Learning Center

For many people throughout the United States, hunting wild game is a beloved pastime--whether for the enjoyment of the outdoors, thrill of the hunt, or an economical way to obtain food. Along with this hobby comes many safety precautions. Just as a hunter should be trained in firearm safety and first aid procedures, food safety is also important. Educating one’s self on the dangers of foodborne illness is one step closer to harvesting a game animal for safe consumption.

Know The Risks
Harmful bacteria such as Salmonella and E.coli can live in raw or undercooked game meats. It is important to note the stages in which contamination may occur, and what steps can be taken to ensure you have processed your animal in the safest means possible.

Contamination can occur through the initial wound sustained by a bullet or an arrow. It is best to avoid hitting or puncturing the area around the stomach and intestines, as this would result in spoiling much of

The score everyone wants to achieve for any “test” we have taken (from grade school through post-secondary education) is 100%. One Hundred is also the score that any company involved with the Safe Quality Food (SQF) standard wants to achieve.

But…What does 100% mean in SQF?

Does it mean that your company is doing everything right? What is involved in getting that score? What does it take to maintain it?

First, congratulations on becoming SQF certified. Learning the SQF code and preparing your facility takes time. On average it’s about 6 months from the time a company opts into the program until the time they earn the certification. Much of this time is spent preparing for the audit through paperwork trails and training programs. The audit itself is a very short process in and of itself. The average audit is only 2-3 days; which means a company is preparing for the audit the other 362 days of the year.

Maxiren® XDS and Nelson-Jameson make a GOUDA couple!

You FETA BRIE-LIEVE IT!

And yes, we are together for the long haul.

Maxiren® XDS is a fermentation produced chymosin (FPC) that protects, preserves, and optimizes the required coagulant in the cheese process helping cheese reach its full potential of GRATE taste and big smiles. There is an increase of flexibility in the cheese production when Maxiren® XDS is involved. This extraordinary coagulant has a high specificity which lowers the amount of coagulant required, and aids in slowing the breakdown of cheese proteins, resulting in enhanced cheese textures. The enriched texture maintains a longer shelf life which allows shredding, slicing, and dicing to be smooth, natural, and more efficient through different cheese stages.

As most in the food industry know, looking clean isn't the same as actually being clean. Though a new cleaning tool may appear to be ready for use right away, especially those sealed in plastic pouches, they need to be prepped for their first use. Here are a few steps that should be taken to ensure all new tools are ready for use in food production facilities:

1. Remove Labels
   It is essential to completely remove any label and adhesive, as the sticky residue can
   be a trap for debris and bacteria. This task is most easily done when dry, but if there is residual stickiness, simply use a towel with warm soapy water, or a towel soaked in vinegar to remove anything left behind.
2. Clean the Tool
   Since most tools are not produced in factory settings with the same rigorous sanitation requirements as food manufacturing, it is highly recommended to put new tools through an industrial dishwasher, or hand wash them prior to their first

Nelson-Jameson strives to not only be a resource of products, programs, services, and industry expertise, but to also be of service to the food industry and focus on the mutually shared goal of food safety and quality. This allows us to work with a whole host of professional organizations, academic programs, regulatory agencies, etc. Over the past several months, we have enjoyed engaging and becoming active with the Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy Food Safety Team. You may or may not be familiar with this volunteer organization, and even if you are, you may be surprised by the remarkable scope of resources available...

The Innovation Center for US Dairy is a consortium of dairy industry producers, educators, and organizations

Ultraviolet-C (UV-C) has been a part of the food processing industry for over 50 years. The power of this unique form of light may be invisible to the human eye, but it's impact on sterilization can be felt far and wide. Unlike the costly and corrosive chemicals that are traditionally used in the sterilization process, UV-C disinfection offers an alternative that has been proven to be both effective and cost efficient to your bottom line.

Summer is here! What a perfect opportunity to get outside and enjoy the warm summer air we've all been craving! For some individuals, spending time outdoors could involve hiking,