Warning: GMA likes the food safety bill – A bill contrary to family farm agriculture and local food alternatives
A gathering of the rich and powerful in the food business:
A few of the jets attending the conference:
N7100C – Cargill
N199HF – Hormel Foods
N97SJ – J.M. Smucker
N1897S – J.M. Smucker
N135FT – Albertson’s
N46E – Hunt
N604CL – Hershey
N654CM – Crossmark Corp.
N457H – Bank of America
N606RP – Nestle Purina Pet Care Co.
N102CX – Clorox
N545CS – Wells Fargo
N604MU – Dean Mfg. Group
Note: Walmart gave a speech on sustainability during the conference.
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
GMA Applauds U.S. House for Passage of Landmark Food Safety Bill~Calls on Senate to Follow Suit
Contact:
Scott Openshaw, Director, Communications, 202-295-3957
Brian Kennedy, Director, Communications, 202-639-5994
July 30, 2009
GMA president and CEO Pamela G. Bailey today commended the members of the United States House of Representatives for passing H.R. 2749, The Food Safety Enhancement Act of 2009. The bill passed the House by a vote of 283-142.
“House passage of The Food Safety Enhancement Act of 2009 marks an important milestone,” said Ms. Bailey. “This legislation will strengthen our nation’s food safety net by placing prevention as the cornerstone of our nation’s food safety strategy and providing FDA with the resources and authorities it needs to adequately fulfill its food safety mission. Combined with increased industry resources and vigilance, this legislation represents a once in a lifetime opportunity to modernize our food safety system and restore the public’s faith in the safety and security of the food supply.
“We applaud the House for its vision and leadership in tackling this tough issue and urge the Senate to swiftly follow suit and pass its food safety bill as quickly as possible.”
GMA supports many of the provisions of S. 510, the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act, authored by lead sponsors U.S. Senators Richard J. Durbin (D-IL) and Judd Gregg (R-NH) and co-sponsored by Edward M. Kennedy (D-MA), Richard Burr (R-NC), Christopher J. Dodd (D-CT), Lamar Alexander (R-TN), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) Saxby Chambliss (R-GA), Roland Burris (D-IL), Johnny Isakson (R-GA) and Tom Udall (D-NM), and will be working with HELP Committee Chairman Kennedy, Ranking Member Enzi and the entire committee in the coming weeks to develop and enact sensible, meaningful and timely food safety reform legislation.
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The Grocery Manufacturers Association (GMA) represents the world’s leading food, beverage and consumer products companies. The Association promotes sound public policy, champions initiatives that increase productivity and growth and helps to protect the safety and security of the food supply through scientific excellence. The GMA board of directors is comprised of chief executive officers from the Association’s member companies. The $2.1 trillion food, beverage and consumer packaged goods industry employs 14 million workers, and contributes over $1 trillion in added value to the nation’s economy. For more information, visit the GMA Web site at www.gmaonline.org
Meanwhile, back on the farm….
