Press Releases
North American Meat Institute Honors Health and Wellness Award Winners
CONTACT: Casey Kammerle (610) 312-4428
WASHINGTON, DC - The North American Meat Institute (NAMI) today awarded SugarCreek Packing, Marcus Technologies, Tyson Foods, and SuKarne with NAMI's inaugural Health and Wellness Awards at the Environment, Labor and Safety+ Conference.
North American Meat Institute Recognizes Environmental Achievement Award Winners
CONTACT: Casey Kammerle (610) 312-4428
WASHINGTON, DC - The North American Meat Institute (NAMI) today recognized more than 200 meat and poultry plants at the 2023 Environmental, Labor and Safety+ Conference in Carlsbad, California for their positive environmental impact achievements. Fifteen additional establishments that went above and beyond were granted Environmental Achievement Awards for their progress with emissions reduction, energy conservation, packaging/food waste reduction, technological innovation, and water conservation.
North American Meat Institute Honors Worker Safety Award Winners
CONTACT: Casey Kammerle (610) 312-4428
WASHINGTON, DC - The North American Meat Institute (NAMI) today recognized more than 160 meat and poultry plants at the 2023 Environmental, Labor and Safety+ Conference in Carlsbad, California for improving and achieving high levels of safety performance.
Maple Leaf Foods Wins NAMI's Inaugural Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Award
CONTACT: Casey Kammerle (610) 312-4428
WASHINGTON, DC - The North American Meat Institute (NAMI) today honored Maple Leaf Foods at the Environment, Labor and Safety+ Conference with the highest award for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI).
"It is clear that Maple Leaf Foods has spent thoughtful time and energy on fostering a diverse and inclusive workspace for their employees," said NAMI President and CEO Julie Anna Potts. "NAMI is proud of Maple Leaf's leadership and commitment to continuous improvement in the meat and poultry industry and in the communities that they serve."
Meat Institute Hires Kelsey Carlson as Strategic Content & Programming Director
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 17, 2023
CONTACT: Sarah Little (443) 440-0029
Annual Meat Conference Exhibitors Donate Meat and Poultry Products to North Texas Food Bank
Exhibitors at the Annual Meat Conference , co-hosted by FMI, The Food Industry Association and the North American Meat Institute (Meat Institute), following the event in Dallas, Texas, donated meat and poultry products to The North Texas Food Bank, a nonprofit devoted to closing the hunger gap in North Texas. The donation will provide more than 6,930 meals.
Black Professionals in Food and Agriculture, North American Meat Institute Enter Partnership
WASHINGTON, DC – Black Professionals in Food and Agriculture (BPFA) and the North American Meat Institute (NAMI) entered a partnership to amplify black voices and promote diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging (DEIB) in food and agriculture spaces.
“As BPFA membership continues to expand, it is imperative that we meet this moment by elevating opportunities to carry out our mission of promoting, advancing, and ensuring representation of Black policy professionals,” said Kellie Adesina, BPFA President. “This partnership solidifies NAMI’s commitment to growing the current and emerging cohorts of Black leaders in the food and agriculture space and is only the beginning of what is certain to be a fruitful relationship between BPFA and NAMI.”
18th annual Power of Meat report: meat purchases rise above pre-pandemic levels, consumers look for value
March 6, 2023 (Washington, D.C.) - Americans are buying more fresh meat than before the COVID-19 pandemic and are seeking value in terms of price, convenience and better-for attributes in meat purchases, according to the 18th annual Power of Meat report released today bythe Meat Institute and FMI—The Food Industry Association.
Self-described “meat eaters” comprise 78% of Americans, compared to just 7% who describe themselves as vegan or vegetarian. Shoppers spend more than $15 in the meat department per trip and average nearly one trip to the meat department per week (up nearly 5% since 2019). While 50% of shoppers get their meat from a supermarket, many turn to supercenters (35%), club stores (4%) and hard discounters (5%) for their meat purchases.
NAMI: FSIS’ New Label Proposal for Meat & Poultry Will Raise Prices for Consumers
WASHINGTON, DC – The North American Meat Institute (Meat Institute) today said the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Food Safety and Inspection Service’s (FSIS) latest attempt at proposed rules for a “Product of the USA” label for meat products are again likely to result in trade retaliation from Canada and Mexico costing American consumers and businesses billions of dollars.
“Unfortunately, this proposed rule is problematic for many reasons. USDA should have considered more than public sentiment on an issue that impacts international trade,” said Meat Institute President and CEO Julie Anna Potts. “Our members make considerable investments to produce beef, pork, lamb, veal and poultry products in American facilities, employing hundreds of thousands of workers in the U.S. and with processes overseen by USDA inspectors. This food should be allowed to be labeled a ‘Product of the USA.”
NAMI Applauds Full Senate Approval of Alexis Taylor's Nomination to be Undersecretary of Ag for Trade
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: December 21, 2022
CONTACT: Sarah Little (443) 440-0029
WASHINGTON, DC - The North American Meat Institute (NAMI or the Meat Institute) today applauded Senate confirmation of Alexis Taylor to be Undersecretary of Agriculture for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs.
"The meat and poultry industry supported Taylor's nomination," said Meat Institute President and CEO Julie Anna Potts. "Alexis' experience working in Congress, in the Department and as Oregon Secretary of Agriculture make her uniquely qualified for this role," said Potts. "She is the right person at the right time to lead the nation's focus on strengthening exports, expanding access to new markets and navigating an increasingly unpredictable global economy. We look forward to working with her especially as meat and poultry products are seeing record demand at home and abroad."
