Penobscot Bay Pilot shares Extension’s help in meat processing plant inspections

The Penobscot Bay Pilot highlighted the help University of Maine Cooperative Extension faculty provided the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry in authorizing 90-day grants of inspection to three Maine-based custom slaughter operations through its Maine Meat and Poultry Inspection program. The department granted temporary authorizations to Hatch’s Custom Meat Cutting, Crystal, Watson’s Custom Butcher Shop, Etna, and Blake’s Slaughtering and Custom Cut Meats, Alexander; meaning the meat they process can be sold in commerce. Jennifer Eberly, state veterinarian and MMPI director, thanked Jason Bolton, Extension food safety specialist and associate Extension professor, and Robson Machado, associate Extension professor and food scientist, for their assistance in the effort to respond to increased demand for local meat during the COVID-19 pandemic. “We are fortunate to collaborate with Drs. Jason Bolton and Robson Machado, University of Maine Cooperative Extension, on this project, as they provided invaluable assistance in food safety plan coordination and review,” Eberly said.