HARRISONBURG, VA - Poultry suppliers are being forced to adhere to stricter guidelines on what constitutes “fresh” this holiday season. The new guidelines will help consumers identify fresh from other categories of frozen and deep chilled turkeys, and may result in fewer suppliers being able to offer “fresh” turkeys for Thanksgiving.
Revised USDA guidelines now require that turkey labeled “fresh” cannot be chilled to less than 26 degrees F. As per previous legislation, turkey chilled to a temperature of 0 degrees F or less must be labeled “frozen”. However, turkey kept within a temperature range of 0 degrees F and 26 degrees F now falls into an unnamed category that may not be labeled “fresh” or carry any misleading label.
Several poultry suppliers with product in this unnamed category are now being urged to re-label this Thanksgiving so consumers can differentiate a deep chilled product from what is now considered “fresh”.
As a leading supplier of fresh turkey products, Shady Brook Farms is already compliant with the revised regulations and will not be required to make any labeling changes to its “fresh” product.
“We have always maintained freshness standards that exceed government regulations,” says Jim Hoagland, director of marketing for Shady Brook Farms. “Our fresh turkeys already meet the revised temperature parameters of 26 degrees F. As a result, we will be able to respond to the demand for fresh turkeys this Thanksgiving,” he continued.
“Freshness is our brand philosophy so we are proud advocates of the legislation and back this commitment with our state-of-the-art production facilities and distribution center, quality assurance measures and money back guarantees.”
The strict temperature requirements now required to label a turkey “fresh” call for advanced distribution facilities and careful product monitoring. Shady Brook Farms Harrisonburg (VA) location facilitates delivery of fresh product to 70% of the United States in 48 hours or less.
“With our fleet of 70 trucks, each equipped with a Data Temperature Recorder (DTR) to monitor the required temperature of 26 degrees F throughout the distribution process, our turkeys are guaranteed to be delivered fresh to supermarket refrigerators” states Hoagland.
Temperature control is only one aspect of ensuring a fresh product. The Shady Brook Farms complete line of fresh, all-natural turkey products contains no artificial additives or preservatives, carries the Good Housekeeping Seal and comes with a money back guarantee.
Shady Brook Farms is also the first company to use the Assur-Rinse(TM) food safety wash, which virtually eliminates potentially harmful bacteria, thus ensuring enhanced product safety and quality.
Meat Industry Insights News Service
P.O. Box 553
Northport, NY 11768
Phone: 631-757-4010
Fax: 631-757-4060
E-mail: sflanagan@sprintmail.com
Return to Home Page