Produce Industry Seeks Food Safety Bill Changes

WASHINGTONThe United Fresh Produce Association and 22 other organizations representing the fruit and vegetable industry are urging House of Representatives and Senate lawmakers to come together to resolve differences between the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act (S.510) that was passed Nov. 30 and the House's Food Safety Enhancement Act (H.R.2749) that was passed in July 2009.

The Dec. 1 letter to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Minority Leader John Boehner specifically addressed the amendment added by Sen. Jon Tester (D-Mont.) to exempt small farms and producers under certain circumstances. United Fresh has repeatedly underscored that the final version of the bill must not include any exemptions for producers based on size or regional proximity.

Exempting small farms from following federal food-safety standards, as the Senate bill currently does, undermines the intent of credible food-safety systems, which are based on risk and science, not arbitrary criteria. Microbial contamination does not discriminate between small or large farms, customer base or proximity to market. The fresh produce industry has made immense strides enhancing food-safety practices over the years knowing that any foodborne illness outbreak affecting one or hundreds of people, also affects every single farmer who grows the implicated food," the letter stated.

The letter also addressed the importance of reconciling the two versions of the legislation before moving on.

Because this legislation will affect all Americans, it is crucial that every step be taken to ensure the final legislation reflects the highest possible food-safety standards based first and foremost on science and risk assessment. This is critical to maintaining the safety of our countrys food supply for everyone. Passage of this measure without reconciliation of key differences between the two versions falls short of the objectives, ultimately undermining the original intent to strengthen and enhance our nations food safety system, and leaving consumers to digest a food safety bill that is short of comprehensive."