Tyson Fresh Meats is introducing DNA technology

Tyson Fresh Meats, the beef and pork subsidiary of Tyson Foods Inc., is introducing DNA technology to trace beef back to the individual animal of origin for its Open Prairie Natural Angus Beef, the company said in a news release. A DNA sample from cattle entering the Open Prairie program will be used to trace the origin of individual cuts of beef as they move through the supply chain. The patented tracking process is intended to assure customers that the Open Prairie beef products they buy were sourced from ranches where the cattle were raised to meet specific requirements, such as no antibiotics ever and no added hormones. “We’re providing our retail and foodservice customers with scientific evidence that they’re getting high quality, natural beef from animals raised the way we promised,” said Kent Harrison, vice president of marketing and premium programs at Tyson Fresh Meats. Cattle for the program are raised by independent ranchers, mostly from Montana, North Dakota, Oregon, Washington and Nebraska. The beef is produced by the Tyson Fresh Meats plant in Lexington, Neb.