Pearl Receives Award
Dr. Gary G. Pearl, president, Fats and Proteins Research Foundation (FPRF), was recently honored with the Distinguished Alumnus Award by the School of Veterinary Medicine, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN.
Pearl was recognized for his distinguished service to applied dietary research, to veterinary practice, to community service, to organized veterinary medicine, and to directing excellence in research. Special recognition was given for his career-long dedication and accomplishment in directing research worldwide in livestock and swine nutrition, aquaculture, poultry nutrition, biosecurity in animal agriculture, and bioenergy.
Pearl is a 1963 graduate of Purdue and was nominated by members of the FPRF board of directors.
Century of Service to Industry
Next year, Anco-Eaglin, Inc., will celebrate its 100-year anniversary as a supplier of specialized rendering equipment.
In June 1902, the formation of the Allbright-Nell Company by William Allbright and B.F. Nell in Chicago, IL, brought together their experience with oils, fats, grease, and other animal products. In the 1920s, their emphasis was the Laabs cooker, scientifically designed to receive any animal product. For the next 50 years, Allbright-Nell continued to develop new manufacturing techniques in the meat industry.
In 1965, the Chemetron Food Equipment Company was formed, combining Allbright-Nell, Votator, and Mepaco. Between 1965 and 1977 Chemetron continued to introduce automated innovations in the batch rendering field, including the Anco continuous hydrolyzer.
In 1993, the Anco rendering line was purchased and established under the company, Anco-Eaglin, Inc., by Rick Eaglin in Greensboro, NC. With the acquisition of Cincinnati Boss, Cincinnati, OH, and KSI International, Ltd., Ontario, Canada, Anco will continue to develop changing technology for the rendering industry.
Cook and Cook Join Ag Committee
Tom Cook, president, National Renderers Association (NRA), and Nancy K. Cook, vice president, Technical and Regulatory Affairs, Pet Food Institute (PFI), have been appointed to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agriculture Technical Advisory Committee for Trade (ATAC).
Serving on the ATAC specializing in animals and animal products, both Tom and Nancy will provide administration officials with technical and trade policy assistance on behalf of NRA and PFI members. Members of the ATAC are considered experts in their fields and provide advice on a wide range of trade topics.
Kemin Appoints President
Jeffrey D. Friese has been appointed president of Kemin Nutrisurance, Inc., a wholly owned division of Kemin Industries, Inc.
Kemin President Dr. Christopher Nelson, stated, “We are looking to Jeff and the Nutrisurance staff to develop our existing and future product portfolio as we enter the next phase of growth and expansion in the dynamic pet food industry.” Friese said he is looking forward to the challenges and opportunities offered by the pet food industry.
Moyer Lays Off 100
Due to a restructuring by new cost-conscientious owners Smithfield Foods, Inc., 100 employees at Moyer Packing Company lost their jobs earlier this fall. According to Moyer, cuts were felt across all divisions of the company, but primarily corporate and middle management and office personnel. At the time of the layoffs, it is estimated Moyer employed nearly 1,600 people.
Taylor By-Products Hosts APHIS
In October, Taylor By-Products, Wyalusing, PA, welcomed the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Services (APHIS), to their packing and rendering facility. The team of government officials, which also included several individuals from Canada and Mexico, were looking at the controls Taylor has put in place to prevent bovine spongiform encephalopathy.
“We have a good relationship,” said Dennis Mulane, Taylor By-Products, of APHIS. He added that the team was educated on the company’s Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point program and other precautionary measures put in place, such as the removal and discard of brain and spinal cord material.
Rapid Test for Animal Feed in the Making
A recent announcement by Strategic Diagnostics, Inc., Newark, DE, a provider of antibody products and analytical test kits for food safety and water quality, indicated collaboration with Molecular Circuitry, Inc., and McDonald’s Corporation, to develop a rapid test for restricted animal proteins in animal feed.
Ken Koziol, McDonald’s Global Quality Assurance officer, discussed his company’s commitment to food safety by indicating, “We are helping to fund this innovative research project because it represents another potential safety firewall in animal feed.” FDA banned the use of mammalian proteins in ruminant feed in 1997.
Strategic Diagnostics is targeting the test to be ready for shipment during the first half of next year.
Excel to Acquire Taylor Companies
Excel Corporation has signed a letter of intent to acquire Taylor Packing Co., Inc., Taylor By-Products, Inc., and related companies. The acquisition is expected to close by the end of January 2002.
Ken Taylor, president and chief executive officer of Taylor Packing, said, “The decision to relinquish control of a multi-generation family business has been extremely difficult. But the future offers exciting growth opportunities in our industry and we are very pleased to meet that future as part of Excel.”
New Officers for AMI
The American Meat Institute (AMI) Board of Directors elected six officers during its annual meeting in October. The following officers were elected to serve one-year terms: Phil Clemens, chairman and chief executive officer, Hatfield Quality Meats, Hatfield, PA, was elected chairman; Richard A. Searer, Oscar Mayer Division of Kraft Foods, Inc., was elected vice chairman; Stewart Owens, chairman, president, and chief operating officer, Bob Evans Farms, Inc., Columbus, OH, was elected treasurer; and William Buckner, corporate vice president, Cargill, Inc., and president, Excel Corporation, Wichita, KS, will serve as secretary.
W. Dan Wright, president and chief executive officer (CEO), Wright Brand Foods, Inc., Vernon, TX, and AMI’s 2001 chairman, becomes immediate past chairman.
J. Patrick Boyle was reelected by to serve a 13th term as the institute’s president and CEO.
NCC Elects New Officers
Clifford E. Butler, vice chairman, Pilgrim’s Pride Corporation, Pittsburg, TX, took office in October as chairman of the National Chicken Council (NCC). Elton H. Maddox, president and chief executive officer (CEO), Wayne Farms LLC, Oakwood, GA, became NCC vice chairman, and Paul Carter, president and CEO, Foster Farms, Livingston, CA, became secretary-treasurer. Officers serve one-year terms and were installed during NCC’s annual convention.
George Watts, Alexandria, VA, was reelected as president of NCC, a post he has held since 1972.
Silliker Names Lab Director
Silliker Laboratories has announced the appointment of Susan Gregro as laboratory director of its testing facility in Sinking Spring, PA. She is responsible for managing scientific operations, quality systems, and staff to provide accurate, timely services to food and feed companies in Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, western New York, and Pennsylvania.
Tyson Steps Down
Don Tyson, who led Tyson Foods, Inc. through more than three decades of growth and who has served as senior chairman of the company since 1995, stepped down as senior chairman in October. He will remain a member of Tyson’s board of directors.
“This is just one more step in a ‘progressive retirement’ plan that I began in 1995 when I turned 65 and stepped down as chairman,” said Tyson.
December 2001 Render