Hormel Foods, Cargill agree to label food if treated with carbon monoxide

[underpants]

Source: Forbes

WASHINGTON (Thomson Financial) - Hormel Foods and Cargill Inc. said today they can agree to put information on meat and fish labels that makes it clear to consumers when those products have been treated with carbon monoxide during the packaging process, even as US officials indicated they are open to testing this process to ensure it's safe for consumers.

The use of carbon monoxide packaging was discussed at a hearing today before the House Energy and Commerce subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, where Chairman Bart Stupak of Pennsylvania said this technique in food packaging is 'highly deceptive' because it keeps meat looking fresh even though it may have spoiled.

He also offered evidence from an internal company email from Hormel indicating that there is some evidence this technique may not be safe.

Daniel Engeljohn of the US Food Safety and Inspection Service said in response to a question from Stupak that his agency is open to looking at this data or any new data that indicates the process is unsafe.



Read more: http://www.forbes.com/markets/feeds/afx/2007/11/13/afx4334081.html

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

1. Carbon monoxide is a ridiculously toxic compound.

It makes hydrogen cyanide look like marshmallow fluffernutters.

That said, it's quite reactive, and disappears within minutes or seconds, and the carbon monoxide itself would not be the issue for consumers.

What's the label going to say? This meat may not be as fresh as it appears?

[underpants]

2. "Cook Only" is already taken

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x3062323

E. coli loophole cited in recalls- Tainted meat can be sold if cooked (USDA)
Source: Chicago Tribune

WASHINGTON — One federal inspector calls it the "E. coli loophole." Another says, "Nobody would buy it if they knew."

The officials are referring to the little-discussed fact that the U.S. Department of Agriculture has deemed it acceptable for meat companies to cook and sell meat on which E. coli, a bacterium that can sicken and even kill humans, is found during processing.

"All the product that is E. coli positive, they put a 'cooking only' tag on it," said one inspector, who like other federal inspectors interviewed asked to remain anonymous for fear of losing their jobs. "They will test, and everything that's positive, they slap that label on."

"The government keeps putting out that we've reduced E. coli by 50 percent and all of that," said an inspector. "And we haven't done nothing. We've just covered it up."

[depakid]

3. Doesn't much matter if no one regulates them for compliance

Gotta figure that's what they're banking on.