The Victorian Department of Primary Industries (DPI) this week announced its seizure of over 700,000 chickens to safeguard their welfare at six broiler farms located in Northern Victoria, South West Victoria and West Gippsland. According to the DPI, the Melbourne-based company, Tip-Top Poultry, appeared to be failing to feed its chickens. It was believed the company had been experiencing a severe financial crisis and was no longer able to sufficiently afford to feed its livestock. Dr Hugh Millar,... ...Read more »

One of Australia’s largest poultry producers, Turi Foods, has been ordered by the Federal Court of Australia, to pay AU$100,000 penalty after admitting to a misleading claim. In September 2011, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) instituted proceedings in the Federal Court against Turi Foods, which supplies La Ionica brand meat chickens in New South Wales and Victoria. The claim was that the chickens were “free to roam”. The ACCC alleged that Turi Foods made “false or... ...Read more »

Researchers from North Carolina State University and West Virginia University have developed a new technology that can reduce air pollutant emissions from some chicken and swine barns, and also reduce their energy use by recovering and possibly generating heat. Specifically, the research team designed, built, and evaluated a proof-of-concept unit that incorporates a biofilter and a heat exchanger to reduce ammonia emissions from livestock barns, while also tempering — or heating up —... ...Read more »

The World Trade Organization (WTO) has ruled that current U.S. Country of Origin Labelling (CoOL) measures are inconsistent with the U.S.’s WTO trade obligations. The WTO had examined complaints by Canada regarding the United States’ current CoOL requirements. The U.S. Food, Conservation and Energy Act imposes mandatory CoOL for beef, pork, chicken, lamb and goat as well as some perishables sold by U.S. retailers. The WTO ruled that the requirements discriminate against foreign livestock. In... ...Read more »

New South Wales-based company Australia Poultry and Food Wholesalers has been fined A$236,000 plus legal costs for supplying pre-cooked chicken that was found to contain Listeria monocytogenes. The chicken was used in wraps that were supplied for inflight meals on the Virgin Blue airline. Listeria monocytogenes is dangerous for pregnant women, newborns, the elderly and people with weakened immune systems. Downing Centre Local Court, in Sydney, found that between December 2008 and June 2009, a food-borne... ...Read more »

The Australian Government’s Primary Industries Ministerial Council (PIMC) has ruled that ritual slaughter methods will continue to be exempt from any “stunning” requirements. The decision came at the end of last week (28 October 2011) when the PIMC considered the issue in Melbourne at its 21st meeting. Jewish and Muslim dietary laws do not allow for animals to be stunned before application of the knife by the slaughterer. In respect of this, a number of abattoirs where Kosher slaughter or Halal... ...Read more »

Major fast food chain KFC has removed claims that it sources chickens that are ‘free to roam’ from its Australian website. The move comes days after the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) accused Baiada Poultry Pty Ltd and Bartter Enterprises Pty Ltd, both of which supply chickens to KFC in Australia, of making misleading promotional claims to sell their chicken products. The ACCC has instituted proceedings in the Federal Court against Baiada Poultry Pty Ltd and Bartter Enterprises... ...Read more »

 Baiada-owned poultry brand Steggles has announced it will launch a new range of premium products targeting the foodservice industry to be known as the Steggles Premium Food Service Rance; it includes Premium Chicken Breast Fillets, marinated chicken breast that is packaged for cafes, restaurants and hotels.. The Steggles Premium Foodservice range includes According to Steggles, the fillets are 100 per cent marinated chicken breast and are portion-controlled at 100g each. The new range also includes... ...Read more »

Lenard Poulter, founder of the successful Lenard’s chicken franchise, has struck out at retail giant Coles for its decision to include fresh chicken in its price war with rival Woolworths. Poulter called on the Federal Government to intervene to stop the market domination by Coles and Woolworths, which he says is damaging farmers, manufacturers and suppliers and is not in the long-term interests of consumers. “This market dominance by the major retailers who are insisting on unsustainable... ...Read more »

The Chicken Meat Industry Act 1977 will expire at the end of the year, Agriculture and Food Minister Terry Redman announced today. The decision follows a recent inquiry by the Economic Regulation Authority (ERA) which recommended the Act should not be continued. The Act requires that its effectiveness is reviewed every five years, and should only be continued if its continuation can be justified. The Act was introduced in 1977 as a transitional measure to improve the stability of a fledgling chicken... ...Read more »