54 • URNER BARRY'S REPORTER / VOL. 19, NO. 1 / WINTER 2024
Article contributed by
The National Turkey Federation
Talkin' turkey...
INDUSTRY TRIUMPHS!!
NTF has provided feedback on proposed changes in the way
industry and government addresses Salmonella, including FSIS'
Proposed Regulatory Framework to Reduce Salmonella Illnesses
Attributable to Poultry and the FSIS proposal to declare not-readyto-eat (NRTE)
breaded stuffed chicken products that contain
Salmonella at levels of 1 colony forming unit (CFU) per gram as
adulterated. Our goal is to ensure policy is based on sciencedriven principles.
Furthermore, NTF is focused on harnessing the power of
social media to help consumers become more familiar with the
importance of practicing the four core practices of food safety in
the kitchen: clean, separate, cook and chill. By incorporating food
safety tips in NTF's turkey recipes, social media posts and blogs,
social media users are regularly reminded of how best to prevent
foodborne illnesses.
TAILGATING WITH TURKEY
As part of its effort to educate consumers on the versatility and
benefits turkey has to offer year-round, NTF launched Tailgate
with Turkey to help football fans take their tailgates and game
day experiences to the next level. Through a series of online
promotions and a great partnership with the Kansas City Chiefs
Radio Network and United Soybean Board, Tailgate with Turkey
has been featured on a national stage. This program has further
built on the successful integration of Turkey Smoke, NTF's
barbecue competition series in partnership with the Kansas City
Barbeque Society (KCBS), into the competitive barbecue space. As
a result, Tailgate with Turkey has further enhanced the consumerfacing platform to showcase turkey's
place on the grill and smoker
from the backyard to the stadium.
BRINGING TURKEY TO NEW MARKETS
Amidst an everchanging protein marketplace, the turkey industry
has prioritized investing in the future of the industry and identifying
new markets for turkey products. The U.S. turkey industry
celebrated a major win in September when India announced it was
eliminating the retaliatory tariff on U.S. frozen whole turkeys and
frozen turkey parts and reducing the basic tariff on those products
from 30% to 5%.
The National Turkey Federation (NTF) praised the decision as it
has created an important new market for U.S. turkey producers
while providing Indians more affordable access to a nutritious,
delicious protein. The USA Poultry & Egg Export Council
(USAPEEC), the Office of the United States Trade Representative
(USTR) and the leadership of U.S. Department of Agriculture
(USDA) were instrumental in achieving this accomplishment in
addition to Senators Mark Warner, Thom Tillis, Amy Klobuchar,
Mike Braun, Tina Smith, John Thune, and Tim Kaine spearheading
congressional efforts to ensure U.S. turkey growers can effectively
compete in this fast-growing marketplace.
NTF continues to focus on other markets as well, including
Caribbean countries and Latin America. Challenges remain in
all these markets, but NTF looks forward to further expanding
its efforts to provide a healthy, lean protein option to consumers
abroad by cultivating valuable key trade relationships, updating
existing trade agreements and navigating existing sanctions.
CHAMPIONING FOOD SAFETY
NTF members take great pride in providing safe, nutritious
products to consumers and proactively working to further
advance public health. On the food safety front, NTF remains
committed to working with members and food safety partners
to address Salmonella in poultry products and identify scientific
and technological innovations that will help us reduce naturally
occurring pathogens in turkey products.
Photos provided by NTF