Render Magazine

Letters

What is that Powder?

In Render, the article by Trevor Arnold (“Producing Salmonella-free Meal,” February 2002) refers often to the New Zealand plants using a powder sanitizer in the plant and also prior to loading in the containers. Can you find out what the powder sanitizer is please, since if it is a formalin or formaldehyde-based product then it helps explain why their Salmonella levels are so low. There is also the interesting question of wet rendering vs. dry rendering, which might also help explain (low Salmonella levels).

However, that Italy exported so much meat and bone meal (MBM) to Japan in 2000 and also in 1999 – 19,000 tons – and 1998 – 5,000 tons – was, I would suggest, because it was cheap. Italian MBM is not particularly low in Salmonella. And then we also have the question as to whether the MBM did originally come from Italy and was not imported from Ireland and then left Italy as Italian, however that is another story.

I liked the article on the Web pages, albeit I would not consider myself the NRA (National Renderers Association) guru, just someone who believes in simplicity of the message.

I loved the caption for Jim Andreoli’s picture! Take care.

According to Arnold, the New Zealand plants surveyed all use Sal CURB, a formaldehyde-based product produced by Kemin Industries. When asked about the availability in the United States, a Kemin spokesperson told Render that only a liquid antimicrobial product, Sal CURB RM Extra, is approved for use in the United States, where strict formaldehyde residue requirements are in place for feed.

Get Your Facts Straight

“Several public biodiesel fueling stations have recently emerged, offering the general public the opportunity to use the cleaner-burning alternative fuel made from renewable fats and oils, including yellow grease. Within one day of each other, two public fueling stations opened, one in Sparks, NV, just outside Reno, and the other in San Francisco, CA. Prior to the new stations opening, most biodiesel was used by government, transit agencies, national park, or school bus fleets, all of which had their own private fueling stations.

“This is a significant step for the industry,” said Joe Jobe, executive director.”

(The aforementioned was quoted from the August 2001 issue of Render.)

You need to do a better job of checking your facts, as do all your media peers.

Biodiesel is not available to the public unless you plan ahead, pay a minimum of $300 and obtain a commercial fuel card. In San Francisco, biodiesel is dispensed only with a commercial fuel card and only at one unmanned station. I know. I found that out the hard way late last night, after wandering the dark recesses of San Francisco’s tough waterfront areas.

We checked with World Energy, one of three partners in the San Francisco, CA, biodiesel fueling station that opened to the public last May. A fuel card is required at the San Francisco location, which must be prepurchased from CytoCulture with a 100-gallon minimum at an approximate cost of $300. Render was not provided this information prior to releasing the story, and we apologize for any confusion.

Keep It Coming

Thank you for the reminder (subscription renewal). I finally got around to answering you. I do enjoy Render and look forward to the next issue.

I was at the PCRA (Pacific Coast Renderers Association) meeting when we voted to support the magazine. I have been retired almost 15 years. I moved to Oregon April 1, 1987. I still can remember many of the names of people who are still active, which gives me a little pleasure. There are a lot of names that are unfamiliar, but the content of the magazine is still interesting. I still feel like a part of the recycling efforts that are continuing even though many procedures have changed.

I will be disappointed if the costs are such that you cannot send the magazine. I am aware of what it takes to run a business. I am one of the old guys that are just putting in time to be recycled.

Very truly yours,

Rest assured, Mr. Metzler, Render magazine will continue to be delivered to you in Oregon.

We thank you, too, for renewing your subscription. Render is distributed free of charge to individuals who have an association (past or present) with the rendering industry, but in order to receive a lower “periodical” postage rate, postal regulations require subscription requests to be in writing. Financial support for publishing Render comes from advertising revenue, and we thank the many advertisers for their support of the North American rendering industry’s only publication.

April 2002 Render