05/15/07 Costco Recall & Bushs Energy Proposal

BUSH: When it comes to energy and the environment, the American people expect common sense, and they expect action. The policies I've laid out have got a lot of common sense to them. It makes sense to do what I proposed, and we're taking action. President Bush yesterday leveled new energy criteria he is hoping to have in place by the end of next year. He signed an executive order directing the EPA and the Department of Transportation, Energy, and Agriculture to take the first steps toward regulations that would cut gasoline consumption and greenhouse gas emissions from motor vehicles BUSH: I've also asked them to listen to public input, to carefully consider safety, science, and available technologies, and evaluate the benefits and costs before they put forth the new regulation. Mary Peters with the Department of Transportation back up Bush's statement. PETERS: What the President's proposal does is weigh the balance of policy issues which include safety, sound science, technology, public input, cost and benefits, economic impact and American jobs and it's very important that we consider all these factors as we go forward. We haven't heard the last of the pet food recalls. Kirkland, Washington based Costco announced the recall of their Kirkland Signature Lamb and Rice canned dog food as it may contain melamine, the chemical responsible for numerous pet illnesses and deaths. Costco is asking customers to stop using this food immediately and return it to the stores. Now with today's Food Forethought, here's Susan Allen. For someone who is married to a marketing aficionado I have been schooled in the art of branding products. I have been told that if Morton's can brand salt, literally anything can be branded. To the frustration of my husband who was raised in the cattle industry, branded beef has been a fairly recent phenomenon yet it's worked. Today the most recognized branded beef is Certified Angus but consumers can select a variety of gourmet cuts, cows and companies; from Kobe to Allen Brothers, natural fed to hormone free. Last year consumers bought more than 544 million pounds of Certified Angus Beef equating to 2.3 billion in retail sales. Premium meat has been responsible for a two to three percent sales increase at chain restaurants. Steak Houses are booming and so are gourmet burgers. The Burger Bar in Los Vegas now sells a $16 Kobe style patty. For over a century American cattlemen have been branding their cattle who would have ever guessed that ultimately it would be for the consumers benefit. Thanks Susan. That's today's Northwest Report. I'm Greg Martin on the Northwest Ag Information Network.