Renderer Succumbs to Illness
Wayne K. Sadek Sr., 67, former owner of Burbank Grease Services, DeForest, WI, passed away June 16, 2003, after a battle with cancer. Sadek worked for Mahoney Grease Service, Joliet, IL, until he formed W.K. Sadek Grease and Tallow in 1973. In 1978, he and his family relocated to Wisconsin when he purchased Roy W. Burbank Grease Services, where he was affectionately known as “Big Daddy.” Sadek was a member of the National Renderers Association, Wisconsin Restaurant Association, DeForest Chamber of Commerce, and a National Harley Owners Group member.
Sadek had many passions, of which family and his businesses were his greatest loves. He also had a lifelong interest in Corvettes, Harley-Davidson motorcycles, boating, and entertaining.
Sadek is survived by his wife of 45 years, Joyce, his sons, Wayne Jr. and Will, five grandchildren, and many other family and friends. Donations may be sent to the American Cancer Society or the Dane County Humane Society.
Nersessian Resigns
Dr. Peter Nersessian, vice president, Scientific Services, National Renderers Association, resigned at the end of June, citing personal reasons and family considerations. He assumed his position after the retirement of Dr. Don Franco in December, 2002. Nersessian also resigned as the president of the Animal Protein Producers Industry.
AFIA Elects Chairman, Directors
Steve Koenig, president and chief executive officer (CEO), Bioproducts, Inc., assumed the chairmanship of the American Feed Industry Association (AFIA) Board of Directors in May. He succeeds outgoing Chairman Richard Frasch, president, Cargill Animal Nutrition.
Joel Newman, president and CEO, United Cooperative Farmers, was named chair-elect. His term of office in that post runs through May 2004, at which time he will assume the chairmanship.
Sixteen new members who will serve a three-year term have been elected to AFIA’s Board of Directors: David Burkholder, Consolidated Blenders, Inc.; David Durr, Agway, Inc.; Keith Fleetwood, Kreamer Feed, Inc.; Michael Foster, ADM Alliance Nutrition, Inc.; Robert Gallaway, Ridley, Inc.; Dennis Hart, Diversified Ingredients; David Kravis, Nutro Products, Inc.; Randy Mapes, Ag Pro Vision; Gerald May, The Iams Company; William McLean, The Essmueller Company; James Moore, Southern States Cooperative; Kenneth Munsch, Cattleman’s Choice, Loomix, LLC; Kevin Perryman, Daiichi Fine Chemicals, Inc.; Thomas Rix, IMC Feed Ingredients; Daniel Rose, Trouw Nutrition USA, LLC; and Allan Schultz, Vita Plus Corporation.
AFOA Founder Retires
David Rothschild, a founding member of the American Fats and Oils Association (AFOA), retired in June after serving the association in many capacities during his 50-plus year career. His service included being a founding member of the AFOA, long-time board member, committee chairman, honorary director, association president from 1982-1983, and most recently, executive director.
At its May meeting, the AFOA board thanked Rothschild for his vision in creating the association and his years of service, not only to the association, but also to the industry. AFOA First Vice President Nick Sander, American Commodities Brokerage Co., summed it up by saying, “Old renderers don’t retire, they just melt away.”
Biosecurity Training CD Available
In response to continuing disease threats, the U.S. Poultry and Egg Association has funded the development of a new biosecurity training compact disk (CD). Individuals may order free copies of the CD on the association’s Web site at www.poultryegg.org. The biosecurity training program will assist in understanding the “hows and whys” of biosecurity.
U.S. Poultry chose to fund the training CD to assist the poultry industry in much needed biosecurity changes. The development of the CD, led by Dr. J.P. Villaincourt, North Carolina State University, and Gene Lambert, Paradigm Media, consists of input from dozens of knowledgeable and experienced poultry disease specialists.
Dupps Introduces Therminator
The Dupps Company, Germantown, OH, has introduced the Therminator thermal oxidizer to its line of process equipment. The Therminator system thoroughly deodorizes many process gases, particularly continuous cooker vapors common to protein recycling operations. As a by-product of its odor control function, it also efficiently produces steam that can be used to help power or otherwise contribute to processing systems.
The thermal oxidation process used by the Therminator eliminates all volatile organic and ammonia nitrogen compounds to effectively control vapor odors. The system consists of three primary components: a combustion chamber and an oxidizer/retention unit to control the process odors, and a waste heat recovery section that generates steam. The Therminator doesn’t need a condenser or packed tower and does not produce condensate, eliminating wastewater treatment.
The system was recently named in the United Kingdom as the “best available technology” for controlling process gas odors and is engineered by Therma S.p.A., a subsidiary of the General Electric Company headquartered in Milan, Italy. Dupps is the sole North American manufacturing and marketing licensee for Therma equipment.
