National Chicken Council

USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service recently announced an extension of its Salmonella Framework for Raw Poultry Products to January 17, 2025. Initially proposed for October 7, 2024, the deadline was then extended by 30 days to November 7 following a request for extension filed in August from the National Chicken Council. Highlighting the inadequacy of that extension, Congressional Chicken Caucus co-chairs Steve Womack (R-AR) and Jim Costa (D-CA) sent a letter on September 3 requesting a further 180-day extension. NCC also sent a follow-up request for time. Even consumer food safety groups requested an extension beyond November 7, with Stop Foodborne Illness, Consumer Reports, the Consumer Federation of America, and the Institute for Food Safety and Nutrition Security at The George Washington University Milken Institute School of Public Health sending USDA a letter requesting a six-month extension from November 7, 2024.

At NCC's 69th Annual Conference today in Washington, DC, we installed the four officers that will lead the organization in 2024-25: Secertary Treasurer: Kevin McDaniel, Wayne-Sanderson Farms Vice Chair: David Jackson, Simmons Foods Chair: Bill Griffith, PECO FOODS INC Interim President: Gary Kushner We look forward to leaning on the extensive experience and vast knowledge of Bill, David and Kevin to guide our organization in the coming year!

Each week, NCC features the official representative from each of our Allied Leader and Allied Member companies in a short spotlight column in our Washington Report Newsletter. This week's Allied Member Spotlight is Meredith Sutzko, Food Safety Product Manager at Romer Labs. We asked Meredith three questions: In 2-3 sentences, describe what good or service your company provides to the broiler industry. Romer Labs is a leading provider of diagnostic solutions for food pathogens, mycotoxins, allergens, and GMOs to meet the ever-changing demands of the food and feed industry. Our tests allow the poultry industry specifically to determine which Salmonella serogroups (such as B, C1, and D1) are prevalent in live poultry operations. This valuable information helps to drive critical decisions about a company’s food safety program. Can you briefly describe your position and responsibilities within the company? As Food Safety Product Manager, I am responsible for the development of products to meet dynamic market needs. What is your favorite chicken dish? My favorite chicken dish is Chicken Florentine!

Each week, NCC features the official representative from each of our Allied Leader and Allied Member companies in a short spotlight column in our Washington Report Newsletter. This week's Allied Member Spotlight is Alex Hilliker, Executive Vice President at ChemDAQ, Inc. We asked Alex three questions: In 2-3 sentences, describe what good or service your company provides to the broiler industry. ChemDAQ created the first commercially available Peracetic Acid (PAA) sensor, designed to protect industry employees from overexposure to harmful chemical vapors and verify compliance with government regulations. Through both fixed and portable units, ChemDAQ partners with hundreds of facilities across the country to provide air monitoring that creates safer workplaces, reduces risk, and ensures next-level protection for their people. Can you briefly describe your position and responsibilities within the company? As ChemDAQ's Executive Vice President, my priority is expanding opportunities to support our customers through strategic partnerships, new product development, and ongoing customer engagement. As a company, our mission is to empower our customers to eliminate exposure to toxic chemicals in their facilities. We have a unique opportunity in this industry to work with our customers to best understand their environment and make data-driven decisions to achieve this goal. Given that our customers are some of the largest contributors to the nation's food supply, it's a privilege to be able to support them in this way. What is your favorite chicken dish? It's a popular response in this forum, but I have to say Chicken Parmesan. Anyone reading this - next time you are in Pittsburgh, PA, give me a call and I'll take you to Alla Famiglia for the best Chicken Parm you've ever had!

The 2024 HPAI Impact & Insights Forum will bring together the poultry and dairy industries to assess the current domestic and international situation with highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), epidemiological trends, biosecurity efforts, producer experiences, communication strategies, and much more. The Forum will provide an overall dialogue to convey lessons learned in an effort to be better prepared to prevent and control HPAI in the future. The Forum will be held Oct. 29-30 in Arlington, Virginia, at the Crystal Gateway Marriott. Registration is on a first-come, first-served basis. More information can be found on U.S. Poultry & Egg Association's website here: https://lnkd.in/enspX_HR

The Biden administration must step in now to not only get the East Coast & Gulf ports open again but work with the parties to resolve the outstanding contract issues. The longer a strike occurs, the more severe the economic impact and the longer it will take to recover. The only way the parties can agree on a new deal is if they return to the negotiating table with the help of a federal mediator to ensure they bargain in good faith.  NCC is again joining in urging immediate action: https://lnkd.in/eNqVuxSn

Each week, NCC feature in our Washington Report newsletter a short spotlight column featuring tthe official representative from each of our Allied Leader and Allied Member companies. This week’s Allied Member Spotlight is Brent Bankosky, who is President, Food & Beverage, at Clean Chemistry. We asked Brent three questions: In 2-3 sentences, describe what good or service your company provides to the broiler industry. Clean Chemistry manufactures PeroxyMAXTM, an odorless, on-site generated processing aid to control microbial pathogens during the processing of poultry. PeroxyMAX offers superior microbial control, but with a better safety profile, and is less corrosive to equipment and conveyors. We are excited to be launching PeroxyMAX into the poultry processing market. Can you briefly describe your position and responsibilities within the company? As President, Food & Beverage, I have been responsible for building a team, securing the necessary regulatory approvals, and for commercializing PeroxyMAX in several F&B markets, including poultry. We received our FDA FCN earlier this year and PeroxyMAX is now on the USDA FSIS Directive 7120.1 list as a poultry processing aid. It’s a rare opportunity to be able to launch an innovative new chemistry to the poultry industry as well as several other F&B markets. What is your favorite chicken dish? My go-to chicken dish is Chicken Parmesan. The great thing about having a Chicken Parmesan dinner is that leftovers make for a delicious chicken parm sandwich the next day!

National Chicken Council members Pilgrim's, Mountaire Farms, PECO FOODS INC, Simmons Foods and Fieldale Farms Corporation have been named to Newsweek’s America’s Greatest Workplaces of 2024 list: https://lnkd.in/g72J8H86. Congratulations!

Each week in our Washington Report, NCC features in a short spotlight column the official representative from each of our Allied Leader and Allied Member companies. This week's Allied Leader Member Spotlight is Clay Adkins who is who is National Protein Director at International Paper. We asked Clay three questions: In 2-3 sentences, describe what good or service your company provides to the broiler industry. International Paper is the premier corrugated provider to the poultry industry. With decades of experience, industry knowledge, and reliability, we deliver high quality products to minimize supply chain disruptions for broiler producers as well as all other segments of the protein industry. Together with our customers, we make the world safer, healthier, and more productive, one sustainable package at a time. Can you briefly describe your position and responsibilities within the company? As National Protein Director, my team and I are responsible for strategic planning, innovation, and value creation for our customers in the protein segment. I consider it a privilege to serve as an allied board member of organizations such as the National Chicken Council, as well as the US Poultry & Egg Association. Spending time with industry leaders and hearing issues they face, gives valuable insight to suppliers such as International Paper. What is your favorite chicken dish? In my role, I’m constantly on the road so I eat some type of chicken strip at least three times a week, but I’m actually a Chicken Alfredo guy.  We are weekend regulars at our local Italian restaurant.

This week we joined 175 organizations in urging the White House to intervene to prevent an East & Gulf coast ports strike and ensure there is no disruption to port operations and cargo fluidity if a new contract is not reached: https://lnkd.in/ewtD_CXq