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GMA, AFFI Endorse New Food Safety Bill

The Grocery Manufacturers Association in Washington and the American Frozen Food Institute, McLean, Va., welcomed the new FDA Food Safety Modernization Act, cosponsored by U.S. Sens. Richard J. Durbin, D-Ill., and Judd Gregg, R-N.H., among others.

WASHINGTON — The Grocery Manufacturers Association here and the American Frozen Food Institute, McLean, Va., welcomed the new FDA Food Safety Modernization Act, cosponsored by U.S. Sens. Richard J. Durbin, D-Ill., and Judd Gregg, R-N.H., among others.

“I applaud [them] along with their fellow cosponsors for crafting sensible legislation that will strengthen the foundation of America’s food safety systems,” said GMA President and Chief Executive Officer Pam Bailey, in a statement. “In particular, GMA supports proposals requiring all food companies to have a comprehensive food safety plan in place. It is absolutely critical that manufacturers take a preventative approach in identifying and evaluating potential hazards, and building food safety into the manufacturing process from the very beginning.”

The bill contains many of the provisions of legislation submitted under the same name last year, and would give the Food and Drug Administration power to order recalls and open manufacturers’ internal records for inspection.

“I commend Sen. Durbin for leading this legislative effort toward modernizing food safety standards,” said AFFI President and CEO Kraig Naasz, in a statement. “AFFI concurs with the bill’s cornerstone provision that food companies should be expected to identify potential hazards that might occur in the production and processing of their products, and that companies should determine the most effective controls for those hazards.”

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