Dear Editor,
I appreciate your articles on all aspects of your rendering industry in the United States. Obviously, many issues that affect you there also affect New Zealand. We produce specialty meals for use in pet food in the United States so it is good for me to get your magazine as it helps me to understand some of the relevant issues with exporting to the United States. Thank you.
Kind Regards,
Selwyn Love
Greymouth, New Zealand
Dear Editor,
As markets rise, so do the occurrences of grease theft. With limited success over the years, the National Renderers Association (NRA) has tried different approaches to stem the tide of grease theft.
I was reading an article in Render magazine from December 1982. The article talked about how the NRA had put together task forces to help identify, catch, and prosecute grease thieves. In another article in Render from December 1984, the industry met with success by prosecuting two grease thieves. I wondered why the program had faded onto the back burners of our industry’s issues. Perhaps because of bovine spongiform encephalopathy, lack of importance, other pressing issues, or all of the above?
At any one time, and depending on the time of year, I personally believe that we as an industry are losing up to 10 percent or more of our raw yellow grease tonnage due to unscrupulous grease thieves. Maybe it is time to refocus on the ever-growing problem. After talking to many other NRA members, I know I am not alone.
What if we had “signature” greases? Think of the possibilities.
A driver goes and dumps his or her account. Before leaving, they place a small 10-cent packet of (yet to be invented) indicator in the cube. We personally do not buy from outside sources, but if a renderer does, a simple test can be given to see if it is free of indicator.
What if each renderer had their own indicator color assigned to them? Not only could you tell if the grease was stolen from another renderer, you would know if you were buying your own grease.
When I was a kid, the lifeguard at the pool always told me there was an indicator in the water so if I peed in the pool, the water would turn dark blue around me. If caught, I would be kicked out of the pool for the summer! I never peed in the pool (at least not that I’m willing to admit in print). Just the threat that grease thieves might be caught easily should be a good deterrent.
If we as a society can put a man on the moon, or charge $2.75 for a 50-cent cup of coffee, we can certainly create a signature grease indicator.
I am just one person, with one idea, and maybe it has already been thought of. But nevertheless, we as an industry must stop the proliferation of stolen commodities. I feel it is time to recommit ourselves to stopping grease theft. It is costing our industry millions.
Richard H. Baas
Vice President
Inland Products, Inc.
Columbus, OH
Render welcomes your opinions. Please send correspondence to: Editor, Render Magazine, 2820 Birch Avenue, Camino, CA 95709. Letters can also be sent via e-mail to editors@rendermagazine.com, or by fax to (530) 644-8429. Render reserves the right to edit letters for length, content, and clarity.
June 2005 Render