New edition of "Eat right - live healthier" published

The refrigerator is probably one of the most ingenious inventions of the 19th century and has had the most lasting influence on people's eating habits. But hardly anyone really knows how to keep food fresh for a long time in the refrigerator. It is precisely this point with regard to the quality and the vitamin and nutrient content that is important. In the current issue of "Eat right - live healthier", the qualified oecotrophologist Monika Radke summarizes what is important when storing the individual food groups in the refrigerator. Her article “Using the refrigerator correctly” also gives tips on storage times and so-called multi-zone refrigerators.

What can happen when food is stored incorrectly, and what health hazards this can result for people, discusses qualified oecotrophologist Karin Kreuel in the article "Mold in food - which one can you eat?" In mold-ripened cheese or for preservation and aroma development in salami and ham varieties, mold is definitely desirable and harmless. Food that has become moldy, on the other hand, is infested with so-called mycotoxins, harmful toxins, and should be disposed of.

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In 2003 the food industry recovered from the downturn of the previous year and achieved a trend reversal. Industry sales rose by a nominal 2,2% to EUR 127,9 billion.

The food industry received the most important economic stimulus from abroad. The exports rose to a total turnover of 26,4 billion euros. This corresponds to an increase of 6,7%. The industry was able to increase its export share of total sales to 20,7%. Above all, the intensification of the exchange of goods with the EU member states played an important role.

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CMA/DFV seminar shows the way to more powers of persuasion

“The human brain is a great thing. It works until you get up to give a speech.” This is how Mark Twain (1835-1910) described the dreaded black out when presenting a topic or giving a short speech. Many have certainly experienced the famous lump in the throat and stage fright. Not everyone is born to impress, but the art of polished words can be learned. For this purpose, the CMA Centrale Marketing-Gesellschaft der Deutschen Agrarwirtschaft mbH, in cooperation with the DFV Deutscher Fleischerverband eV, is offering intensive training on May 10th and 11th, 2004 - especially for managers from the butcher's trade.  

Whether at guild meetings, staff meetings, talks with stubborn customers or negotiations with banks - time and again those responsible in the butcher's shop have to argue with well-considered words in order to convince the interlocutors or listeners of their cause. 

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Scientists at the Hans Knöll Institute for Natural Product Research (HKI) have found a new type of active ingredient against bacterial pathogens. The substance also kills germs that have already become insensitive to other antibiotics. These so-called multi-resistant bacteria have long put physicians on double alert: infections they cause cannot be treated at all or only with great difficulty, and they are also able to pass on the resistance to other pathogens.

The substance, which was discovered and characterized in interdisciplinary cooperation at the HKI, proved to be highly effective in initial laboratory tests against enterococci with the dreaded vancomycin resistance and multi-resistant staphylococci. The bacterium Staphylococcus aureus primarily causes purulent skin diseases, but can also be responsible for pneumonia and urinary tract infections. Until mid-2002, the pathogen could be easily combated with the antibiotic vancomycin. However, since then it has acquired an insensitivity to this drug from enterococci and as a "super bug" is a particularly serious threat.

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DBV warns dairies and food retailers

The German dairy farmers will no longer accept the brutal price pressure on milk and dairy products from the retail groups. This was explained by the President of the German Farmers' Association (DBV), Gerd Sonnleitner. In the latest issue of the German Farmers' Correspondence, he points out that there is an explosive atmosphere among the milk producers and that the farmers' association is not standing idly by while the price spiral continues downwards. In the current price and listing negotiations between the food trade and dairies, however, the discounters are still trying to exploit their dominant position and lower the prices for dairy products compared to the previous year. On March 8th, hundreds of dairy farmers in Bavaria protested against price dumping in front of the distribution centers of the two discounters Aldi and Lidl. This has now been followed by corresponding actions in North Rhine-Westphalia.

"The current milk price is immoral and ruinous," said Sonnleitner. The DBV and its state farmers' associations have therefore decided to carry out intensified and nationwide campaigns against the destruction of values ​​and price pressure through the trade in milk and dairy products. Sonnleitner also called on the dairies to put up a united defense. Anyone who deviates from this should not expect that the dairy farmers will go about it as usual.

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European competition authority approves takeover of Nordfleisch group by Dutch Bestmeat group

The European antitrust authorities have given their unconditional approval to the takeover of CG Nordfleisch AG, Hamburg, Germany's most important slaughterhouse and cutting company with 5,3 million pigs and 0,28 million cattle slaughtered. With this, Bestmeat takes over 87% of the share capital of CG Nordfleisch AG (1,51 billion EUR turnover, approx. 2.900 employees). The Bestmeat group includes one
89% stake in A. Moksel AG (1,81 billion EUR turnover, approx. 2.300 employees) also the largest Dutch meat marketer, DUMECO BV (1,65 billion EUR turnover, approx. 4.300 employees).

With a total turnover of the Bestmeat Group of EUR 5,0 billion, more than 9.500 employees, 14,2 million pigs and 0,89 million cattle slaughtered, Europe's second largest meat group and one of the leading food groups is created. With 34 slaughterhouses and cutting plants, the Bestmeat Group covers the whole of Germany and the Netherlands.

