New Mexico’s Valley Meat Co. is appealing a state fine of $86,400 for improper disposal of composted cattle remains. Valley Meat gained notoriety earlier this year when it applied to USDA for equine inspection services to open a horse slaughter facility for export at its closed beef plant near Roswell, NM.
The New Mexico Environment Department issued a compliance order Aug 2, citing Valley Meat for failure to register as a compositing facility for property located near the slaughterhouse, and for failing to properly dispose of solid waste. Valley Meat received the order and notice about the fine by e-mail on Aug. 14. Company attorney A. Blair Dunn said Valley Meat would file an appeal and request a hearing by state officials. New Mexico’s order came after a 2 year stand off over Valley Meat’s failure to move a 400 ton pile of composted cattle remains because a local landfill could not receive the waste due to state restrictions. As for registering the site, Dunn says the state lost two previous applications and then took the position that the third one was not filed in a timely manner. After President Obama and Congress last year lifted a 5 year ban on horse slaughter inspection, Valley Meats filed an application that is still pending for equine inspection services at the closed facility it had once used for beef. Horse slaughter opponents sought to discredit Valley Meats in its application for equine inspections by using the two-year-old problem with the pile of dead cows at the Roswell plant. An inspector for USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service had first questioned the 15-foot pile of rotting cow flesh in January 2010. Valley may resume beef operations while it waits for action on its request for equine inspection services.
The News Desk team at Food Safety News covers breaking developments, regulatory updates, recalls, and key topics shaping food safety today. These articles are produced collaboratively by our editorial staff.
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in key foodborne bacteria is still an area of concern in Europe, according to the latest figures.
Resistance to common antimicrobials remains widespread in foodborne bacteria such
Romanian authorities have claimed there were no recorded cases of food poisoning during the winter holidays.
The National Sanitary, Veterinary and Food Safety Authority (ANSVSA) said surveillance and control activities
Also, the International Baby Food Action Network (IBFAN) is calling for a new World Health Assembly resolution to update guidelines on contamination of powdered formula.
Mahrousa brand tahini is being recalled in Canada because of Salmonella contamination.
The implicated tahini is sold in jars with Arabic writing on the labels. The labels do not have
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has expanded a warning about oysters from Canada because of contamination with norovirus.
Previously the FDA warned of oysters harvested only on Dec.
As part of its enforcement activities, the Food and Drug Administration sends warning letters to entities under its jurisdiction. Some letters are not posted for public view until weeks or
Registration is now open for the 2026 Food Safety Summit, taking place May 11–14 at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont, IL.
Recognized as one of the
