D4-Lancuter Fanning, Saturday, October 12, 1996 CONSUMER RESPONSE TO NEW LABELING RULE IS MUCH ANTICIPATED R. Vasilatos-Younken, Ph.D. Associate Professor Dept, of Poultry Science Recently a new ruling by the U.S. Department of Agriculture went into effect that redefines the use of “fresh” as a label on raw poultry products. When changes to the federal poultry products inspection reg ulations were originally brought to the public forum for comment last year, they raised considerable debate among industry representa tives, consumer groups, and the Food Safety and Inspection Ser vice (FSIS), which amended the existing regulations. The new rule calls for raw poul try products whose internal temp erature has ever been below 26 degrees F but above 0 degrees F to SNOW BLOWERS Many Models Available 52” Cutting Width to 108” Cutting Rear Scraper BLADES Medium Duty RB7OO 6 ft., 7 ft., & 8 ft. Models Also Available.. WOODS Light Duty Blades in 6 & 7 Ft. Models WOODS Heavy Duty Blades in 8, 9 & 10 Ft. Models WOODS - Dual WOODS - GANNON WOODS - GILL R.S. HOLLINGER & SON, INC. Mountville, PA 717-285-4538 ECKROTH BROS. FARM EQUIPMENT New Ringgold, PA 717-943-2131 Orefield. PA 610-366-2095 be labeled “(previously) hard chilled” (the use of “previously*’ is optional). Prior to this amendment, such products did not require this designation and, in fact, could be labeled “fresh” if the internal temperature of the product was above 0 degrees but below 40 degrees F and had not been previ ously frozen at or below 0 degrees. Raw poultry -product which has ever been at or below 0 degrees F must still be labeled with the term “frozen” or (optionally) “previous ly frozen.” The debate over this labeling change involved a variety of issues, from consumer perception argued from the standpoint of “truth in advertising” to issues of food safety and quality. To under stand much of the technical basis of the labeling change, one needs to realize that muscle foods, in par ticular skeletal muscle, are com prised largely of water, with a vari ety of biochemical substances both WOODS Width Single and Double Feeder Augers and 3 Blade Blower Fans 200 Degree Chute Rotation with Optional Hydraulic Chute Rotation. All Have PTO Shaft With Shear Pin Protection ... come in for a demonstration THOMAS POWER EQUIPMENT Avondale, PA 215-268-2181 PIPERSVILLE GARDEN CENTER Pipersville, PA 215-766-0414 dissolved in this solvent as well as forming the structural components of the tissue. Broiler breast muscle, for exam ple, is more than 70 percent water on a weight basis. Water freezes at 32 degrees F, but as solutes become dissolved in that water, including salts, sugars, and other biochemical components of intracellular and extracellular fluids, the freezing point of the liq uid is lowered. In fact, most of the free water in whole poultry meat freezes over a temperature range from 27 to 23 degrees F. At 27 degrees F, ice crystals begin to form, and below 26 degrees F, when much of the /; WOODS NESLEY EQUIPMENT CO. Pottstown, PA 215-469-6391 D.W. OGG EQUIPMENT CO. Frederick, MD 301-473-4250 Westminster, MD 410-848-3458 free water in the tissue is turning to ice, the product becomes hard to the touch. By 23 degrees F, most of the free water is frozen and the pro duct both appears and feels frozen solid. Based on these physical characteristics, FSIS considered 26 degrees F as a reasonable lower threshold for a product to be called “fresh." A significant issue considered by FSIS is that most consumers are not aware that poultry products sold as fresh at the retail case may have been chilled to a hard consis tency and then thawed prior to sale. Advocates of the labeling change argued that consumers LAND PRIDE Pi Designed to slice through material up to 2" thick, the all new Rotary Cutter is capable of handling your most challenging mowing tasks. The rounded back design efficiently manages large amounts of cut material. If you’re looking for the ideal partner for your 35 to 95 HP tractor, it's time to investigate the all new 25 Series Rotary Cutter from Land Pride. Pennsylvania Betts Equipment 3139 Windy Bush Road.Rt 232 New Hope, PA 18938 215-598-7501 C.B. Hoober & Son, Inc. Main Street Intercourse, PA 17534 717-768-8231 Deerfield Ag & Turf Center, Inc. RR 2 Box 212 Watsontown, PA 17777 717-538-3557 Detlan Equipment, Inc. 141 East Main St. Silverdale, PA 18962 215-257-5177 Dunkle & Grieb, Inc. RR 2,80X14 Centre Hall, PA 16828 814-364-1421 Eckroth Bros Farm Equipment Rd 2, Box 24A New Ringold, PA 17960 717-943-2131 Hines Equipment RT. 220, Belwood, PA 814-742-8171 Caldwell Tractor & Equipment, Inc. 480 U.S Route 46 Fairfield, N.J 07006 201-227-6772 Rodio Tractor Sales North White Horse Pike Hammonton, N.J. 08037 609-561-0141 assume a product not appearing (or otherwise labeled) hard chilled at the dme of sale is generally pre sumed never to have been so at any time, and decisions related to sub sequent product handling, includ ing refreezing, etc., are based on this assumption. The FSIS held that this labeling change was necessary to prevent consumers from being misled about the nature of the products they purchase and allow them to make informed purchasing deci sions. Poultry meat that has been previously hard chilled or frozen and appropriately handled is iden- heavy material and trash. Keller Brothers R 7 Box 405 Lebanon, PA 17042 717-949-6501 1950 Fruitville Pike Lancaster, PA 17601 717-569-2500 Lost Creek Implement, Inc. Route 35, Box 123 Oakland Mill, PA 17076 717-463-2161 M.S. Yearsly & Sons West Chester, PA 610-696-2990 Marshall Machinery, Inc. Route 652 Honesdale, PA 18431 717-729-7117 Nicarry Equipment Co. RD 2, Rt. 61,3 Miles S. of Leesport, Reading, PA 610-926-2441 Norman D. Clark & Son, Inc. Honey Grove, PA 717-734-3682 New Jersey Frank Rymon & Sons, Inc, RD 3, Box 355 Washington, N.J. 07882 908-689-1464 Warren County Service Center 228 Route 94 Blairtown, N.J. 908-362-8916 (Turn to Pago 05) Available in 60", 72" and 84" models. Pikevitle Equipment Inc. RD 2, Oysterdale Road Oley, PA 19547 610-927-6277 Sollenberger’s Equipment, Inc. 80 State St. Everett, PA 15537 814-652-6990 Stoltzfus Farm Service Cochranville, PA 610-593-2407 Stouffer Bros Inc. 1066 Lincoln Way West Chambersburg, PA 17201 717-263-8424 Thomas L. Dunlap Rt. 220, Main St. Exit Jersey Shore, PA 17740 717-398-1391 Tractor Parts Co. 335 Central Road Bloomsburg, PA 17815 717-784-0250 Triple H Equipment, Inc. 23e8 Robert Fulton Hwy. Peach Bottom, PA 17563 717-548-3775
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers