Murphy Farm Hay and Feed Company of Louisburg, NC, has recalled some alfalfa hay due to potential blister beetle contamination. The product was offered for sale to consumers at the following two retail locations: Murphy Farm Hay and Feed in Louisburg, NC, and Jones Farm Hay and Feed in Middlesex, NC. A sample of the…
Letter From The Editor: "Beer for my Horses"
The additional DNA testing in Europe found more horsemeat masquerading as beef and put more names on the list of world recognizable food brands that were apparent victims of this continent-wide fraud that now includes the likes of IKEA, Burger King, Taco Bell and many others.
Valley Meats Disputes State Fine For Improper Cow Disposal
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…
USDA Ready to Inspect Horse Slaughter By Year End
Equine inspections will be back on the menu at USDA by the end of the year, according to Al Almanza, administrator of the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS).
On Saturday, Almanza told the Texas-based Southwest Meat Association, meeting in San Antonio, that USDA will be ready to inspect plants that slaughter horses for human…
House Budget For USDA Bans Spending on Horse Slaughter
A House committee vote may have closed the barn door before horse slaughter will ever be resumed in the United States. The powerful Appropriations Committee has by voice vote agreed to again ban federal funding for USDA inspections of horse slaughter facilities. In a deal last year, President Obama and Congress agreed to lift that…
Two Applications in For Horse Slaughter; Opposition Gears Up
USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) won’t admit it has received either request, but the agency now has two formal applications for inspection of horse meat-for-export processing facilities. As Food Safety News reported earlier, Valley Meat Co. in Roswell, NM previously filed the first application for equine inspection services with FSIS. The agency…
23 Horses Die from Botulism Outbreak in Maine
A rare botulism outbreak has killed 23 horses at Whistlin’ Willow Farm in Gorham, Maine, Portland’s Press Herald reports.
No mistreatment has been reported. Some sickened horses recovered, while at least another 40 horses at the farm never became sick.
State health officials believe the toxin developed in bales of silage — feed grass …
Letter From The Editor: Comments
I really did not plan on stirring up reader comments last week, but I did.
That’s not what I have in mind for these Sunday sermons and generating comments is never on my agenda when reporting and writing news.
Nonetheless, Food Safety News welcomes comments and from time to time, I’ve generated my share. …
New Mexico Slaughterhouse Wants to Export Horsemeat
UPDATE: Valley Meat Co., now seeking a grant of inspection to allow it to slaughter horses for export, had its beef slaughter inspectors pulled from the plant for five days for the company’s inhumane treatment of animals.
The incident resulting in the suspension occurred on Feb. 24, 2012 when both an employee using a .40 …
Letter From The Editor: ‘Slaughterhouse Sue’
Believe it or not, this week I was planning on writing one of those “dog that did not bark” stories about the fact that in no state has re-starting horse slaughter come up as a legislative issue.
Sorry, I was the guy waiting in the harbor for a ship to come in while the party …