SEMA_________________________________

SOUTHEASTERN MEAT ASSOCIATION
P.O. Box 620777; Oviedo, FL 32762 Phone: 407-365-5661

PRODUCT LABELING

Label design is one thing, but you need to ensure label accuracy and compliance with FDA or USDA guidelines. FDA has acknowledged that consumers will benefit from more information on food labels concerning diet and health. A new mandatory listing—regarding not serving size but content—will start appearing soon on Nutrition Facts boxes. FDA is requiring all food and beverage manufacturers to identify trans-fatty-acid content by January 1, 2006.

By September 30, 2004, USDA will require, by law, that labels on all fresh muscle cuts and ground versions of beef, lamb and pork, as well as farm-raised fish, wild fish, perishable agricultural commodities (fruits and vegetables) and peanuts state the country of origin.

FDA is not quick to throw someone behind bars, but it will promptly send out a warning letter when it identifies a case of mislabeling. The agency also can take further actions, such as seizure and/or injunction, if manufacturers fail to take prompt action and correct labels.

Food manufacturers have access to various free-of-charge labeling resources. For starters, FDA maintains an online food-labeling guide at www.cfsan.fda.gov/label.html.

In summary, once a manufacturer prints the labels, claims or no claims, if a formula changes, or it a new ingredient supplier is used, nutrition values for the finished product many change. Any changes to the original formula, ingredients or suppliers warrant a review. In other words, food manufacturers must never become complacent with food labels. It is an ongoing part of business.

COOL MORATORIUM

The Senate has approved an omnibus appropriations bill containing a two-year moratorium on mandatory country-of-origin labeling.

Due to the recent BSE case, the Public Citizen Group is urging Congress to “revisit this matter in separate legislation and instruct USDA to act swiftly to implement country-of –origin labeling on schedule.”

The Meat Associations are still working on a voluntary program.

HELP YOUR CUSTOMERS PREVENT LISTERIA CONTAMINATION

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention Food Net program has recorded over a 40 percent decrease in its incidence during the past five years.

Listeria bacteria are killed with thorough cooking or by other heating methods, such as pasteurization. Keeping ready-to-eat foods cold is key to reducing listeriosis but listeria can grow in the refrigerator and survive in the freezer. To help prevent listeria:

• Store ready-to-eat foods at 40 degrees Fahrenheit or lower—use a refrigerator thermometer to check the temperature.
• Use perishable and ready-to-eat foods as soon as possible.
• Clean the refrigerator regularly

Follow these four basic steps to food safety promoted by the food safety education program called Fight
BAC!

• Clean: Wash hands and surfaces often with hot, soapy water. Always wash hands, cutting boards, dishes, and utensils with hot, soapy water after they come in contact with raw food.
• Separate: Don’t cross-contaminate. Keep uncooked foods separate from vegetables, fruits, breads, and other foods that are already prepared for eating.
• Cook: Cook to safe temperatures. If you are at risk or listeriosis, reheat luncheon meats, cold cuts, and other deli-style meat and poultry until they are steaming hot.
• Chill: Refrigerate or freeze perishables, including ready-to-eat foods, promptly.

MEAT PRODUCTION DOWN

Beef production was 18 percent lower in November 2003 from the previous year.

Pork production was 1 percent below the 2002 number.

Veal production was down 10 percent from November 2002.

SUREBEAM FACES BANKRUPTCY

San Diego-based SureBeam Corp, manufacturer of food irradiation systems, filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy.

PEOPLE FOR THE ETHICAL TREATMENT OF ANIMALS

Founded: in 1980 More than 750,000 members.

According to its Web site, PETA is the largest animal rights organization in the world.

PETA’s mission is that animals are not to be eaten, worn, experimented on or used for entertainment.

PRIVACY ACT

Employers will need to have in place policy on how they will handle a worker’s personal medical information by April. Firms will be responsible to keep private any medical condition an employee may have. If a worker calls in sick, they are required to notify only their immediate supervisor of any health problems or conditions. If an employee chooses not to disclose a reason for calling in sick, a return call from their supervisor would be advised. Any other employees who might have access to health records of workers must also protect those privacy rights.

To better protect yourself, before releasing any medical information to a life insurance carrier, bank, marketing firm or other outside business, make certain your employees sign an authorization form.

IRS 2004

Reimbursement for employees who use their personal autos for business use increases to 37.5 cents per mile. Employees will still be required to substantiate the time, business purpose, place and mileage for each trip reimbursed. Businesses will be able to use the mileage allowance if they use four or fewer autos for business purposes simultaneously.

The 2004 Social Security wage base limit will rise to $87,900, meaning that FICA taxes will not be paid on wages above that level. The 2004 Medicare wage base is unlimited and the FUTA tax (940) limit will be at $7,000. For 401K contributions, the new limit will be $13,000, plus a catch-up provision of $3,000 for those over age 50. Those rates are set to increase to $14,000 plus $4,000 in 2005 and to $15,000 plus $5,000 in 2006.

WRITING CLEARLY

More than half of firms do a poor to fair job communicating facts about their business on the Web pages. On corporate overview pages, many firms use jargon and fail to clearly explain what the firm does.

• Clearly state what the company does. Be brief and to the point.
• Use bullets to make points easy to find.
• Keep it simple.

