Cargill, Hormel defend use of carbon monoxide in meat packaging

The committee did invite a company that has helped lead the charge against the use of carbon monoxide in meat packaging, Kalsec Inc. of Kalamazoo, Mich., which makes extracts that slow the browning of meat. Two years ago, the company filed a petition with the Food and Drug Administration seeking a ban on the use of carbon monoxide in meat packaging.

Peterson told the committee that Kalsec declined the invitation.

"It's unfortunate that for whatever reason they didn't want to be here," he said.

"Our problem is with the FDA," responded Kalsec's vice president, Donald Berdahl. "We didn't think this (hearing) was a good forum for raising that concern." The company has acknowledged it has a business interest in protesting the practice.

Since 2002, the FDA has given the go-ahead to use carbon monoxide under a process known as "generally recognized as safe."

FDA spokesman Michael Herndon said in an e-mail that the agency has not made a final decision on the merits of Kalsec's petition.
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Several supermarket chains, such as Safeway, Giant Food and Stop & Shop, agreed to stop selling meats packaged in carbon monoxide after the House Energy and Commerce Committee wrote letters expressing concern about the practice and seeking information. Those letters were signed by John Dingell, the committee chairman, and Bart Stupak, who chairs the committee's oversight and investigations subcommittee. Both are Democrats from Michigan, home to Kalsec.