Salmonella finds in Denmark with highly resistant germs [II]

Consumer Protection Minister Bärbel Höhn: The salmonella found in turkey meat in Denmark can also be traced back to a sample from North Rhine-Westphalia

The Danish government has informed the state of North Rhine-Westphalia via the federal government that the salmonella strain "Salmonella anatum" was detected in a sample of vacuum-packed turkey drumsticks with skin that came from a North Rhine-Westphalian cutting plant. The goods with the best-before date of April 6.4.2004, 22.3.2004 were sold as fresh meat, so it can be assumed that they are no longer on the market. Whether the meat comes from NRW or not is currently being checked. The North Rhine-Westphalian supervisory authorities also check the cutting plant for hygiene. In addition, investigations are underway into the origin of the turkey meat. A corresponding hygiene check should also be carried out on the fattening farm to determine whether there is a salmonella problem there. The test results come from a Danish research project and were collected on March XNUMXnd, XNUMX. However, the authorities responsible for food control in Denmark and Germany were not informed of these findings.

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Meat research in new ways

The Federal Research Center for Nutrition and Food, located in Kulmbach, celebrated the inauguration of an X-ray computer tomograph with a scientific colloquium on July 26, 2004 in Kulmbach. The device, the purchase and structural installation of which costs almost 500.000 euros, is to be used as a reference device for commercial class classification and for quality research. With more than 70 participants, the pleasant occasion was actively appreciated.

"This significant investment that our ministry has made here is in the continuity of decades of quality research," said MinDirig Fritz Johannes, acting head of the federal research institute, at the beginning of the conference. The BFEL, Kulmbach site, remains at the forefront of European meat research with the X-ray computer tomograph and has new scientific perspectives for the future. The device is intended to be used to x-ray whole pig carcasses and thus find out everything about their composition in a simple and quick operation. "Whereas previously extensive dissections of the carcasses had to be carried out by hand," explained Dr. Michael Judas, the scientific supervisor of the device, "so we can now do everything virtually". The meat, fat and bone content of the carcass can be easily reconstructed from a series of digitally recorded X-ray images. With this knowledge, classification devices will be "guided" in the future, for their part, to predict the expected meat content of slaughter pigs statistically and so early that the fatteners can be paid according to this information.

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BVVF - Federal Association of Livestock and Meat

The BVVF is the umbrella organization of the central associations of the free livestock and meat industry. The purpose of the association is to promote the common professional interests of the central associations that are part of it.

The following associations of the free livestock and meat industry merge to form the BVVF, whereby the associations retain their autonomy and independence:

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The demand by the President of the German Livestock and Meat Trade Association (DVFB), Heinz Osterloh, to set up a "BSE round" is supported by the agricultural policy spokesman for the FDP parliamentary group, Hans-Michael Goldmann.

Goldmann explained: "The demand for a "BSE round" by the DVFB President is fully supported by the FDP parliamentary group. A "BSE round" in which all the economic groups involved, representatives of science and the parties should participate, Clarification of the open questions regarding BSE urgently needed. In particular, raising the age limit for BSE tests from 24 to 30 months must be given political priority. This is absolutely necessary in order to improve the competitiveness of farmers and the downstream livestock and meat trade in Europe Like the DVFB President, the FDP is of the opinion that the topic of BSE must be discussed and evaluated from a professional and scientific point of view. This is the only way to make forward-looking decisions that do justice to farmers and consumers. Runde" there is an opportunity to finally put words into action. We must use this opportunity in the interest of Germany as an agricultural location."

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"Successful concept will be continued"

“The assumption of the BSE compulsory tests in state responsibility has proven its worth. The system ensures a high level of safety when carrying out BSE tests in Bavaria.” This was the conclusion drawn by the President of the Bavarian State Office for Health and Food Safety (LGL), Professor Volker Hingst, on the occasion of the new assignment of the tests to five private test laboratories. In the next two years, they will take over the laboratory tests in the eleven Bavarian test districts under constant supervision by the LGL.

The new assignment of the test districts had become necessary because the contracts with the previous laboratories ended on October 31, 2004. The awards were made as part of two separate public tendering procedures for northern and southern Bavaria. A total of nine different laboratories applied for northern Bavaria and ten for southern Bavaria for a total of eleven test districts. Of these, three laboratories each came to the north and south.

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Consumer criticism led to the renaming of the food test mark "QS".

TV commercials and large posters are intended to whet the appetite for grilled meat with the QS seal. But the food industry is not only in the rain this summer with the barbecue theme. According to the Berlin consumer advocates from foodwatch, QS-GmbH admits that it can no longer uphold the "quality and safety" claim for which the QS certification mark is supposed to stand.

