House hearing contentious; AMI unveils Meat News Network

waybomb

Well-known member
Not surprisingly, the hearing yesterday on "greater transparency" in the meat processing industry achieved little in the way of greater understanding. The American Meat Institute, however, used the opportunity to unveil a new initiative that it says will make meat-related information more accessible for consumers.

Dr. Richard Raymond, the USDA's under secretary for food safety, told the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform's subcommittee for domestic policy that the agency doesn't need more inspectors, and that the idea of videotaping meat plants is costly and impractical, according to The Baltimore Sun.

Committee members reportedly were unimpressed by Dr. Raymond's testimony: "We're trying to look for solutions. If you would work with us, that would help," Rep. Diane E. Watson (D.-Calif.) is quoted as saying.

Dr. Raymond was the first of 10 total witnesses scheduled to appear at the hearing.

Weighing in with a different take on the uses of video, AMI CEO J. Patrick Boyle used his testimony as an opportunity to announce that the organization has launched a YouTube channel called Meat News Network. It will convey consumer-focused information about the meat industry in an "accurate, visual way," AMI promises.

"We are launching this YouTube Channel with a three-part video that features Dr. Temple Grandin and other members of our Animal Welfare Committee," Boyle told the committee, according to an AMI statement. "We will soon add new videos on other timely topics so that we can enhance our relationship with the 95 percent of Americans who enjoy our products."

In addition to the video on animal welfare, the channel includes videos on food packaging, food safety, the World Cancer Research Fund Report, meat nutrition and environmental concerns.

"It is imperative that we share the facts about our industry and our products in informative and visually compelling ways," Boyle said.
 

Doc

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Good info Fred. There is so much going on in this part of the food industry that we are not even aware of. Thanks for your efforts to keep us up to speed. :thumb:
 
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