Stoltzfus Named To National M< (Continued from Page A 1) refreshingly upbeat. “I’ll be the first to admit that it takes a lot of fun out of the busi ness and it takes a lot of energy, but we have a choice. We can com plain, react, pretend that it doesn’t exist, or become involved,” he said. By becoming involved, Stolt zfus hopes to positively influence government regulations. It’s the committee’s job to satisfy the expectations of consumers, proc cessors, wholesalers, caterers, home food service companies, and suppliers. “I’ll be the first to admit that it takes a lot of fun out of the business and it takes a lot of energy, but we have a choice. We can complain, react, pretend that it doesn't exist, or become involvedhe said. Stoltzfus doesn’t believe that it is the government’s intent to put the little guy out of business or that consumer groups arc not open to the meat industry’s viewpoint. "But they are tired of hearing ‘this is going to put me out of busi ness.’ They need someone to arti culate the problems.” Stoltzfus has met the enemy, so to speak, face to face and has not found them irrational. “There is a willingness for them to hear—-to get past the rhetoric and find out the real issues,” said Stoltzfus, whose boyish appear ance belies his 39 years. Sporting a close-trimmed beard and wearing j&ns and a cotton pullover shirt, Stoltzfus appears relaxed and yet animated with energy. Skeptics question whether or not the committee is' merely a political ploy—an attempt to TRAIL AGI-POMPE* 32' AND 42' FOR LAGOONS appease both consumer groups who are rallying for zero tolerance of bacteria in food and for industry groups who resent government control in their every undertaking. Appointing a committee gives the appearance that the government is concerned and wants a task force that looks at all angles of the prob lem. The concept looks good but it may be entirely ineffective, Stolt zfus admitted. A previous commit tee had been formulated but only met about once a year. “Maybe the bottom line is that this is a political issue or perhaps it is a gesture to put together a com mittee in an attempt to get to the heart of the issues. Whatever it is, I want to believe the latter. I want to give this a chance.” Stoltzfus said. Stoltzfus has been involved in public debate fra several years through his involvement as a mem ber of the Meat Inspection Govern mental Affairs Committee of the American Association of Meat Processors (AAMP), based in Eli zabethtown. Through that involve ment, Stoltzfus has been to Washington D.C. several times. “I met some vocal groups (attacking the meat industry). Many are articulate spokespeople for their cause.” Stoltzfus said. He recalled an especially diffi cult attempt to reach an under standing between consumer groups and the meat industry. At a hearing of approximately 80 per sons, Stoltzfus sat across from a mother whose toddler had died as at Inspection Committee J. Myron Stoltzfus, owner and operator of Stoltzfus Meats Inc., has been appointed by U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Dan Glickman to serve on an advisory committee on meat and poultry Inspection. the result of Ecoli in an under cooked burger. “When you are sitting across from a mother who has lost a son, you can’t say, ‘this rarely happens’ or that only one death from it hap pens in every so many million so it isn’t cause for alarm. That mother has lost a son. I feel for her. “At the same time, I have to ask the question: “Why did those children die?” According to Stoltzfus, it wasn’t the meat industry’s fault It was the restaurants’ failure to properly cook the meat that resulted in the deaths. If the meat had been fully cooked, the bacteria causing the Ecoli would have been destroyed. IjOOBER ® ■ THREE LOCATIONS c lf\£ Savin# (Place 3 Grain and 12 Grain Moisture Testers 3 Grain Moisture Tester - U.S. Version 891256 $179.77 Gives instant, accurate, direct readouts for corn, wheat, and soybeans and calibration charts for most other grains. 12 Grain Moisture Tester - U.S. Version 893372 $209.74 Gives instant, accurate, direct moisture reading for 12 of the most commonly produced and traded grains. The Case IH 12 Grain Moisture Tester’s lightweight, battery-powered and “take it anywhere” features make it a very convenient tester in the field. WE SHIP PARTS DAILY Via FED. EXP. - UPS - PPSH - BUS - AIR FREIGHT, ETC, HOURS Mon.-Fri. 7AM-SPM; Sat.: 7 AM-Noon CALL DS... It Could Bs Wo Hm It and the deaths would not have hap- sa y **• that’s reality,” Stoltztus pened, not even illness. said regarding the uproar created Stoltzfus secs a great need for when several children died from sanitation and proper cooking eating undercooked hamburgers. Stoltzfus has met the enemy , so to speak, face to face and has not found them irrational methods to be followed through in the food service end of the spec trum. He isn’t pointing fingers. He is, after all, part owner of Stoltzfus Farm Restaurant, where family styled meals are served in an authentic Amish homestead. “My number one concern is food safety. But if government regulations are aimed entirely at the meat industry in order to pre vent a child from getting Ecoli— they are dead wrong. It will prob ably happen again. I don’t like to • C.B. HOOBER & SON. INC. • Intercourse, PA 717-76841231 • HOOBER EQUIPMENT INC. • Middletown, DE 302-378-9555 • C.B. HOOBER & SON, INC. • McAlisterville, PA 717483-2191 aAsmrit Lancaster Firming, Saturday, July 5, IM7-A25 ‘The meat industry is willing to do our part, but others need to be aware of the problem and carry equal responsibility,” Stoltzfus said of food preparation, which he considers the weak link in prevent ing foodbome illnesses. “Where does personal responsi bility come into play?” he asked. “That mother wants zero toler ance, but I’m not sure that’s achieveable, although we can miminize the risks. We cannot live (Turn to Page A 26) Authodxod OPS Station
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