The QS certification mark is borne by the German Farmers' Association, the Raiffeisen Association, as well as associations in the meat industry and the large food chains. After the BSE crisis, the aim was to use the seal to regain consumer confidence and stimulate meat consumption again. However, a study published in excerpts by the University of Vechta comes to the conclusion: "The possible misunderstandings that result from the designation 'quality and safety' must not be reinforced any further." A report by QS-GmbH admits that the QS certification mark is not a seal of quality. The sign should now only stand for "tested quality assurance". "It's good that QS no longer deceives consumers with untenable promises of quality. In view of the involvement of QS companies in food scandals, however, advertising with the term safety is adventurous," explains Matthias Wolfschmidt from foodwatch.

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QS reacts to foodwatch - interesting system analysis for download

On July 20, 2004, individual media reported on an alleged "redefinition" of the QS certification mark. The basis for this was a press release from foodwatch. In the opinion of QS Qualitäts und Sicherheit GmbH, this statement is incorrect.

Neither the QS certification mark nor the name of the company QS Qualitäts und Sicherheit GmbH has been renamed. The content and organizational orientation of the QS scheme has also remained identical. Within the scope of a marketing campaign, only the communication is more clearly aligned to the actual task of the QS scheme. It is made clear what the QS scheme stands for, namely for tested quality assurance at all stages of the food chain. In addition, the catchy lettering "Your certification mark for food" is added below the QS logo.

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Deceivers "dye" tuna red with carbon monoxide

Tuna cuts that catch the eye with their extraordinarily intense red color keep appearing on the market. The play of colors is more reminiscent of ripe raspberries or freshly cut melon pulp than the natural coloring of tuna. The color is achieved by treating the fish with carbon monoxide (CO). Although this is not harmful to health, consumers are misled by the "wrong" color.

Apparently, "whitewashing" is widespread. So far, 32 tuna samples have been examined at the LAVES Veterinary Institute (VI) for fish and fish products in Cuxhaven. Result: the more intense the shade of red, the more CO could be detected. The particularly conspicuous red-colored samples, namely 15, contain without exception CO levels well above 200 µg/kg - this value is currently valid throughout the EU as a reliable distinguishing mark for CO-treated and untreated tuna. Peak values ​​of the Cuxhaven samples were around 2.500 µg/kg. There are also low levels in the lower µg/kg range in samples that appear normal in color; they are of natural origin. The fish experts will examine several dozen more samples during the course of the year. The Cuxhaven institute is in demand – other federal states and Switzerland have also asked to have samples examined here.

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Germany purchased a quarter of a million tons in 2003

When it comes to pork exports, Denmark remains number one in the world: Germany alone received 250.000 tons of pork from there last year and thus a third of its imports. Belgium took second place in the local import statistics with a little less than a third, ahead of the Netherlands with around 20 percent of German pork imports.

The figures from the Federal Statistical Office are currently pointing to a trend reversal: In April, for example, Germany purchased 41 percent less pork from Denmark than in the same month last year. This could have been caused by the strikes in the Danish meat industry, but more likely by increased exports from Denmark to Japan: In the first four months of 2004, the Danes shipped around 30.000 tons more pork to Japan than in the same period last year.

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Per capita consumption also fell in 2003

Turkey meat production in the EU-15 fell in 2003 compared to the previous year by a good eight percent to 1,68 million tons slaughter weight, which was the lowest production since 1996. Nevertheless, turkey meat remained the second most important type of poultry in the European Union after chicken meat with a share of 19 percent of all poultry meat production.

By far the most important producer of turkey meat was France, despite the decline of nine percent to 635.000 tons. Germany ranked second with 354.000 tons, which was slightly more than in the previous year. Italy followed with 300.000 tons of turkey meat, a drop of 14 percent compared to 2002. The reason for the declining production in France and Italy was probably the price situation in 2002, which was unsatisfactory from the supplier's point of view, which led to a reduction in production. Comparatively high quantities were also produced in the United Kingdom in 2003 with 230.000 tonnes of turkey meat, which was 3,4 percent less than the year before. These four countries together produced around 90 percent of the EU-15's turkey meat.

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The trend towards low-fat products makes Butterberg grow

In view of the rapidly growing production of low-fat dairy products, the dominant Danish dairy cooperative group Arla Foods amba is faced with increasing surpluses of butterfat. In order to reduce this oversupply, the largest European milk processor has recently developed some marketing ideas to reduce the "butter mountain": Since the autumn of 2003, Arla Foods has increased its sales promotion efforts for "Lurpak" premium butter in the USA, in order to sell there within four years to at least triple the sales volume of what is already the most important imported butter brand. In addition, in the first quarter of 2004 the Group launched a special blended fat only in Hong Kong, which is to be gradually introduced in other East and Southeast Asian countries as well.

As part of a current initiative, the dairy group introduced the product innovation "Lurpak Pure Ghee" in several Middle East countries and some North African countries at the beginning of April this year. This is a melted butterfat product from which the water has been removed using a centrifuge. According to Arla Foods, the Danish ghee, which is sold in cans, can be used primarily for frying and baking and for refining rice dishes.

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