China shuts poultry farms over use of excessive antibiotics
China’s agriculture authority today shut down poultry farms in an east province where the chickens were reported to have been given excessive amounts of antibiotics.
Last week, Chinese media reported that some poultry farmers in Shandong Province had given their chickens excessive amounts of antibiotics, including amantadine and ribavirin, to help them survive in overcrowded chicken farms, triggering nationwide concern about food safety.
State ban on arsenic in poultry feed takes effect
Maryland’s ban on the use and sale of poultry feed containing roxarsone or any other additive that contains arsenic went into effect this week.
Last year, Maryland became the first state to pass a bill banning use of the additive.
Two CPF leaders step down from the board of directors
Two of California poultry’s most dynamic and inspirational leaders recently have withdrawn from the California Poultry Federation (CPF) board of directors after many years of commendable service. Because of their hard work and dedication to CPF and its mission, they have left behind an organization that is successful, engaged and results oriented.
Maryland judge rules against environmental activists in Waterkeeper trial
The U.S. District Court of Maryland this morning found in favor of Perdue Farms’ grower Hudson Farms in a case filed against them by Waterkeeper Alliance Inc.
National Chicken Council President Mike Brown released the following statement in response to today’s ruling: "Governor O’Malley said it best – that this unfair attack on a family farm represented an ‘ongoing injustice.’
Safeway surpasses cage-free egg goals
On Dec. 18, Safeway Inc. said it became the first major grocery retailer in the United States to make a national commitment to Certified Humane cage-free eggs and surpassing its sourcing and sales goals for cage-free eggs in the process.
Safeway launched an initiative with existing suppliers in 2008 to have all Lucerne Cage-Free and O Organics shell eggs sourced from Certified Humane farms. Then in 2010, Safeway set a goal of increasing sales of cage-free eggs from 6 percent to 12 percent of the shell-egg category by 2012. At present, more than 15 percent of overall egg sales in the category are cage-free eggs. The company also added the Open Nature label to the Certified Humane program this year. Safeway plans to continue to expand the campaign as their customers respond to the initiative. Read More
Home cooking heats up
Cooking at home is becoming more common, according to a new survey. Twenty-six percent of American consumers say they "love" cooking vs. only 9 percent who claim to dislike it, […]
NCC provides comments to FDA about animal drug user fee act reauthorization
"The National Chicken Council (NCC) supports a science-based, statistically-validated and technically-sound approach to antibiotic usage and data collection," said NCC Vice President of Scientific and Regulatory Affairs, Ashley Peterson, Ph.D., […]
Share Your Turkey! Photo Contest Winners
Brines, dry rubs, roasting, smoking, grilling and deep-frying… so many ways to prepare your holiday turkey! The California Poultry Federation and its members sponsored a Share Your Turkey! Photo Contest this past Thanksgiving. CPF Facebook friends shared their special whole turkey preparation of a California Grown Thanksgiving turkey. Entrants posted a photo and description of why this was a favorite method of preparation in 2012.
Costa calls on Congress to reform RFS
Last month, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced that they refused multiple requests to waive the RFS from governors, 156 Members of Congress and various agriculture groups. Citing that evidence […]
United States must comply with WTO ruling on Country-of-Origin Labeling by 2013
The United States must bring its mandatory country-of-origin meat labeling rules into compliance with an earlier World Trade Organization (WTO) ruling by May 23, 2013, according to a WTO decision this week. WTO ruled on June 29, 2012 that the U.S. country-of-origin labeling program unfairly discriminated against Canada and Mexico because it gave less favorable treatment to beef and pork imported from these countries than to U.S. meat.