Big Boy Food Group, a Warren, Mich., establishment, is recalling approximately 39,514 pounds of ready-to-eat meal kits that may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced.

The products subject to recall are Dinolunch brand “Carnivore Ham & Cheese” and “T-Rex Turkey & Cheese” meal kits, as well as Lunch Buddies brand “Lunch Buddies Ham & Cheese” and “Lunch Buddies Turkey & Cheese” kits.

The Dinolunch products were produced on August 25, 2009 and distributed to wholesale and retail establishments in Texas. The Lunch Buddies products were produced on August 25, 2009 and distributed to wholesale establishments in Ill., Ind., Ohio, and Wisc. FSIS has no reason to believe that these products are available for consumer purchase as recalled products were distributed only at the wholesale level; so, none of these meal kits would have reached consumers.

The problem was discovered through FSIS’s microbiological sampling program. FSIS has received no reports of illnesses associated with consumption of this product.


Source: FSIS



Texas beef producers joins Go Texan local movement

Texas' own Chisholm Trail Longhorn Beef earned its Lone Star seal-of-approval by becoming the newest member of the “Go Texan” program. With this membership, Chisholm Trail signifies to consumers that its all-natural longhorn beef is raised and produced in Texas. Chisholm Trail Longhorn Beef gets its Texas credibility from the family-owned Texas ranches that allow the longhorn herds to naturally graze on the Central and North Texas landscape.

"Chisholm Trail Longhorn Beef`s Texas roots run deep, so joining the “Go Texan” program was essential to showing our customers that when we say 'local,' we mean 'local,'" said Mike Crawford, a Chisholm Trail Longhorn Beef partner. "Texans share a special pride about their state that you won't find anywhere else and that includes a deep loyalty to the products and services they buy. Chisholm Trail Longhorn Beef provides Lone Star loyalists with a better-tasting, healthier red meat produced right here in Texas. This “Go Texan” membership will help spread the word."

Chisholm Trail Longhorn Beef is a rancher-owned and -operated cooperative that raises longhorns locally on family ranches around Texas. Chisholm Trail longhorns graze in pastures without added hormones or antibiotics.


Sources: Reuters: Chisolm Trail Longhorn Beef



Schlotzsky's brings back Angus sandwiches

Back by popular demand now through November 15th, Schlotzsky's will launch the Angus Round Up and offer three meaty sandwiches.

"We might have a funny name, but Schlotzsky's is serious about beefing things up with the return of our hot roast beef sandwiches," said President Kelly Roddy. "We've had such a great response to the Angus Round Up in the past, so we're sure our guests will once again love the unique, 'all 'round lotz better' flavor combinations and generous portions featured in this limited time promotion."

The new sandwiches include:
* The Bacon Beefy SmokeCheezy, featuring lean, mean, shaved Angus roast beef, smoked cheddar cheese, crispy, tasty bacon and zesty chipotle mayonnaise nestled between two warm Schlotzsky's signature Fresh-from-Scratch sourdough buns.
* The French Dipsky, which comes with Angus roast beef, melted mozzarella cheese and a side of savory au jus, and is served on sourdough buns.
* The Chipotle Guaca-Beefsky, with thinly sliced Angus roast beef, pepper-jack cheese, guacamole, chipotle pesto sauce and fresh lettuce, tomato and onion on Jalapeno cheese buns.


Source: Schlotzsky's



Argentinians may have to cut back on beef by 1/3

The head of the Argentine Rural Society said that Argentinians will have to reduce their red meat consumption by one-third because of a cattle shortage. The shortage will force people to cut their consumption from 70 kilograms per year to 50 kilograms, and it will also drastically reduce the company's ability to export cattle, Bloomberg reports.

“We are going to end up without enough production,” said Hugo Biolcati in an interview in Buenos Aires on Aug. 27. “We won’t have enough for the domestic market.” Cattle slaughtering in Argentina rose to 1.1 million head in July, but half of that number were breeding stock, indicating the country's herd may shrink further.


Source: Bloomberg



CAB Colvin Scholarship offers $9,000 to students

A decade after retiring as executive director of the world’s premiere branded beef company, Louis M. “Mick” Colvin’s dedication to leadership in the beef industry is unwavering.

College juniors and seniors who share Colvin’s passion for the beef industry are encouraged to apply for the $9,000 in scholarships sponsored by Certified Angus Beef LLC (CAB) and the Colvin Scholarship fund. Five students who demonstrate their commitment to the beef industry through the pursuit of a degree in meat, food or animal science, marketing, business, communications or other related degree will be eligible for the scholarships, ranging from $1,000 to $3,500 in value.

The winner of the $3,500 scholarship may be invited to a paid internship with the company the following summer. The top two recipients will be encouraged to attend the 2010 CAB Annual Conference in Puerto Rico, all-expenses paid. Students will have the opportunity to interact with leaders of the beef production, packing, foodservice and retail industry at the conference.

Students’ applications will be evaluated based on activities and scholastic achievement, communication skills and reference letters. The application deadline is Nov. 16.

For more information and an application, students should visit http://www.certifiedangusbeef.com/press/colvin/index.php or contact Trudi Hoyle at 800-225-2333, ext. 211.


Source: Certified Angus Beef