ISU meat science program gets top ranking

A program at Iowa State University that seeks to keep your food safer is ranked as the best in the nation. Meat & Poultry magazine ranks Iowa State University’s meat science program as the best in the country based on the workshops and courses in meat safety. Matt Wenger works in the program and says it helps ensure that brat you buy at the ballpark, or the sausage you pick up at the meat counter is safe.He says they offer a series of four short courses that’re attended by people across the U-S and internationally. And they do a lot of food safety training throughout the state of Iowa. Wenger says the technique is important in safely preparing meat.He says they focus on the science, seasoning, cooking and handling of the product to ensure it’s done correctly. The reports of people getting sick from food have put more of a spotlight on the I-S-U program. He says food safety trainings have really taken off in the last few years with all the news reports of problems. Wenger says the I-S-U program benefits from faculty who have lots of experience in the processing of meat. He says there’s years of research, collaboration with other universities and research programs along with the U-S-D-A and the F-D-A. He says they put the information together to help train people in the proper way. I-S-U ground out the first place meat science ranking after three years of finishing second.