UNITED PUSHES FOR FEDERALLY MANDATED FOOD SAFETY STANDARDS

Saying that the fresh produce industry faces a different business world today than it did six months ago, United Fresh Produce Association sent a letter to its members Jan. 23 announcing that its board of directors has endorsed strong federal oversight of a mandatory food safety framework.
“Your Board unanimously adopted a set of principles to shape our nation’s food safety regulatory process that we believe will provide the greatest assurance of food safety possible, combined with strong consumer confidence to sustain our industry for the future,” the letter said.
United listed the following four guiding principles: 1. Produce safety standards must be consistent and applicable to all produce grown anywhere in the United States or imported into this country. 2. These standards must be mandatory, with sufficient federal oversight in order to be credible to consumers. 3. The standards cannot depend upon marketing programs or voluntary certification. 4. The standards must be flexible enough to allow for commodity-specific food safety practices based on the best available science.
United said it intends to work with stakeholders, the Food and Drug Administration, USDA, and members of Congress toward implementing the policies. United concluded its letter by asking for industry-wide input and support.

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