USDA, Oregon Sign Meat Inspection Agreement
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service and the state of Oregon have finalized a cooperative agreement, under which the state inspection program may inspect meat products produced for shipment within the state.
The state inspection program must develop, administer, and enforce requirements “at least equal to” those imposed under the Federal Meat Inspection Act.
“Today’s announcement with Oregon will help strengthen our nation’s food system and help prevent supply chain bottlenecks,” said USDA’s Deputy Under Secretary Sandra Eskin. “This program is especially helpful to small meat and poultry processors in building their local and state marketplaces.”
With the addition of Oregon, 28 states have state inspection programs. In states with inspection programs, establishments have the option to apply for federal or state inspection, but product produced under state inspection is limited to intrastate commerce. FSIS provides up to 50 percent of the state’s operating funds, as well as training and other assistance.
States are key FSIS partners and formal working relationships are reflected in cooperative agreements between FSIS and affected state agencies. State Meat and Poultry Inspection programs are an integral part of the nation’s food safety system with about 1,900 small and very small meat and poultry establishments inspected under state MPI programs.
FSIS provides guidance to state MPI programs under these agreements, reviews each state MPI program and its requirements and activities at least annually, and provides approximately $60 million dollars annually to support the state MPI programs currently operating.
In addition to Oregon, FSIS has signed state inspection agreements with Alabama, Arizona, Delaware, Georgia, Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Maine, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.
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Pederson’s Natural Farms, Bacon Club NFT to Issue Limited Edition Collectible Bacon
Pederson’s Natural Farms and Bacon Club NFT will produce and distribute limited edition collectible bacon to all Bacon Club NFT holders.
The partnership bridges the gap between the digital realm of NFTs (blockchain based digital collectibles) and real world bacon. The integration of blockchain based technology from Bacon Club NFT and the high quality of Pederson’s natural bacon brings a new class of club to bacon fans.
The collectible bacon partnership with Pederson’s also helps solidify Bacon Club’s marriage between physical products and digital NFTs, making for an exciting future. This also helps fulfill the first part of Bacon Club NFT’s roadmap and provides Pederson’s an entry into the world of Web 3.0.
“Pederson’s has always strived to keep ahead of the meat industry and we think joining up with an NFT project is the perfect definition of that,” said Neil Dudley, vice president of Pederson’s Natural Farms.
“In order for NFTs to become more mainstream, projects should consider a symbiose of physical and digital goods, which is exactly why our new strategic partnership with Pederson’s is so fundamental and delicious,” said Richie McCord, founder of Bacon Club NFT.
Headquartered in Hamilton, Texas, Pederson’s Natural Farms has been committed to ethically sourcing and producing the highest quality fresh and smoked natural meat products since 1992. Today, with products sold in stores globally, the company strives to continue to keep its finger on the pulse of the ever-changing trends in the industry.
Pederson’s Natural Farms is known for being one of the first to market with an entire line of no sugar added, Whole30 and Paleo approved pork products. Pederson’s Natural Farms produces bacon, sausage, ham and fresh pork. In 2020, the company produced 19.6 million pounds of pork protein distributed throughout the United States, Mexico and Canada.
Bacon Club is the only NFT project for fans of crypto and bacon. The mission is to deliver a club where the membership is secured by holding a Bacon Club NFT. The benefits of membership include limited edition bacon drops, a chance to win a lifetime supply of bacon, access to Bacon Bash Texas, with additional perks to be revealed at a later date.
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Neat Food Expands Team Before Expansion, Product Launches
Neat Food Co. – one of the world’s fastest growing alternative-protein food groups backed by Formula 1 Champion Lewis Hamilton, a key investor who helped found the company in 2019 – announced multiple senior hires as it builds critical mass in key roles as part of its international expansion plans, starting in the key U.S. market.
- Neat Food Co. has bolstered its Advisory Board with two appointments: Jeffrey S. Fried, former Chairman of Sweetgreen, who has a wealth of experience nurturing high growth companies; and Henrik Fjordbak, former COO at Joe & The Juice, who is an expert in equity funds, specializing in F&B and lifestyle companies
- At the helm of NEAT’s expansion into the U.S. market is newly appointed Vincent Herbert, the former CEO of Le Pain Quotidien, who joins the brand as chief executive of Neat Burger USA and will oversee all aspects of the group’s rapid site expansion strategy in the United States including the development of products at Neat Burger’s innovation center in New York and CPG distribution into the retail arena
- The group is expanding its food technology division with the establishment of new innovation centers, and implementation of its cutting edge texturized protein innovation
- NEAT plans to roll out its award-winning burger patty and a range of other proprietary products – including improved versions of its plant-based chicken patty, hot dog, nuggets and shakes – by the end of the year
- Neat Food Co plans to expand to 1,000 corporately owned, franchise and dark kitchens by 2030
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