You might notice that this newsletter is a little later than normal, but on the other hand, so is IFT. And even with the thread of a blatant sun in the desert and the omnipresent background beeps of the slot machines, we are eagerly looking forward to our favorite annual event: when we reunite with our IFT family. So, come join us for five days of science, technology and fun in Las Vegas.

Also, it is that time of the year again for the nominations for officer positions.  Please contact one of the board members if you know someone who would like to serve or if you would like to help out in that capacity.  We would certainly like to have you become a part of the organization.

Scott Eilert, Excel Corporation

In the words of the late, great, king of Rock and Roll, Elvis, “Viva Las Vegas”.  I’ll bet no one gets tired of hearing that before we leave Vegas in July. 

Do you think that we will have enough to talk about while in Las Vegas this summer?  Animal diseases, pathogens, low carbohydrate diets, etc. This conference promises to be one that has a great number of learning opportunities.  Personally, I’m not a big gambler (I find that working in the industry that we do to be enough of a gamble for my tastes, thank you very much).  However, I am excited about the technical program and the opportunity to interact with our colleagues from the Muscle Foods Division and other areas of IFT.

As for the Annual MFD meeting in Las Vegas, please take the time to join us on Tuesday evening for a fun filled evening of competition and networking with your peers. It is your involvement in this event that makes it a success. We will be extending the opportunity for companies to help contribute to the MFD in order to sponsor student events and to offset costs of the Annual Meeting. As you have been in the past, please be willing to participate. We've had some great corporate sponsorship in the past and look forward to similar support in the future.

Currently, we are in the process of putting together a slate of officers for next year’s MFD.  If you are interested in being more involved in MFD, please contact Bucky Gwartney or myself as soon as possible.  Additionally, please feel free to nominate those that you feel would be qualified for an officer’s position. 

I hope to see you all in Vegas.

If you want to be more involved in the Muscle Foods Division and meet new people from different parts of the meat world we invite you to write us. We are calling for applications to elect the new student representative for 2004-2006. Interested students should be current members of the division and email Oscar Esquivel (oscare123@hotmail.com) by June 25. Please attach a resume and a letter of intent describing your interest. This is a two year commitment and during the first period (junior year), the main duties are hosting the Graduate Paper Competition and attending the Phi Tau Sigma Awards Breakfast. The junior student representative is also expected to submit articles to the division newsletter to keep the members updated on the competition.  

The senior student representative is available for guidance. The second year, the junior becomes the senior student representative who coaches the elected junior student representative and calls for applications for the travel award and next student rep. Both students are required to attend the MFD Executive Board Meeting held at the IFT Annual Meeting and are reimbursed $500 in travel funds to attend the IFT National Meeting.  The newly elected Junior Representative for 2004-2006 is invited to attend the MFD Executive Board meeting this year in Las Vegas. For additional comments or questions regarding the position, please contact me.

The 2004 graduate research paper competition is in full swing.  There were 15 abstracts that entered the competition, which was a large increase in participation from the past few years.   The judges evaluated the abstracts and the top six were selected.  These six semi-finalists then wrote a three page written research summary that the judges are currently evaluating.  From the scores of the written research summaries, the top three will be selected to give an oral presentation at the 2004 IFT Annual Meeting in Las Vegas during the Muscle Foods Division social.  The three finalists will be notified by the beginning of June.  The Muscle Foods Division social/competition will take place on Tuesday, July 13 from 6:30 to 9:00pm and then the winners will be announced.  The judges for this year’s competition include: Bucky Gwartney (National Cattlemen’s Beef Association), Daren Cornforth (Utah State University), Marty Brouillette (BK Giulini Corporation), Jim Claus (University of Wisconsin – Madison), Denise Smith (University of Idaho), and Alicia Orta-Ramirez (Michigan State University).  If you have any questions about the competition please contact me either by e-mail: ebelingc@msu.edu or by phone: 517-355-8452 x 209 and I look forward to seeing all of you at the Muscle Foods Division social in Las Vegas.

Tuesday 9:00 AM

Session 2 – Control of Listeria in Ready-to-eat Meat

Tuesday 2:30 PM

Session 28 – Ultrastructural Measurements in Frozen Foods

Wednesday 8:30 AM

Session 36 – Advances in Food Irradiation Research and Technology

Thursday 2:30 PM

Session 91 – Safety and Efficacy of Lactoferrin

Wednesday 8:30 AM

Session 49G – General Poster Session

Thursday 9:00 AM

Session 81 – Oral Presentations – Muscle Biochemistry and Fresh Meat

Friday – 9:00 AM

Session 112 – Oral Presentations – Use of Antimicrobials, Antioxidants and Non-meat Ingredients in Muscle Foods

Tuesday 6:30 PM

Life goes on without “vital” DNA. Read the complete story at http://www.newscientist.com/news/news.jsp?id=ns99995063

Canada to host the 2004 World Meat Congress. Read complete story at

http://www.meatami.com/Template.cfm?Section=Home&template=PressReleaseDisplay.cfm&PressReleaseID=1975&News=Y

Australia approves US pork imports but product must be further processed. Read complete story at

http://www.nppc.org/news/stories/2004/051304Australia.html

57^th Reciprocal Meat Conference                                              Lexington, KY                 June 20-23, 2004

IFT Annual Meeting                                                                 Las Vegas, NV                 July 12-16, 2004

50^th International Meat Science & Technology Conference            Helsinki, Finland             August 8-13, 2004

Institute of Food Technologists                                                    www.ift.org

56^th Reciprocal Meat Conference                                                  www.meatscience.org/RMC

American Meat Science Association                                              www.meatscience.org

Federation of Animal Science Societies                                         www.fass.org

American Meat Institute                                                              www.meatami.com

National Pork Producers Council                                                   www.nppc.org

Cattlemen’s Beef Board                                                               www.beefboard.org

US Poultry & Egg Association                                                       www.poultryegg.org

USDA                                                                                        www.usda.org

FDA                                                                                          www.fda.org

FSIS                                                                                         www.fsis.usda.gov

National Food Processors Organization                                         www.nfpa-food.org

Two cows were standing in a field, and one said to the other, 'Those humans are sure getting worked up about this mad cow disease. It is an unfortunate state of affairs. What do you think?' To which the other replied, 'Don't ask me. I'm a chicken.'

Thanks to all our sponsors for 2004! 

Muscle Foods Division, Spring 2004 Newsletter

Disclaimer The opinions expressed in this newsletter are the opinions of the contributors. They do not necessarily represent the official position of IFT and should not be interpreted as such.