WEALTHY AMERICANS

The number of affluent households in the U.S. will keep growing the next seven years. And despite recent setbacks, the portfolios of well-off Americans are still robust.

In a recent study, The Conference Board said U.S. households with earnings of at least $100,000 number 15 million, or 14% of all U.S. homes. By 2010, says the board, there will be 20 million such households.

BUY OR BUILD?

More and more companies these days are struggling with the questions of whether to add manufacturing capacity or outsource the process. If they build their own facilities, they risk getting stuck with excess capacity in a downturn. But a recent study shows that outsourcing, too, can have a negative economic impact on a firm.

Stanford University professor Erica Plambeck and Columbia University professor Terry Taylor say companies should be aware of possible drawbacks to outsourcing.

Those include:

• Outsourcing to contract manufacturers may harm original equipment manufacturers by reducing incentive to innovate. That could ultimately slow development of a manufacturer’s entire market.
• Pooling manufacturing resources is sometimes a better strategy than outsourcing to contract manufacturers.
• New approaches to negotiating deals can improve margins for original equipment manufacturers as well as contract manufacturers.

WANT TO GO TO GERMANY?????

AAMP is taking reservations for May Tour To IFFA in Frankfurt, Germany. The tour is prices at $2,495 for members of AAMP and/or SEMA. The single rate is a supplemental $699.

If you are interested in attending, contact Margo Koch at 914.761.1010

LISTERIA MONOCYTOGENES WORKSHOP

UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA
Gainesville, Florida
THURSDAY, MARCH 11, 2004
8:00 A.M.

Sponsored by Deibel Laboratories, Inc., and A.C. Leggs Old Plantation
Instructors: Steve Goodfellow, Deibel Laboratories,
Dr. Sally Williams and Larry Eubanks, UF Department of Animal Sciences

Contact: Larry Eubanks
Research Program Coordinator
University of Florida
Phone: 352.392.1921

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THINGS TO PONDER

Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take; but by the moments that take our breath away.

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OOPS!!!!!

Errors were made in the reporting of SEMA’s newest member in last month’s newsletter.
Therefore, we would like to again welcome:

Mike Hadsell, Sales Manager
KOPCO GRAPHICS, INC.
1195 Tallevast Road
Sarasota, FL 34243-3261
Phone: 941.359.1700
Fax: 941.359.0110
e-mail: mikeh@kopcographics.com

Please take a minute and give Mike a call to introduce yourself and welcome him to SEMA.

MEMBER CORRESPONDENCE

We received an e-mail from Frank McDavid at Pechiney Plastics. Here is an excerpt from that e-mail:

I was diagnosed with colon cancer stage III, level C and began treatment (surgery, chemo) in January 2002. After the January 2nd, 2004 pathology confirmation, I began chemo again.

I ask only support in everyone’s prayers. It is about faith, family, friends and physicians.

PAST-MEMBER NEWS

Roberto Azpiazu, 91, of Palatka, died Sunday, January 11, 2004 at his son’s home in St. Augustine after a long illness. The funeral was held January 15, 2004.

He began Best Packers Company in Hialeah in 1966 and later moved to Palatka in 1974 and opened a second Best Packers location, which he owned and operated for many years. While active in business, he was a member of SEMA.

He was preceded in death by his wife: Alicia Azpiazu and is survived by two sons: Alfredo Azpiazu and Robert Azpiazu both of St. Augustine.

UPCOMING SEMA BOARD MEETING

March 20, 2004
Westin Resort
Hilton Head, South Carolina

WELCOME TO OUR NEW MEMBER

KOPCO GRAPHICS, INC. is proud to be a new member of the Southeastern Meat Association. KOPCO has been a long time supplier to the meat and poultry industry nationally with manufacturing locations in Sarasota and Cincinnati. With 7 presses to serve your printing and packaging needs, you will find KOPCO also has a knowledgeable staff to assist you with meeting FDA and USDA labeling regulations. Their in-house design studio can help you achieve that special look for your package to generate more sales. “We feel that we are bringing a level of professionalism, quality and customer service to our Florida customers that is unmatched” states Doug Kopp, President. You will find that KOPCO can provide you with the quick response times that you need for your labeling projects. In addition to supplying high quality pressure sensitive labels, KOPCO can also provide you with all types of on-pack/in-pack coupons, multi-fold booklet style labels, thermal transfer and direct thermal labels (both blank and partially pre-printed), ribbons and printers, Mettler-Toledo Scale Manager Program, FDA approved styrene inserts for direct food contact, automatic label applicators, direct mail promotional pieces and many other unique marketing tools.

KOPCO GRAPHICS can be reached toll free by calling their Sarasota location at 1-866-743-4192. Ask for Shane Barrett, Operations Manager or Mike Hadsell, Sales Manager. Email Shane at shaneb@kopcographics.com or Mike at mikeh@kopcographics.com They look forward to hearing from you and having the opportunity to assist you with your future labeling and packaging projects. They would be glad to send you a free sample kit. You will be impressed with the results you get from this “One Stop Source.”

KOPCO GRAPHICS, INC.
1195 Tallevast Road
Sarasota, FL 34243-3261
941-359-1700 PH
941-359-0110 FAX