American Meat Institute

The American Meat Institute was founded in Chicago, IL in 1906 just after passage of the Federal Meat Inspection Act, one of the first U.S. laws to set federal food processing standards. Originally called the American Meat Packers Association, the organization devoted much of its efforts in the early years to helping its nearly 300 member companies acclimate to the new federal inspection. Other early issues included fighting Congressional efforts to saddle the meat industry with the cost of its own inspection, pushing for greater meat export opportunities and sponsoring meat nutrition research.

In 1919, the organization became the Institute of American Meat Packers (IAMP). Among the issues IAMP handled were fluctuating livestock and meat prices and calls for investigations of livestock marketing.

In 1922, the Institute launched new efforts in scientific research and industry education. Included in these efforts was a new program to promote meat to consumers.

By 1940, the Institute had expanded its meat promotion program to include consumer advertising. That same year it changed its name to the current American Meat Institute (AMI) .

In 1979, AMI moved from Chicago, IL, to Washington, DC, to be closer to the federal government. Regulatory and legislative affairs dominated the Institute's agenda.

In 1982, AMI merged with the National Independent Meat Packers Association (NIMPA). In 1990, AMI began managing the U.S. Hide, Skin and Leather Association.

In 1991, AMI changed its bylaws to allow poultry processors to become full members. The AMI Foundation was reestablished in 1992 to focus on research, education and information of interest to the meat and poultry industry.

In 1999, the AMI Foundation launched a multi-million dollar, multi-year Food Safety Initiative with the goal of reducing and ultimately eliminating Listeria monocytogenes and E. coli 0157:H7 from meat and poultry products.

The issues of the next century are remarkably similar to those of AMI's previous decades. The Institute, always member-driven, will continue to work hard to represent the interests of the U.S. meat and poultry industry to the federal government, Congress, the media and the ever-important customer.