Al4—Lancaster Farming, Saturday, November 1,1980
Berks plant
(Continued from Page Al)
“Quality Control In
spection will lessen the
regulatory burden on in
dustry without any reduction
in consumer protection,” she
explained
She pointed out this
program will reduce the
costs of inspection done by
USDA. And, plants will have
better controls on production
the chances of a product
not meeting USDA stan
dards of inspection for
wholesomeness and labeling
accuracy will be reduced,
she noted.
Foreman participated in
similar inauguration
ceremonies for this program
at two other plants this
week. They were Ecknch &
Sons, Inc., Chicago, Illinois,
a sausage manufacturer and
Equity Meat Corp, North
Baltimore, Ohio, producer of
fresh beef patties
Berks Packing and the
other two plants are the first
in the nation to have their
total quality control systems
approved, authorizing their
participation in the volun
tary inspection program that
became effective September
15.
Total plant quality control
systems include written
procedures for all stages of
production, from the time
raw ingredients enter the
plant to the point the finished
product is shipped from the
plant.
Specially trained USDA
inspectors will monitor
critical points in production,
especially where safety or
accurate labeling could be
jeopardized Records are
kept on such things as
temperature, product
ingredients, processing
times, finished product
content and weight
Foreman said USDA
recognizes that meat
processors are just as
concerned with the quality of
their brand name product as
is the government. They try
to avoid the same problems
as USDA standards are
designed to prevent, she
said
She emphasized the fact
that the program provided
flexibility and versatility for
the packer while continuing
to meet the needs of the
pubbc in a way that was
most economical- for the
company.
“This increased efficiency
in meat plant inspections
Assistant Ag Secretary Carol Tucker Foreman
was in Reading on Thursday for inauguration
ceremonies at Berks Packing Co., one of three
companies in the nation to lead off the quality
control inspection.
will free up money for other
needed inspections to protect
the consumer’s interest,”
Foreman stated, citing the
monitoring of chemical
residues in food as one area
where more work is needed
Foreman conceded that
the USDA is relying on the
packing company’s integrity
and accurate records in this
type of voluntary inspection
program She pointed out
there are some plants whose
standards aren’t high
enough and will never be
able to use the quality
control program.
How quickly will this type
of program be implemented
in the other plants that would
qualify 9
Foreman stated it will be a
slow process one that
“can’t be imposed willy-
nilly ”
“The key element m this
program is that it lets in
dividual companies come up
with plans that will meet
USDA standards and needs.
This working with in
dividuals is something that
isn’t felt to happen often
between government and the
private sector. The meshing
of ideas will take time,” she
said
Foreman pointed out that
the concept of the quality
control program USDA
relying on company records
had been used in the in
spection of a number of
plants before the program
was officially recognized
“It’s a formalization oi a
process that was done on an
informal basis in recent
years,” she said “It allows
our inspectors a more
scientific check through
statistical sampling and
analyses rather than strictly
observation the inspection
method used in the past ”
The new inspection
program is available to
processing plants which
produce frankfurters, frozen
dinners, and soups con
taining meat and poultry. It
does not apply to inspection
of animals in slaughtering
plants
Foreman pointed out
USDA may terminate ap
proval of a plant’s total
quality control system if its
products are found to be
adulterated or misbranded,
or if the plant fails to correct
problems in the system on
their own or when notified by
USDA
A plant may also volun
tarily withdraw from the
program at any time
Berks Packing Co, Inc ,
has been in business for
nearly 50 years here m
Reading It was founded in
1933 as a slaughtering
operation by Charles A
Boylan
Since 1967, Berks has been
solely a meat processing
plant, producing 26 million
frankfurters, sausages, and
smoked hams annually
Pat Boylan, president of
the company, stated, “lam
glad that USDA will be using
the quality control system m
their inspection program.
“Speaking as a member of
a regulated industry, I can proach to regulation The
say we’re always happy additional information
when the government takes available to inspectors will
a more enlightened ap- help them make better
Farm Calendar
(Continued from Page AlO)
Contest, Fanklm Myers
Farm; Long Lane; 1:30
p.m
Wednesday, November 5
Berks County Beef Roun
dup; Leesport Market
and Auction Show; 10
a.m ; Sale, 4 pm.
York Baby Beef Roundup
and Sale; Thomasville
Livestock Market
Bradford County East DHIA
meeting; 7-45 p.m.;
Wysox Fire Hall, Wysox
Maryland Cooperative Milk
Producer’s Dist. 14;
Leola Family
Restaurant; 7 p.m,
Northampton County Farm-
City Dinner; Plainfield
Twp Fire Hall; 7 p.m.
STEEL FUEL STORAGE TANKS
Capacity Dia. Gauge Price
12
10
285 36”
550 48"
550 48”
1000 48"
1000 48"
2000 64”
piui-itmi
/*\
Model 112
ROTARY
HAND PUMP
*7s*
* Additional $25 off when purchased with a tank
HOWARD E. GROFF CO.
Fuel Oil, Gasoline, and Coal
111 E. State Street, Quarryville, PA 17566
Phone: 717-786-2166
Thursday, November 6
York County Farm Women
Annual Convention; St
Matthew’s Lutheran
Church; York; 10a.m
Bradford County West DHIA
meeting; 7:45; Troy
American' Legion Hall;
Troy
Blair County DHIA meeting,
Williamsburg; William
sburg Elementary
School; 7:15
Chain Saw Safety Seminar; 7
p.m.; Christiana Fire
Hall; Rt. 7 and 273 in
Delaware
Friday, November 7
Berks County 4-H Sheep
Banquet
Del. Wood Stove Safety
Seminar; Christiana Fire
Hall; 7 p.m.
NEW UNDERGROUND
Capacity Oia.
110
205
250
300
370
570
Model NP-701
ELECTRIC PUMP
*3ls*
PRICES FOB QUARRYVILLE
decisions and carry out their
responsibilities more ef-
fectively ”
Beekeepers Workshop, West'
Chester State College;
West Chester; 8:45 a.m.
Saturday, November 8
Cumberland County Farm
Women’s Convention; 10
a.m.; Embers
Restaurant; Carlisle
Lebanon 4-H horse club
banquet; 6:30 p.m.;
Schaefferstown Fire
Hall;
Beekeepers Seminar; 8:45
a.m. Schmucker Science
Center; West Chester
State College; West
Chester;
Lancaster County 4-H Sheep
Roundup; 12:30 p.m.; Jay
Stauffer farm;
North American In
ternational Livestock'
Expo; Louisville, KY;
Continues through
Tuesday.
Gauge
4000 64”
10.000 96”
10.000 120”
15.000 126”
20.000 126”
30,000 126”
5/16”
5/16”
3/8”
v
Model If
786-5 If
DIAPHRAM iL*.
HAND
PUMP- 7(fl '
*7o* W
Price
" 950
2495
2250
3825
4790
8390
W”
V 4”