Cargill, Hormel defend use of carbon monoxide in meat packaging

[douglas9]

Source: Associated Press/South Bend Tribune

WASHINGTON (AP) — Minnesota companies Cargill Inc. and Hormel Foods Corp. told the House Agriculture Committee Tuesday that their practice of packaging meat in carbon monoxide was safe, while consumer groups critical of the practice steamed about getting excluded from the hearing.The meat industry uses the practice to help meat retain its red color, but critics say it misleads consumers about the freshness of the product.

"The product has been in the market for four years, and it has been extremely well received by our retailers and our consumers," said Phil Minerich, a vice president at Hormel.

Last week, Safe Tables Our Priority and other groups opposed to the use of carbon monoxide asked the committee chairman, Minnesota Democrat Collin Peterson, for a chance to testify at the hearing, but were turned down.

"This isn't the appropriate venue for that," Peterson said in a brief interview before the hearing. He said the purpose was to educate committee members about meat industry technologies.

Read more: http://www.southbendtribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?Date=20071030&Category=News01&ArtNo=71030099&SectionCat=XML&Template=printpicart

[Ice4Clark]

1. I guess one of my concerns is what I read in an article in

USA Today: http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2006-02-21-carbon-monoxide-meat_x.htm

snip:

Berdahl said Tuesday that carbon monoxide-treated meat could be left on the kitchen counter for five days and would still look bright red and fresh. Carbon monoxide "also suppresses bad odors and the presence of slime, other telltale signs that meat is spoiled," Kalsec's petition said.

The petition said treated meat could hide the growth of pathogens such as Clostridium botulinum, Salmonella and E. coli.


So by this "treatment" they may be jeapardizing our ability to determine if the meat is spoiled or not. If you can't trust the "appearance" or the "smell" then what are we left with? I've had some meat go bad prior to the "use by date".

[DCKit]

2. Spot On Ice4Clark.

It's all about increasing profit. So what if an additional few hundred thousand consumers get sick every year? The food's so bad now it's hard to tell the source of any food borne illness.

My personal favorite are the new GE tomatoes that can be rotten before they even look ripe.

[Algorem]

3. why don't they just soak it in formaldehyde while they're at it?

embalmed dead critters,yum

[Mnemosyne]

4. "extremely well received by our retailers and our consumers,"

Only because most do not know about this deceptive and unsafe practice!:grr:

[CatholicEdHead]

8. Exactly

[BadgerKid]

5. For anyone who's survived an abusive relationship,

what the industry is doing is removing our ability to make a sound judgment. It's one of the hallmarks of an abuser.

Oh, and sorry for the dramatic tagline, but I'm just calling it as I see it.

[progressoid]

6. "generally recognized as safe."

Good enough for me!

[JPZenger]

7. Not Accidental that Head of EPA in Simpsons Was Named Cargill

It was not accidental that the immoral corporate baron who became head of the EPA in the Simpsons movie was named "Cargill."

[spinbaby]

9. Do they package meat for Wal-Mart?

I know that meat from Wal-Mart is both injected with some unspecified solution and packed with carbon monoxide.

[MilesColtrane]

10. Hot Smogs! Armour Hot Smogs! What kind of kids eat Armour Hot Smogs? eom

[hedgehog]

11. Open package in a well ventilated space....... nt