The United Fresh Produce Association and its produce industry allies (including the Produce Marketing Association) are building opposition to a proposed amendment of The Food Safety Modernization Act, which would exempt small farms and business operations from basic federal food safety requirements.
The Food Safety Modernization Act is designed empower the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to order food recalls, keep better track of fruit and vegetable shipments and setting standards for food manufacturers.
However, United Fresh said the amendment proposed by US Senator Jon Tester of Montana would “reject a risk-based approach to food safety” and lead to the creation of a federal food safety system that “adheres to arbitrary exemptions rather than to sound scientific principles”.
“United Fresh joined today with 19 other produce organizations to send the Senate a strong statement of our opposition to the Tester amendment,” explained Robert Guenther, United’s senior vice-president of Public Policy.
“As stated in our letter, comments from Senator Tester and supporters are now making it abundantly clear that their cause is not to argue that small farms pose less risk, but to wage an ideological war against the vast majority of American farmers who devote their personal commitment to feeding 300 million Americans every day.
“We are appalled at statements by Senator Tester reported today in the Capital Press that “small producers are not raising a commodity, but are raising food”.Industrial agriculture, he said, takes the people out of the equation.This is simply hogwash, and should insult not only the farmers of America, but the intelligence of members of Congress.
“The consequences of inadequate food safety precautions have no boundaries as to size of operation, geography, nor whether the product is sold at a farm stand or grocery store. The consumer has a right to know that all food that they purchase has been produced, transported and offered for sale under the same food safety requirements.”
PMA said it also has “long and energetically” been engaged in efforts to modernise food safety laws to protect public health and enhance consumer confidence but now must oppose the bill since the recent changes are “not in keeping with our fundamental position of risk- and science-based food safety efforts”.
“The sad irony is that the amendment that exempts these small facilities will hurt small growers and processors – in the end causing them to lose market opportunities,” PMA explained in a statement. “What retailer or restaurant will buy unregulated food when regulated products are readily available?”
PMA said the amendment also weakens consumer protection because many products will not be subject to the new safety rules.
“Consumer confidence is essential to our industry, and having national safety standards for all is critical to building that confidence,” the organisation stated.
“We strongly urge the Senate to strip this provision from the bill or, failing that, to reject the bill. Should it pass, it is essential that this be dealt with in a conference with the House of Representatives, which passed a different bill more than a year ago.”
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