When the largest employer in the United States and one of the world's largest and most successful businesses takes action on an issue, people tend to notice. So for those advocating for additional food safety measures to be implemented to protect the public, perhaps these advocates can now point to Walmart as evidence the issue needs to be addressed.Reuters is reporting that the retail giant Walmart Stores Inc has announced the company is implementing "additional beef safety measures to protect customers against food-borne illnesses." The program being implemented will require beef suppliers for Walmart and Sam's Club to step up controls to reduce the potential for contamination.
Walmart stated that suppliers who do not have slaughterhouses must be in compliance with the new standards by June 2011, while those who do operate beef slaughterhouses would have to take two steps--one to be in place by June 2011, and the other by June 2012. The company is working with its suppliers "to ensure the measures are implemented without additional cost to customers[.]"
In a press release found on PR Newswire online, Vice President for Food Safety at Walmart, Frank Yiannas, states, "[i]n light of recent beef recalls we determined it was prudent to require an additional layer of protection for our customers[.]"
Highlighting the power of the company to set trends for other retailers, Jim Dickson, Iowa State University Professor of Animal Science states in the press release, '"Walmart is taking a progressive approach to assuring the safety of the foods they sell. This is a win for the consumers, the beef industry in general, and Walmart. The lessons learned from Walmart's approach will be applicable to ground beef sold everywhere."'
To read the Reuters article, click here.
To read the PR Newswire press release, click here.
Posted: 04/29/10
