addition of Hofmann has been something Miami Beef is promoting to its existing customers.
An example Young gave was packaging a Hofmann hot dog with Miami Beef’s established foodservice customers and retailers in the Florida area.
“I think that having an opportunity to offer our customers both makes a lot of sense,” Young said. “We can promote both in stores. We can give our customers an opportunity to buy hamburgers and hot dogs on the same truck and they can fill a pallet with both. There’s a lot of synergies there that make sense and we look to acquire more businesses, we’re going to look for synergies like that.”
This year’s acquisition wasn’t the first for Miami Beef. The company made a similar move in 2023 by acquiring Brooklyn Burger and Devault Foods.
Brooklyn Burger primarily delivered to retail customers throughout the United States with frozen burger products. Devault Foods supplied restaurants in the Northeast and Midwest with burgers, meatballs and steaks. Over the last year, Miami Beef leveraged Devault and Brooklyn’s reputation to expand its foodservice industry presence.
“We wanted to bring that great product and pack it here and take away those co-packer margins and just be the manufacturer,” Young said.
Michael Young is the founder of Miami Beef.
| Source: Miami Beef
Family History
Although Robert now works as CEO, his father, Michael, showed him the ropes after decades of hard work and successfully growing the business.
Michael started in the meat industry when he was 11 years old, riding the bus on Saturdays from Atlantic City to Philadelphia to work at Young’s Meats.
At age 21, Michael joined his father in Florida, where he worked with his cousin Jack at Henderson Portion Pack. Jack helped develop the company’s portion-control business and Portion Pack which was ultimately acquired by Borden Foods.
As he learned more about meat processing, Michael went to Arkansas and worked at Vogels Food Distributor. He then traveled across Texarkana, Ark., selling for Vogels before returning to Miami to sell for Henderson.
After gaining some experience, Michael decided to create his own meat business. His first investment was a pink Econoline truck. He bought and sold meat to country clubs, restaurants, Burger Castle, and Homestead Air Force Base. Michael also delivered meat from Florida City to North Fort Lauderdale.
Following the truck purchase was a 10-foot -by-12-foot small, rented room in Central Cold Storage, which was the smallest state-inspected plant in Florida. While perfecting the Jaccard hand-needle machine where he tenderized the ribeyes, Michael eventually needed a bigger room to expand his business.
So, Michael moved to an old poultry plant where he could cut steaks and grind hamburgers while maintaining the pink truck and supplying the family restaurant chain Lum’s, which had dozens of stores in the South Florida area.
As his meat industry reputation grew, Michael garnered more space at US Cold Storage, which included more hooks, tables, saws and equipment that came with the lease. Michael continued to cut steaks for customers like the Kapok Tree Inn and sold them to food distributors across the South.
Finally, in the 1970s, Michael built the current plant Miami Beef runs on today and has slowly made some improvements when needed.
Even at 79 years old, Michael comes in every day to work with his sons, Robert, Harrison and Daniel, who have continued to operate the family business.
Robert Young (left) and Harrison Young both play integral roles in helping Miami Beef achieve his new business goals.
| Source: Miami Beef
Merging standards
Both Miami Beef and Hofmann ship their products all over the East Coast.
By adding a well-known hot dog player to the Miami Beef portfolio, Young said it can offer customers a complete meat program because they provide more offerings.
As part of the acquisition, Young said Miami Beef plans to invest in additional equipment at the 16,000-square-foot Hofmann plant in Syracuse to ensure the legacy remains with Hofmann as they move forward in this new chapter while adding a second line.
“We’re investing in equipment,” Young said. “We’re investing in the people. We’re going to grow that business and we think it’s going to thrive. We’re going to try to introduce it nationwide over the next couple of years.”
In the summertime before acquiring Hofmann, Miami Beef’s production was more than 500,000 lbs per week at its 55,000-square-foot facility in South Florida.
Now, as it incorporates Hofmann under its umbrella, Young and Miami Beef believe it can grab existing Hofmann customers and introduce them to Miami Beef.
“We’re going to cross sell, add new items in the Hoffman SKUs like I said, no formula changes but increasing productivity by adding another line to increase capacity,” Young said.
Publix and Harris Teeter are two retail chains where Miami Beef and Hofmann are available on the East Coast, and that distribution is expected to continue for years to come.
Some Miami Beef products were on display at the Annual Meat Conference 2024.
| Source: Ryan McCarthy/Sosland Publishing Company
