TECHNICAL SERVICES BULLETIN, July 2001
(1 of 3 pages)

FPRF Meetings

The “Emerging Issues and Opportunities Seminar V” is scheduled for October 15, 2001 in Naples Florida. Several speakers have been acquired to address issues of biosecurity, biofuels, biodiesel technology, fat stabilization, new use applications and natural food/feed production. The “EIO” Seminar has become a forum for the presentation and discussion of topics that are in the early stages of development, often controversial and designed to bring varying opinions from the speakers. The seminar will precede the Research Committee, Annual and FPRF Board of Directors meeting scheduled for October 16, 2001. Please mark your calendars!

Awareness: Image but Vital!

After a century of being the Invisible Industry, the rendering industry has developed a distinct awareness. An awareness that has been portrayed with an image that primarily reflects a series of negative connotations. An image that is probably best described as “feeding ground up cows to cows” by those that are in high profile and are on missions to discredit animal production via any possible means. Thus the negative image totally overshadows the vital services that rendering provides. The past several months have clearly illustrated that the positive awareness and the current alternatives to sustain food animal production with services and resources to process its residual byproducts are simply lacking. The requests and inquiries fielded by FPRF and the other allied associations verifies this fact numerous times daily. The discussions and questions fielded, following each presentation verifies this fact. A most productive program, coordinated by Mr. Tom Cook, National Renderers Association verified that fact as 30 individuals representing the rendering industry held conferences with US Senators and Representatives at our nations capital on June 12, 13 and 14, 2001. It was a pleasure to be a part of the delegation and again I was impressed with the overall naïveté that legislators and their staffs have to the importance of rendering. It is a vital industry to support animal industries and the story cannot be told too often. Primary are the vital benefits to human and animal health, environmental, ecological to which there are no current comparable alternatives. The economical benefits provided have allowed our country to be blessed with animal protein food nutrients that are produced by the safest, most productive, economical industries in the world. The rendering industry needs to continue to tell the world.

Food Development for Asian Aquaculture

Asia has been the fastest growing aquaculture segment in the world for more than a decade. It is not only the leading aquaculture region in terms of production but is the fastest growing population in the world. The most recent data shows that nearly 91% of global aquaculture production is in Asia. China accounts for about 70%. This growth is driven by growing populations, decreasing production from capture fisheries and by increasing incomes to support both fish and other animal protein consumption. The population of China is expected to grow from 1.27 billion people to 1.5 billion by 2025. China has a policy of zero growth in marine capture fisheries which means the growing demand for fisheries products will come from aquaculture production. Fish feed production has increased steadily in Asia from 14.2 mmt (million metric tons) in 1997 to 18.1 mmt in 1999. China accounts for 16mmt.

There are six carp species that account for nearly 80% of freshwater aquaculture production in China. Traditional production systems have used polycultural systems and nutrient enriched pond water. Systems have moved toward a more feed-based production. This has increased the opportunity for feed ingredient supplies. An opportunity already discovered by the soybean and feed grains industry. The American Soybean Association (ASA) has established a priority to pursue this marketplace. ASA is involved in developing feed based cage technologies utilizing soy-based diets for 10 marine species with the strategy being to educate feed suppliers, provide education and training in fish nutrition and feed formulation, extrusion pelleting technology and provide full information on soy based feed ingredients. Though FPRF has a project underway in China at the Shanghai Fisheries University and Dr. Yu Yu has utilized research and US scientists as resources, rendered animal products has formidable competition. However if only 5% of the respective animal by-products were used in only carp feeds in China an approximate 350,000 mmt could result. It is a market that the industry must pursue. It is also a country in which US relations are currently somewhat fragile. Both the market and the relations are in need of continued attention.

FPRF Comments: The material presented is derived from information presented by Dr. Ron Hardy, University of Idaho. Dr. Hardy is a renowned aquaculture nutritionist and has cooperated with FPRF in conducting fish nutrition research.

Tallow

The June 2001 edition (Volume 12, Number 6) of Inform, the periodical published by the American Oil Chemists’ Society (AOCS) featured a section on tallow. Prepared by Catherine Watkins following frequent consultations with industry representatives including FPRF, highlights tallow as the No. 2 fat/oil commodity in the United States, second only to soybean oil. However soyoil has been on a very linear and dramatic increase during the past two decades. US production of soy oil increased from approximately 12,000 billion pounds in 1980 to nearly 18,000 billion pounds in 1999. Tallow production has remained fairly steady at 5.4 billion pounds in the US, which represents approximately 50% of the world production. The article is an excellent reference and one that should be used in supporting the importance tallow and all of the rendered fats and oils. Should you wish a reprint copy, please advise the FPRF office or consult the AOCS website www.aocs.org.

On-Farm Preslaughter Treatment to Reduce Foodborne Pathogens

A practical approach to reducing two key on-farm pathogens in swine and cattle has been developed by the researchers at the USDA/ARS Food and Feed Safety Research Unit at College Station, Texas. The use of sodium chlorate fed in low doses to pigs and cattle immediately prior to slaughter is reported to selectively kill the pathogens of Salmonella typhimurium and E. coli 0157:H7. These organisms have been incriminated as primary foodborne pathogens in meat products. The US Center for Disease Control and Prevention estimate that 1.4 million cases of salmonellosis and 73,000 cases of diarrheal illness caused by 0157:H7 occur each year in the US. Intestinal and lymph tissue in meat animals and poultry are major reservoirs for these organisms that can contaminate meat sources during the slaughter and processing procedures.

These two bacterial organisms have been found to possess an enzyme (respiratory nitrate reductase) capable of converting sodium chlorate to chlorite which kills these specific harmful bacteria. Beneficial intestinal bacteria lacking the respiratory nitrate reductase enzyme are unharmed by the added chlorate.

In laboratory studies pigs were fed as much as 0.04 gms of sodium chlorate per kilogram of body weight after being inoculated with S. typhimurium. Within 16 hours the treated animals produced a 150-fold reduction in the pathogenic bacterial organisms within their intestines. Further work is in progress and the researchers suggest that a more realistic approach may be to add chlorate to the animals’ drinking water upon the arrival at the processing facility. The FDA has not approved either preslaughter treatment for commercial use. The USDA is seeking commercial partners to pursue the approval process.

An Example of Countless Received E-Mails

To: info@fprf.org

I was given your foundation’s name as a possible resource for recycling my used restaurant grease/cooking oil. I have two deep fat fryers which I run shortening through at a frightening level and have been trying to find a good way to recycle it other than just paying the local “grease guy” to come get it. Please let me know if I can get it to you somehow. I would prefer it go to a good use.

Jeff Neithercult
Owner, Sno-White Drive-In Restaurant, Anitoch, California

FPRF’s Response

Jeff: FPRF is a non-profit organization representing the rendering industry in exploring new use applications for fat/oils and protein products. The rendering industry is the primary industry serving the used cooking /restaurant grease needs. Our foundation has been involved in developing “good uses” for the recycled fats and oils that include their use as biofuels (biodiesel and burner fuels), animal feed and other alternative uses. Thus the “grease guy” may be a renderer/processor that is a member of FPRF. If not, my suggestion is to recommend membership to them or develop a local relationship with a FPRF member. Unfortunately the current market price for all of the fats/oils are extremely depressed which necessitates the “Grease Guys” charge for this recycling service. I can assure you that FPRF members are safely reprocessing the yellow grease into environmentally responsible uses. Should you desire further information on our foundation please advise.

Dr. Gary G. Pearl
RR #2 Box 298, Bloomington, IL 61704
(309) 829-7744, (309) 829-5147 fax
info@fprf.org

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