Food Safety and Processing Perspective

Terrence O’Keefe, WATT’s content director, provides his perspective on everything from animal agriculture trends that impact our food chain to food-safety related issues affecting chicken and egg production. O’Keefe has covered the poultry industry as an editor for more than a decade and also brings his experience in plant management and poultry production to comment on today’s issues.

Restaurants reopening provides hope for egg breakers

US restaurant sales fell 70% from the same period last year when dining rooms were closed because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

May 21, 2020

Terrence O'Keefe

Learn how U.S. consumers are responding to restaurants reopening and the impact on demand for liquid egg products.

What do positive COVID-19 tests for poultry workers mean?

As PCR tests for the COVID-19 coronavirus have begun to be used to screen entire staffs at some processing plants, what do the test results really tell us?

May 5, 2020

Terrence O'Keefe

What do the high number of coronavirus positive test results for meat and poultry processing plant employees mean for the industry?

COVID-19: Poultry plants' snowstorm that has not ended

The global pandemic has caused more shifts in market demand, worker availability and overall headaches than any other natural disaster.

April 22, 2020

Terrence O'Keefe

Learn why the COVID-19 pandemic has created unprecedented challenges for poultry producers.

COVID-19: Long-term supply chain impacts for poultry?

The worldwide COVID-19 pandemic has led to increased retail food buying as schools, restaurants and popular vacation spots close, but what comes next?

March 20, 2020

Terrence O'Keefe

Learn what the long-term impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic may be on U.S. retail and foodservice egg sales.

Eggs not ‘splurge’-worthy for many in Generation Z

Consumer survey of individuals in Generation Z and older consumers show differences in food items where quality is considered to be of more importance.

February 18, 2020

Terrence O'Keefe

Learn whether Gen Z consumers and their parents think egg quality is something worth splurging or skimping on.

US egg producers seeking clarity, finding uncertainty

Egg producers are encouraged to have open dialog with customers regarding their future cage-free egg needs.

January 28, 2020

Terrence O'Keefe

Egg producers will need to have open dialog with customers about cage-free egg purchase plans

US is adding table egg laying hens faster than people

As the rate of growth of the human population of the US has slowed, growth of the table egg laying flock hasn’t.

January 21, 2020

Terrence O'Keefe

U.S. egg producers haven’t slowed the rate of expansion of the table egg layer flock, which increased at an average annual rate of 3.0% over the past three years.

‘Peak meat’ and other silly things to celebrate in 2020

Plant-based meat alternatives won’t dampen my enthusiasm for the future of the global poultry industry.

December 30, 2019

Terrence O'Keefe

Peak meat has become the climate change crisis cause du jour.

Disrupters collaborate, the disrupted wait and watch

Developing and implementing game-changing technologies for the poultry industry requires collaboration between producers, entrepreneurs, financiers and inventors.

December 17, 2019

Terrence O'Keefe

Learn how collaboration is critical for the development and implementation of disruptive technologies for the poultry industry.