In a nutshell: While the acronyms are maddening, travelers from Mexico are no longer permitted to bring cooked poultry, deli-sliced poultry meat, and hard boiled eggs into the United States. The problem is exotic Newcastle Disease (END). So keep that turkey sandwich on the other side of the border!

According to Wikipedia, Newcastle disease is a contagious bird disease affecting many domestic and wild avian species. Its effects are most notable in domestic poultry due to their high susceptibility and the potential for severe impacts of poultry industries.

Exposure of humans to infected birds in poultry processing plants can cause mild conjunctivitis and influenza-like symptoms, but the Newcastle disease virus (NDV) otherwise poses no hazard to human health.

from the press release distributed by the U.S. Customs & Border Protection

CBP Notifies Travelers of New Regulations for Cooked Poultry Meat and Eggs from Mexico

TUCSON, Ariz—Effective immediately, the regulations regarding bringing cooked poultry (e.g. chicken and turkey) meat, including deli-sliced poultry meat, and cooked, hard-boiled eggs into the U.S. from Mexico are changing. Officials are urging travelers to be aware of the new requirements, and to always declare all food items to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers when crossing the border.

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) informed CBP that APHIS is implementing new requirements for processed (including cooked) poultry meat and cooked, hard-boiled eggs brought by passengers arriving from regions where APHIS considers exotic Newcastle disease (END) to exist. Currently, Mexico is a country recognized by APHIS as being affected by END.

According to the new requirements, processed poultry meat brought by passengers arriving from Mexico must be accompanied by government certification confirming that the meat was cooked to a minimum internal temperature of 74 degrees Celsius, or a USDA APHIS Veterinary Services (VS) import permit. Thoroughly cooked eggs from Mexican states other than Sinaloa and Sonora must now be accompanied by a VS import permit.

CBP officers and agriculture specialists enforce hundreds of laws at the border for other federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies. Following other agency regulations, CBP is required to take action when encountering poultry meat and eggs: importations presented without the required certification will be seized or refused entry.

As a reminder, travelers are encouraged to declare all food items to CBP officials. Failure to declare prohibited agricultural items can result in civil penalties. Penalties for personal importations of undeclared, prohibited agricultural items, depending on the severity of the violation, can run as high as $1,000; and up to more than $250,000 for commercial importations.

Any media questions can be directed to the National Center for Import Export (NCIE) of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Animal Plant Health Inspection Service, Veterinary Services (USDA APHIS VS) at (301) 734-3277.

According to a press release that I received from the Arizona Farm Bureau the cost of a traditional turkey dinner for 10 people is down this year. Here’s the actual press release and my comments below.

ARIZONA, November 17, 2009 ─ As Arizonans sit down at the Thanksgiving table to dig into the traditional feast this year, the turkey dinner with all the trimmings will cost $40.47 for an Arizona family of 10, or $4.05 per person. This is a decrease of $12.34 or about 23.3 percent less than the 2008 Arizona Thanksgiving meal ($52.81), and $2.44 below this year’s American Farm Bureau survey of $42.91 for a family of 10.

The cost of a 16-pound turkey purchased in Arizona was $15.68, or $.98 cents per pound, which reflects a 34.5 percent decrease in the cost of a turkey over last year. Compared to last year’s survey, prices are lower on all but one of the survey items. 

Turkey lovers among us have one more thing to be thankful this year  ─ Turkeys decreased 51 cents per pound.

Declines in the retail cost of dairy products and whole turkeys account for most of the overall drop in the 12-item Thanksgiving dinner basket tracked by Farm Bureau. The 12-oz package of fresh cranberries was the only item to show a slight increase this year.

The 2009 Arizona Thanksgiving meal cost estimate is the result of the Arizona Farm Bureau’s annual informal Thanksgiving Dinner Price Survey of the prices of basic food items found on the Thanksgiving dinner table. 

The Arizona Farm Bureau survey shopping list includes turkey, stuffing, sweet potatoes, rolls with butter, peas, cranberries, a relish tray including carrots and celery, pumpkin pie with whipped cream plus coffee and milk, all in quantities sufficient to serve a family of 10. To make a proper comparison, these items are the same food items used in the national Farm Bureau survey.

