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United Fresh Food Safety Strategies Included in White House Food Safety Recommendations

Posted on: Tuesday, 7 July 2009, 12:13 CDT

WASHINGTON, July 7 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The United Fresh Produce Association is gratified to see key produce industry objectives incorporated in the Obama Administration's food safety recommendations being announced today at the White House. The White House action is based on recommendations from the Food Safety Working Group and comes following several months of input from United and other organizations to improve our nation's food safety practices.

"Today's White House announcement demonstrates how the government and the food industry can work together to make meaningful and practical food safety improvements," said Tom Stenzel, president and CEO at United Fresh Produce Association. "The administration's plan embraces several key recommendations advanced by United Fresh to help ensure that food safety initiatives address produce industry priorities."

The Food Safety Working Group was created by President Barack Obama in March to develop an action plan for improving food safety. United Fresh participates on the working group as the only organization specifically representing the fresh produce industry.

Starting in December 2008, United Fresh has made recommendations to the Obama Administration to address food safety that are incorporated in today's task force plan, including: the adoption of commodity-specific food safety guidance; establishment of a centralized command and control authority to quickly and efficiently manage food safety actions during outbreaks of food borne illness and/or product recalls; and granting authority for a food safety "czar" to ensure a more centralized government authority for directing food safety actions.

"These recommendations set a strong foundation for the food safety legislative work on Capitol Hill," said Robert Guenther, senior vice president for public policy at United Fresh. "We have been successful in making critical improvements in the House food safety bill and look forward to working with the Senate and the Obama Administration to help drive improvements in our nation's food safety practices."

United Fresh Produce Association is the pre-eminent trade association for the produce industry in managing critical public policy issues; shaping legislative and regulatory action; providing scientific and technical leadership in food safety, quality assurance, nutrition and health; and developing educational programs and business opportunities for members to better meet consumer needs for increased consumption of fresh produce. Founded in 1904, United Fresh represents the interests of member companies from small family businesses to the largest international corporations throughout the global fresh produce supply chain, including growers, shippers, fresh-cut processors, wholesalers, distributors, retailers, foodservice operators, industry suppliers and allied associations. For more information, visit www.unitedfresh.org

SOURCE United Fresh Produce Association

Source: PR Newswire

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