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The EU press release on this

The European Commission has approved the planned acquisition of the slaughterhouse company Nordfleisch by Best Agrifund. The merger creates the second largest European meat company after the front runner Danish Crown. The takeover entails the addition of market shares in various markets such as the acquisition and slaughter of pigs and cattle and the collection and processing of various slaughterhouse waste for different purposes. The transaction, which mainly affects the Dutch and German markets, will not lead to the creation or strengthening of a dominant position.

Nordfleisch and Best Agrifund are both engaged in the acquisition, slaughter and sale of pigs and cattle, the sale of fresh and processed meat, the trade in live animals and meat, the collection and processing of slaughterhouse waste and the processing and sale of plasma and Hemoglobin active.

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Often price weaknesses after Easter

In the meat markets in the first half of April, due to the holiday, demand will concentrate on the fine cuts. Beef and lamb should be high on the shopping lists for Easter. If the weather plays along, the first barbecue activities can be expected later in the month; that would improve sales of short roast items, especially from the pork sector. At the slaughterhouse level, a slight decline in prices for large livestock must be expected. However, it is uncertain whether this also applies to prices for slaughter pigs. The zenith of the young bull prices has probably passed

In April, the upward price trend in the marketing of young bulls should come to an end for the time being. The producer prices for male slaughter cattle are even likely to be slightly weak. From the current perspective, however, the discounts will not be strong, as the number of young bulls is likely to remain small in April. Young bull prices will probably not reach the previous year's line, but the price gap will narrow. When sending young bull meat to neighboring EU countries, a significant increase in demand is not expected. The domestic beef trade is concentrated on the noble cuts in the first half of the month due to the Easter holidays. However, the increased demand for beef in some areas will hardly have any effect on producer prices for young bulls, since retailers will be stocking up on precious parts as early as mid-March as part of stock purchases. In addition, the Easter holidays could impair the sales opportunities for beef, as many German citizens go on vacation abroad and thus fail as consumers on the domestic market.

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Research institutes recommend further development

Institutes of the Federal Research Center for Agriculture (FAL), the University of Veterinary Medicine Hanover and the Medical University of Hanover have submitted the preliminary final report on the "Model project designed cage". The report shows that high production rates can be achieved in the designed cages examined and that these are likely to be competitive in the near future despite increased investment costs. The gas concentrations (ammonia and carbon dioxide) as well as the dust and germ content in the stable air were below the guide values ​​and the hygiene conditions were good in the majority of the stalls examined. The mortality rates and damage from feather pecking and cannibalism were low. The high number of hens in which changes in the ball of the foot were found was assessed as problematic. The structures (nest, litter area and perches) of the designed cages were well received by the hens, but the hens' ability to move around and in particular the use of the litter areas was in some cases significantly restricted, so that the space available was increased with regard to the behavior of the hens and in particular Litter area should be improved. The lighting conditions in the examined cages also showed deficiencies. Overall, based on the advantages of the designed cage, the problem areas that still exist should be further improved.

The model project designed cage was started in March 2000 with the aim of scientifically accompanying the practical testing and development of this new form of housing. A total of six practice farms took part in the project, on which cages designed by four manufacturers were set up in different variants and further developed during the period under investigation. The production output, the behavior of the hens, plumage and skin damage, hygienic aspects and parameters of economic competitiveness were recorded. Comparative or experimental studies were not included in this practical survey. The Institute for Animal Welfare and Animal Husbandry and the Institute for Business Administration of the Federal Research Center for Agriculture (FAL), the Institute for Animal Hygiene, Animal Welfare and Farm Animal Ethology at the University of Veterinary Medicine in Hanover and the Institute for Laboratory Animal Science and the Central Animal Laboratory of the Hanover Medical School were involved.

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Study confirms: Small group housing is the future model Implement the Federal Council resolution now

The Bundesverband Deutsches Ei eV accuses the federal government of a complete misinterpretation of the research results published by the Federal Office for Agriculture (FAL) on the model project "keeping small groups". Despite the consistently positive assessments in the areas of animal health, animal behavior, hygiene, product quality and economy in the new housing system of the small group, the Federal Ministry of Consumer Protection tries to enforce its political interests with misinformation. "Here ideology is set above scientific results and the interests of animals and the farmers concerned are seriously damaged," said Dr. Bernd Diekmann, Chairman of the German Egg Association
  
The Federal Government's position aside is also evident in the study by the University of Veterinary Medicine, Hanover, which compares all types of husbandry and is based on 30% of the laying hens kept in Germany.
  
Both the results of the Federal Office for Agriculture and those of the University of Veterinary Medicine in Hanover show that the small group housing variant has good future prospects and should urgently be further developed.
  
The German laying hen keepers see the Federal Council as confirmed in its decision on the fundamental admissibility of this new and modern system of keeping laying hens in small groups. Federal Minister Renate Künast can no longer ignore this vote, says Dr. Bernd Diekmann firmly.
  
The Bundesverband Deutsches Ei eV is the sole professional interest group for over 4.000 laying hen keepers in Germany.

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The new hygiene prover from Wiesheu was awarded the Federal Prize 2004 for outstanding achievements in the trade by the Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology as part of the International Crafts Fair in Munich.

The result of the new development is a hygienic interior space without corners and edges. All the necessary edges were provided with large curves and bevels. The focus is on particularly easy cleaning. There are no longer any hidden cavities or areas that are difficult to access in the interior of the prover. In addition, the construction of the interior from a high-quality polymer material resulted in a light and very smooth surface, creating a hygienic interior that is unique in proofing cabinets.

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