Colorado Boxed Beef, in association with Food Technology Service Inc., Announces the First New Brand of Safer Beef

Business Wire, Dec 20, 1999

Business Editors

AUBURNDALE, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 20, 1999

Following the release of USDA regulations for the irradiation of red meat, Colorado Boxed Beef, in association with Food Technology Service, Inc. (Nasdaq:VIFL), announces today that it will launch the first irradiated ground beef label in the US market. Colorado Boxed Beef's newly created brand New Generation will be available to consumers following the mandatory USDA 60-day waiting period.

"We're offering retailers the safest meat products manufactured by any processor in the US," said Colorado Boxed Beef Executive Vice President Steve Saterbo. "We're excited about the launch of this new brand of pasteurized meat products because it will ultimately help to save American lives."

Ion pasteurization is an effective way to eliminate food pathogens. Each year, millions of Americans become ill from food-borne bacteria. The Centers for Disease Control estimates over 5,000 people die each year from food-borne illness and several hundred thousand are hospitalized. The USDA said in their release, "Irradiation is currently the only known method to eliminate deadly E. coli 0157:H7 bacteria in raw meat. The technology also significantly reduces levels of Listeria, Salmonella, and Campylobacter on raw product."

"Food Technology Service, Inc. looks forward to working with Colorado Boxed Beef and its customers. We have tested products and packaging for Colorado Boxed Beef and we're ready to do our part to help make food safer," said Pete Ellis, CEO of Food Technology Service, Inc.

The New Generation brand should be available in supermarkets by March. Saterbo added, "We have firm commitments from two major supermarket chains and they are expected to offer New Generation as a safer category of meat products. We anticipate product launches as soon as the USDA waiting period is over."

Colorado Boxed Beef, a Florida based manufacturer with annual sales of $650 million, services retail and food service customers.

Food Technology Service, Inc., the nation's first food irradiation facility, offers irradiation services to processors, manufacturers, retailers, and distributors.