Colorado Boxed Beef Co./Food Technology Service Inc.: Irradiated Products to be Introduced in Florida Supermarkets.

Business Editors/Food Writers

AUBURNDALE, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 3, 2000

Colorado Boxed Beef Co. takes food safety one step further as they become one of the first processing plants in the U.S. to begin producing irradiated ground beef for the retail and foodservice markets.

CBBC has introduced its own NEW GENERATION label - a symbol of quality and wholesomeness. This addition to the CBBC family of products will include irradiated IQF chicken breast and IQF chicken tenders plus frozen irradiated ground beef available in a 2-pound pattie box or fresh irradiated ground beef in a 1-pound, case-ready modified atmosphere tray (M.A.P.) with a 10-day shelf life.

In 1996 CBBC was one of the first companies in the U.S. to offer modified atmosphere packaging. Steve Saterbo, sr. vice president stated: "Now with four years experience behind us, we will process over 15 million pounds of case-ready ground beef this year alone. This will also include irradiated ground beef as the marketplace meets customer demands for a safer product."

Saterbo continued: "The response from our customers has been so supportive that we decided to offer a variety of irradiated meat including ground beef and chicken. Our product will be available in supermarkets in Florida within the next 4 weeks. However, until that time I cannot be more specific."

CBBC continues to receive requests from major supermarkets for samples of the USDA approved irradiated M.A.P. ground beef. "We are offering the retailer an opportunity to take his own `taste test' on the fresh irradiated ground beef," said Saterbo.

After researching irradiation technologies, Colorado Boxed Beef decided last year to contract with Food Technology Service Inc. (Nasdaq:VIFL), Mulberry, Fla. to handle the irradiation of their ground beef and chicken.

Saterbo added: "We are convinced that the gamma irradiation process best preserves the integrity and taste of the ground beef and it offers more options. We want to offer the safest product available to consumers but we don't want to limit their choice to only frozen ground beef. Food Technology's gamma irradiation is effective on fresh ground beef as well as frozen. The alternative to use the electron-beam method is not an option for us because it is only ready to irradiate frozen product."

Another plus for gamma irradiation is that product can be irradiated by the pallet instead of only in thin layers like the electron-beam process. This all adds up to savings that can be passed on to the consumer at the retail level.

Saterbo concluded: "The success of irradiated ground beef in the marketplace still hinges on educating the consumer with accurate facts and promoting the product at the supermarket level. Success in these areas will be the key to seeing more NEW GENERATION products in the meat case."