Firm Admits Feed Ban Violation
X-Cel Feeds, Inc., a privately-owned feed manufacturer based in Tacoma, WA, has admitted to violating the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA’s) 1997 feed ban rule put in place to prevent the establishment and spread of bovine spongiform encephalopathy. In mid-July, FDA filed a Consent Decree of Permanent Injunction against the company for the violations.
According to Reuters news service, X-Cel said equipment used to manufacture animal feed was improperly cleaned and contained traces of ruminant material. FDA said the company did not properly label its feed products to warn users that the feed should not be fed to ruminants. FDA said the violations posed a “very, very small risk.”
As of May 2, 2003, FDA had inspected 1,555 firms that handled prohibited material, including 154 renderers, with a 99 percent compliance rate.
FSIS Increases Inspection Fees
The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has published a final rule that amends FSIS regulations to increase the fees it charges meat and poultry establishments, egg products plants, importers, and exporters for providing voluntary inspection services, overtime, and holiday inspection services, identification services, certification services, and laboratory services.
Effective June 29, 2003, FSIS is raising the fees for voluntary inspection services to $43.64 per hour per employee, and the overtime and holiday rate will increase to $50.04 per hour per employee. The fee charged for laboratory services, however, will decrease from $68.32 to $61.80, and the annual fee charged for its Accredited Laboratory Program will remain the same.
Jacobsen Bulletin Selected for Bioenergy Market Prices
The Jacobsen Publishing Company was selected by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA’s) Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) for spot market pricing for its 2003 Bioenergy Program. According to the program’s revised rules and regulations, “…the CCC will use The Jacobsen Fats & Oils Bulletin to the extent possible for oil feedstock prices without a Posted County Price.”
Under the program, the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture makes payments through the CCC to eligible producers to encourage increased purchases of eligible agricultural commodities (energy feedstocks) for the purpose of expanding production of bioenergy and supporting new production capacity. Payments are based on increased production of bioenergy versus the previous fiscal year. In May, the program was revised to increase the payment levels on the production of biodiesel from animal fats and oils while maintaining the payment levels for production from soybeans (see “Rendered Products Receive Equity in CCC Program,” June 2003 Render).
Previously, the USDA’s Weekly National Carlot Meat Report was used for price references to determine payment levels.
APHIS Proposes User Fee Increase
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is proposing to amend the user fee regulations to replace the flat rate annual user fees currently charged for the inspection and approval of pet food manufacturing, rendering, blending, digest, and spraying and drying facilities with user fees based on hourly rates for inspections and approval. APHIS has found that the flat rate annual user fee no longer covers the costs of inspections and reinspections mandated by various foreign regions to which those facilities export their pet food ingredients or products. The proposed changes would ensure that the agency’s user fees cover the cost of providing these services to pet food facilities.
Comments on the proposed changes received by APHIS on or before September 8, 2003, will be considered. Comments may be submitted by postal mail/commercial delivery or e-mail.
For background and submission information on Docket No. 03-036-1, log onto www.aphis.usda.gov/ppd/rad/webrepor.html.
Perdue Farms Closes Two Facilities
Perdue Farms, Inc., will close its Robersonville, NC, processing plant and Emporia, VA, deboning facility as part of the company’s ongoing initiative to streamline and consolidate its operations.
“The decision to close these two operations was not taken lightly as we recognize the impact it will have on our associates, their families, and the communities,” said Mike Roberts, president, Retail Division, Perdue Farms. “But, as with every poultry company, we’re facing challenging times in our industry.”
The Robersonville plant will close August 22, 2003. The Emporia facility is scheduled to close September 19, 2003. Perdue Farms will assist associates with eligibility requirements for unemployment benefits, possible transfer to other Perdue facilities, or employment with area businesses. Production from the two plants will be transferred to other facilities.
In addition, the company will conclude contractual relationships with approximately 95 area poultry producers. In an effort to help producers, Perdue will offer financial assistance beyond contractual obligations and will encourage other area poultry companies to consider contracting with these producers.
Tyson Guilty of Illegal Discharge
Tyson Foods pled guilty in late June to violating the federal Clean Water Act and agreed to pay $7.5 million in fines for dumping untreated wastewater from its central Missouri chicken processing plant.
In the plea agreement, Tyson admitted that between September 1998 and March 2001 it repeatedly discharged untreated wastewater from its Sedalia, MO, poultry plant into a tributary of the Lamine River. The company, which has a state permit requiring wastewater to be treated before discharging into the stream, also acknowledged that employees at the plant knew about the discharges.
Tyson will pay a $5.5 million fine to the federal government and $2 million to the state. The company will also be on probation for three years, will hire an independent consultant to perform an environmental audit, and will implement an improved environmental management program.
The 1,000-acre Sedalia complex includes a hatchery, feed mill, and rendering plant and its own wastewater plant. It processes about one million chickens a week and generates hundreds of thousands of gallons of wastewater a day.
August 2003 Render