 “Consistent with the retail food price declines seen throughout the year, consumers will pay less for their Thanksgiving feast this year,” said Jim Sartwelle, an American Farm Bureau economist. “Consumers are benefiting at the grocery store from significantly lower energy prices and the effects of the economic slowdown. Again this year, the cost per person for this special meal is less than a typical ‘value meal’ at a fast-food outlet,” Sartwelle said

Arizona farmers and ranchers produce most of the ingredients in the traditional Thanksgiving meal including dressing (bread, onions and celery), peas, pumpkin and pecans for pies, and several others. Even roses, sometimes used for holiday centerpieces, are grown in Arizona.

“Throughout the year we’re fortunate to enjoy a bounty of foods produced in Arizona and across the nation,” said Arizona Farm Bureau President Kevin Rogers. “ It’s especially appropriate as we gather at the Thanksgiving table to savor not only food and fellowship, but to take a moment to recognize that this blessing begins with our hard-working farm and ranch families. Arizona agriculture is a $9.2 billion industry, employing 70,000 workers and is a major component of the state’s strong economy.”

“Based on this year’s average meal cost, Arizona residents can enjoy a traditional Thanksgiving meal for around $4.00 per person. That’s worthy of many thanks,” Rogers concluded.

Arizona Farm Bureau encourages expert shoppers and in-store grocery personnel to beat its market basket price. “If a shopper comes in below the $40.47 Farm Bureau price, let us know on Arizona Farm Bureau’s www.fillyourplate.org. List your success on our ‘Chat with a Farmer” forum,” says Julie Murphree, director of public relations for Arizona Farm Bureau.

The average price of the remainder of the menu includes: three pounds of sweet potatoes, $3.63; a 16-ounce package of frozen green peas, $1.36; one gallon of whole milk, $1.96; a half-pint carton of whipping cream, $1.59; a package of two nine-inch pie shells, $2.48; a 12-ounce package of fresh cranberries, $2.65; a 14-ounce package of cubed stuffing, $2.36; a 30-ounce can of pumpkin pie mix, $2.75; miscellaneous items like eggs, sugar, flour and coffee, $3.03; one-half pound each of carrots and celery for a relish tray, $1.05; and a 12-ounce package of brown-and-serve rolls, $1.93.

Arizona Farm Bureau comparison over last year

                                                    2009                 2008
Turkey, 16 lbs                    $15.68      ▼     $23.84
Cube Stuffing, 14 oz.         $ 2.36        ▼     $ 2.79
Pumpkin Pie Mix, 30 oz.$2.75        ▼     $ 3.01
Pie Shells (2)                       $2.48        ▼      $2.67
Sweet Potatoes, 3 lbs      $3.63        ▼       $4.71
Brown & Serve Rolls, 12$1.93        ▼       $1.99
Frozen Green Peas, 1 lb $1.36       ▼        $1.56
Carrots and celery           $1.05      ▼        $1.11             relish tray, l lb
Whole Milk, 1 gallon       $1.96       ▼        $3.19
Fresh Cranberries,      .  $2.65       ▲        $2.54              12 oz        

Whipping Cream,            $1.59       ▼       $2.12                ½ pint
*Misc. ingredients          $3.03      ▼       $3.28

*Coffee, onions, eggs, sugar, flour, evaporated milk and butter  

Prices of past national surveys include: 1986 – $28.74; 1987 – $24.51; 1988 – $26.61; 1989 – $24.70; 1990 – $28.85; 1991 – $25.95; 1992 – $26.39; 1993 – $27.49; 1994 – $28.40; 1995 – $29.64; 1996 – $31.66; 1997 – $31.75; 1998 – $33.09; 1999 – $33.83; 2000 – $32.37; 2001 – $35.04; 2002 – $34.56; 2003 – $36.28; 2004 – $36.04; 2005 – $37.69; 2006 – $39.22;
2007 – $51.14; and 2008 – $52.81.

The Farm Bureau Thanksgiving Dinner Price Survey is unscientific, but serves as a gauge of actual price trends across the state.  This survey is based on shelf price and does not reflect special prices and promotional gimmicks.

Shoppers involved in this year’s survey were asked to identify the best in-store price, excluding promotional coupons and special deals. Farm Bureau’s survey menu has remained unchanged since 1986 to allow for consistent price comparisons.

It’s amazing to me that anything claims to be cheaper. What used to be a $35/bag in Trader Joe’s is now a $50/bag for nearly the same items. Even though gas prices have gone down some, the cost of food that spiked during the gas crisis has not gone down proportionately.

What do you think?