June 13, 2008

 

 

This week: WHAT HAS THE CHECKOFF’S CONSUMER INFORMATION PROGRAM AREA DONE FOR ME LATELY?

 

CONSUMER INFORMATION, as defined in the Beef Promotion & Research Act, means “nutritional data and other information that will assist consumers and other persons in making evaluations and decisions regarding the purchasing, preparing and use of beef and beef products.” This includes programs such as youth education and information, communication with nutrition influencers, and public relations.

 

 

Cooking with Moms - The checkoff’s public-relations budget is sponsoring a weekly podcast (digital media files delivered over the Internet) targeting busy moms and offering information about beef’s role in a healthy diet and access to checkoff recipes. Produced by two influential registered dieticians, “Cooking with the Moms” gives mention to the beef checkoff and its www.BeefItsWhatsForDinner.com Web site at the beginning of each of the 52 weekly podcasts, which began in May. In addition, beginning June 18, six of the “Cooking with the Moms” podcasts will feature lean beef recipes and reminders about safe cooking and handling tips for ground beef. To view the archived podcasts, go to http://www.MealMakeoverMoms.com/podcasts/index.html.

 

Safe and Savory - With Independence Day around the corner and grilling season in full swing, the checkoff “Safe and Savory at 160 F” campaign is helping at-home chefs safely cook ground beef and fire up their grilling skills. Safe and Savory spokesperson and grilling expert Steven Raichlen kicked off his 15-city Barbecue Bible! 10th Anniversary Edition book tour May 13 and has so far completed more than a dozen media engagements and tour stops. In early June, the national checkoff provided State Beef Councils with a comprehensive Safe and Savory toolkit to help beef producers take the beef safety message to local markets and extend media coverage about the importance of beef safety. An electronic press kit has also been disseminated to consumer media and features recipes from Raichlen, instructions about using instant-read meat thermometers, grilling videos and helpful fact sheets with summer food safety tips and helpful grilling advice. For more information about the program, visit www.SafeAndSavory160.com.       

 

Beef Power – Steak tops the list of foods that consumers believe delivers the most energy for them, according to a recent checkoff-funded survey. In addition, 79 percent of Americans say grilling is a popular pastime for them, and 63 percent say the food they most often cook on the grill is beef. The checkoff reported the results of the survey via a press release around Memorial Day – the unofficial kickoff to summer. That release is continuing to generate positive beef coverage nationwide. In other promotional efforts, Better Homes and Gardens magazine featured a 13-page spread, “The Steaks of Summer” this month, thanks to relationships established through the checkoff’s food communications program. These two media efforts have reached more than 22.5 million readers in two months. For an example of one of the featured “Steaks of Summer,” go to Top Sirloin Kabobs, and be sure to check out www.BeefItsWhatsForDinner.com for fresh grilling season updates, a refreshed recipe section and new grilling facts, figures and images of seasonal beef entrées.

 

Sharing the Beef Message - The checkoff-funded spokesperson development program has been training beef producers to handle tough questions about hot topics – namely animal welfare and the environmental impact of beef production. During the last month, checkoff staff has conducted communications training sessions with retailers at the Northeast Beef Promotion Initiative retail boot camp in Rye, NY, the American Angus Association in St. Joseph, MO, and the Colorado Cattlemen’s Association Annual Meeting in Colorado Springs, CO. In addition, a special session to prep State Beef Council execs to promote the Power of Protein was part of the State Beef Council planning meeting in May. For a fact sheet on animal welfare, go to Animal Welfare Facts and to view checkoff messages about beef and the environment, visit Beef & the Environment.

 

 

 

 

*If you would like to be added or deleted from the distribution list for “Checking in on the Checkoff,” please send a quick note to Diane at dhenderson@beefboard.org.