From the monthly archives:

February 2008

Extending the beef

February 22, 2008

The Beef Check-Off’s Beef Innovations Group just announced 5 new cuts of beef, all from the Chuck. All but one appear to be new names for existing cuts. Terminology in the beef industry is pretty unappealing from a consumer perspective. Shoulder Clod, anyone? Rump Roast? So I’m okay in principle with creating new, more attractive [...]

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Should USDA Reduce the Number of Inspectors?

February 18, 2008

MeatingPlace.com had a story last week that caught my eye. The USDA is testing a video analysis tool (registration required) that would replace human graders in slaughterhouses. Today, USDA inspectors visually observe a beef carcass and assign a grade, e.g. Prime or Choice. The logic is that a machine will be more objective than a [...]

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I Just Don’t Understand

February 18, 2008

Clone advocates argue that they are developing clones because there is a consumer benefit – more consistent taste and quality. If this were the case, wouldn’t they insist on the right to label the meat as coming from clones or their progeny, so consumers would know they were getting a superior product?

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