Donation to Feeding America provides 200,000 meals
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: December 20, 2022
CONTACT: Sarah Little (443) 440-0029
Meat Institute Congratulates Rep. Thompson for Being Elected Chairman of House Ag Committee
CONTACT: Sarah Little (443) 440-0029
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: December 8, 2022
WASHINGTON, D.C. - The North American Meat Institute (Meat Institute) today released the following statement from Meat Institute President and CEO Julie Anna Potts regarding the House Republican Conference's election of U.S. Representative Glenn "GT" Thompson (R-PA-15) to serve as Chairman of the House Agriculture Committee for the 118th Congress.
"Chairman Thompson has been an outspoken supporter of the meat and poultry industry and we congratulate him on his selection by his colleagues to serve as Chairman of the House Agriculture Committee," says Meat Institute President and CEO Julie Anna Potts. "He will provide strong leadership as the Congress tackles a new Farm Bill and we look forward to working with him in his new role."
Recognizing animal protein's critical role ahead of UN Climate Summit Agriculture Day
WASHINGTON, DC - The Interamerican Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) convened its first-ever "Sustainable Agriculture in the Americas" pavilion at the UN Climate Summit (COP27) and partnered with the Protein PACT and other stakeholders to convene a total of 9 events focused on animal agriculture's key role in sustainability solutions.
U.S. Meat Sector Releases First-Ever Data Report on Environment, Other Key Indicators
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: November 1, 2022
CONTACT: Sarah Little (443) 440-0029
WASHINGTON, DC - A major new report released in advance of the United Nations Climate Summit next week in Sharm el Sheikh, Egypt, reveals that about 81% of facilities reporting data are covered by Meat Institute members' commitments to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.
NAMI and FMI: New Look for the Annual Meat Conference
WASHINGTON, DC - The North American Meat Institute and FMI - The Food Industry Association today unveiled a new look for the Annual Meat Conference (AMC) while promising a renewed, high-impact forum to encourage strategic trading partner experiences and to better deliver on the demands from the meat customer.
"Our pulse on the shopper has never wavered, but we recently made some new discoveries about our organizations, the businesses we represent and how we deliver an event experience to support our members' goals for innovation and growth," said the organizations. "We decided that 2023 is our year to design a brand with the team at Midan Marketing that evokes a modern, personalized protein experience."
North American Meat Institute Selects Class of 2023 Emerging Leaders
WASHINGTON, DC - The North American Meat Institute (Meat Institute) selected 12 participants for its 2023 Emerging Leaders Program, which will apply the vision of the Meat Institute's Protein PACT to future industry executives who proved themselves ready to take the next step in their leadership journey.
This unique program - sponsored by Food Safety Net Services, A Certified Group Company and Sealed Air- will prepare the winners with the knowledge and understanding, at both the industry level and operational level, they need to champion continuous improvement outlined in the Protein PACT within their own organizations and the industry.
These participants were selected based off their commitment to continuous improvement in the industry, their leadership potential and the individual initiative they've demonstrated.
NAMI Board of Directors Elects New Officers for 2023
ORLANDO, FL - The North American Meat Institute (Meat Institute) Board of Directors today elected its slate of officers for 2023, with Steve Van Lannen, President and COO of American Foods Group, elected to serve as the incoming Chairman in January of 2023.
"This is both an exciting and a challenging time for the meat and poultry industry," said incoming Chairman Steve Van Lannen. "We will continue to build on the leadership of our past Chairman, Brad McDowell, to ensure the Meat Institute continues to provide exemplary service to its members and, through the Protein PACT, support the industry's contributions to healthy people, a healthy planet and healthy animals."
In addition, Peter Bozzo, Vice President of Michael's Finer Meats and Seafood, was selected to serve as Secretary and will serve his first term as an officer.
The 2023 Slate of Officers includes:
America's meat companies fill the "protein gap" to help end hunger in the United States
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: September 28, 2022
CONTACT: Sarah Little (443) 440-0029
WASHINGTON, DC - Aligned with the Biden administration's goal of ending hunger in the United States and with the White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health, the North American Meat Institute and America's leading meat companies are advancing industry-wide best practices and increasing access to nutrient-dense meat for families in need.
NAMI Calls for Swift Senate Approval of Esteban, Taylor and McKalip Nominations
WASHINGTON, DC - The North American Meat Institute (NAMI or the Meat Institute) called for swift consideration of three nominations critical to the meat and poultry industry pending before the full Senate: Jose Emilio Esteban to be Undersecretary of Agriculture for Food Safety, Alexis Taylor to be Undersecretary of Agriculture for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs and Doug McKalip, nominated to be Chief Agricultural Trade Negotiator at the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR).
"The meat and poultry industry supports the nominations of Esteban, Taylor and McKalip," said Meat Institute President and CEO Julie Anna Potts. "Their leadership in food safety and trade is much needed and with strong bipartisan support, they should be considered without further needless delay."
U.S. Chamber Agrees: Proposed Legislation Would Micromanage Beef Markets, Harm Consumers
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 13, 2022
CONTACT: Sarah Little (443) 440-0029
WASHINGTON, DC -In Case You Missed It: The U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the world's largest business organization, agreed with the North American Meat Institute and concluded beef market legislation before the House and Senate would "dramatically expand the federal government's role and ultimately harm consumers," in a post shared to their blog here.
The blog post was written by the U.S. Chamber's Sean Heather, Senior Vice President, International Regulatory Affairs & Antitrust, and was published July 12, 2022.
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