Meat & Poultry

New consumer research presented to beef safety experts gathered for the 10th Anniversary Beef Industry Safety Summit, funded in part by the beef checkoff, shows the beef industry’s investment in assuring the safety of beef is paying off in increased consumer confidence. Compared to 10 years ago consumer confidence in the safety of beef steaks and roasts has increased by 14 percentage points and confidence in the safety of ground beef has jumped 20 percentage points. According to the research, 88 percent of consumers give fresh beef steaks and roasts an A or B grade for safety and 80 percent say fresh ground beef deserves the same grade. …

H.I.G. Capital announced today that its portfolio company Albertville Quality Foods, Inc. (“AQF”) has acquired Sunrise Foods, LLC (“Sunrise”), a leading further processor of protein-based products. The Sunrise operation is highly complementary to AQF's operation and will add over $100 million in additional revenues to the combined company. Like AQF, Sunrise's value-added customized products are prepared to customers' specific recipes. …

Texans' taste buds can't seem to get enough of Chisholm Trail Longhorn Beef's tastier, healthier red meat. Earlier this year, Chisholm Trail partnered with Dallas' new Sundown at Granada, and now the beef co-op is announcing its partnership with My Rancher Country Market to offer Texas-sized hamburger patties and ground beef for Lone Star residents and travelers alike to purchase the very best locally-grown, healthy meat products. …

The following is a statement by American Meat Institute President J. Patrick Boyle: "Boneless lean beef trimmings (BLBT) is a safe, wholesome and nutritious form of beef that is made by separating lean beef from fat. Some recent media reports created a troubling and inaccurate picture, particularly in their use of the colloquial term 'pink slime.' The fact is, BLBT is beef." …

Wall Street bankers are trying to drum up interest in Sara Lee Corp's (SLE.N) North American meat business, according to Smithfield Foods Inc (SFD.N), a potential suitor. …